Omg, can u get to the point?

He doesn't enjoy painting with you? Baking with you? Can you work together to bake a surprise for his parents? Is a game of dinosaurs really objectionable? I also don't condone violent play, but dinosaurs attacking dinosaurs seems perfectly natural at that age. If he feels like you disapprove of everything he enjoys, you're going to have a really hard time winning him over. Do you take him outside? Kick or throw a ball around? Build a make-believe wood chipper and gather sticks for it? Draw a chalk world on the driveway and set up his figures? Or a chalk racetrack complete with obstacles and rush some toy cars around on it? Bring him a personal notebook and a bunch of stickers and let him design his sticker pages? Can you get him engaged in an art project where he's building trees for his dinosaurs to hide behind or something?

I don't want to give away too many details as I would like to remain annon... But he does a lot of violent play like shooting guns and dinosaurs attacking animals... I discourage this as I am totally against it ( my personal opinion) mb mentioned she understands people have different views and respects the choices I make in regards to that issue.
I will read books with him and take him to what ever activities he wants! He gets his way all the time at home. For example if he wants to eat dinner in the counter he will sit in the counter and eat dinner.... *with his parents*
He also likes to paint, bake, ride his scooter... He doesn't nap so we have lots of 1 on 1 time...

What sorts of things do you do with them? What games does DS play on his own? How have you tried to insert yourself into them?

It can take a while to connect with such a PT role, but with a little more information I'm sure people could offer some ideas.

I had a PT job with a 2 and 4 year old. I won them over with a number of activities - mini hikes, juggling performances, long narrated storytelling sessions, making art out of flower petals and twigs, just generally convincing them I was an interesting person. If you tell us more about the 4 year old we could suggest some things to try.

I have been with the family for about 2 months. Its only part time about 15 hours a week. I am having a very hard time connecting with the kids. They cry when I arrive and the oldest one does not listen to me at all. He completely ignores what I am saying. it is very frustrating! The job pays well, and the parents are nice, but that doesnt seem to matter too much when I can't connect with the kids. There will be a few moments when it seems we are having a break thru but nothing! I find myself bored thru out the day as the kids are pretty independent and dont really want me to play with them. esp DS. DD only wants to be held. In public they are a bit more dependent on me but you can tell that the connection is missing. I am wondering if I am not challenged enough in this position as all my other jobs have been with children with extreme behavior/ autism / twins/ infants.

Any advice? I need to connect with these kids ** especially DS***

Kids are DS 4 DD1