Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I'm babysitting 6 kids 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. I have 3 girls and three boys and they all have different tastes except crafts. Anyone have any other activities I could do with them?
I was doing not only craft projects with my granddaughter, but also "experiments". We have had a lot of fun with this. Look up experiments and/or activities to do with kids and the age range. There are a lot of sites with some great things to do.
Do some activities they will all like. Boys and girls games. I babysit children too, and here are some of the things i do with them. Go to the park, play with water balloons, play with chalk, go for a walk, blow bubbles, read them books, have a dance party, bake food, make a pillow fort, make an indoor obstacle course, play hide and seek, and watch movies.
I would like your advice on what activities I should do when I babysit two girls? They are 8 and 10, but the ten year old had a tumor removed from her head. I am not sure what types of activities I could do with both of them. Please help me.
By Montana U.
I think you should ask the mom what the girls like to do, especially since one of them has had this surgery. There may be limitations on her activities that you need to know about.
Most girls like to do some sort of craft idea. Beading, making friendship bracelets, etc come to mind. See if you have things left over from when you were young or look online or at the library for craft activities made with recycled objects, so that your cost will be very low.
Just watch a nice relaxing kids movie and make popcorn and some other fun movie food
What are some things both a one year old and 3 year old would enjoy?
By Kaylyn K.
Of course there's always Cheerios, string them, put paste on a paper plate and let both kids make pictures (esp colored cereal). Cover a wall with butcher paper and let them draw on it with washable markers, or draw on the sidewalk with chalk.
Match cards always work with young kiddos! Cut out the same size rectangles (from card stock or, if you want to be extra "green", try cereal or other boxes). Cover pairs of the rectangles with the same pictures (from magazines or, better yet, pics of family members!). Glue the pics onto the card stock, then cover with a coating of Mod Podge or cover them with clear Con Tac. To play, just flip the pictures onto the other side and have the kids turn over one and then another one, trying to make a match. This game also helps with memory, taking turns, etc. Have fun!
A package of plastic easter eggs that can be purchased from the dollar store can be used to play hide the egg. My grand daughter loves to do this.
I need help thinking of ideas for babysitting 5 younger kids.
By love s.
This time of year you could make home-made Christmas decorations such as cutting out snow flakes, making a paper chain, etc. I think as long as you're doing something with kids, they're happy. Help them write Christmas cards. Help them make an "I'm thankful for" jar with slips of paper writing things they're thankful for such as all my toys, my pretty bedroom, my warm winter coat, etc.
Your local library has many books on activities for kids!
I am babysitting a 4 year old boy and a & year old girl tomorrow for 13 hours. They are tired of my ideas, please help. We have done playdoh, painting, facepaint bear caves (decorating paper cups), forts, movies, baking, water fights, pretend, nail polish, cars, dolls, and pipe cleaner bottles. Please help.
By Callie C.
Here are some websites to find ideas.
www.first-school.ws
dltk-kids.com
-A trip to a local playground or park can also kill time, especially when combined with blowing bubbles, scavenger hunts for various animals/insects/plants/flower, or swings.
-Have the kids get into their swimsuits and play with the graden hose or waterguns. You could also fill up water balloons.
-Have the kids get their favorite books (or pick out you own) design props and act out the stories. Good Luck!
Have you tried scavenger hunts? There are many different sheets you can print from online and they will surely enjoy it.
I have babysat these kids before, they are 4 and 9. They want to play house, Barbies, etc. constantly. I mean all day long literally. I need something that they will like just as much and be time consuming so they can have a variety of things to do. Also whenever they don't get to play they always get really upset.
By Nicole
You might make playdoh with them, and then they could play with that for some time. You can either put it in a plastic bag or tupperware container to use another time, or let the little creations dry out. They are many recipes online. Just goggle "playdoh". Some you have to cook, but many are quite satisfactory made with salt and flour and water. Another interesting thing to make is what I call magic mud (others call it something else-ooblek?). You mix some water with some cornstarch -- don't mix massive amounts -- about 2 tablespoons per person should do -- with water. Add the water a bit at a time until the mixture is sort of runny. Then you will notice that it becomes solid when you squeeze it and when you let go, it oozes back out through your fingers. It is just a fun thing to play with, but I have had grade 9 students make it in science class and they had a great time, so I am sure little kids will find it fascinating. You might also teach them some board games, like snakes and ladders -- easy games with counting -- not something complicated like Monopoly, as you have to interest the 4 year old as well as the 9 year old. If they don't own games like that, and you don't, you can likely get them for $1 or so at thrift shops or yard sales. You could also teach them some card games like War or Concentration. If you don't know how to play these games, google for information or find a book at the library with card games for children. And there is always reading to them. Next time you have to sit with them, come prepared with a pile of really interesting story books. Again, if you don't own any, pay a visit to your local library and pick some up. If these kids have a lot of books, they will appreciate new ones. If they have none at their house, you will be doing everyone a favor by introducing them to books. Get the librarian to help you if you are not sure what to get. I recommend books by Robert Munch. I have never met a child who didn't like those stories. You might get the kids interested in other crafts that lead into pretending activities, which they seem to like. I would suggest making popsicle stick puppets or paperbag puppets. You could make the puppets to go with one of the books you have read (even simple stories like Three LIttle Pigs), they could then play with them and act out the stories.
Can somebody give me good baby sitting tips for 9 year olds and 5 year olds please?
By adison from Kansas City
9- If you were going to give her cookies, play a game, or watch a movie, if she gets into trouble tell her that s/he won't be aloud to do the fun activity until she behaves. Play fun games that are educational, involve physical activity, or are fun to both of you. Some are "the floor is lava", play dress up with dresses, makeup, and jewelry, play outside with a soccer ball or Frisbee, play with pets, play i-spy, help her/him cook, watch a movie.
The younger child- Bring a coloring book for him/her, roll a ball back and forth, read to him\her, or play hide n seek.
I'm babysitting tomorrow and I need some ideas for some activities i can do. There are 4 kids, 3 boys and a girl, (youngest to oldest boys ages- 3,6,8, girl- 11).
By imjujubug
Art and outdoors is what I liked when I was a kid. I also had brothers those ages.
There are many fun and educational things you can do to enjoy your time together. This is a page about activities for babysitting a 7 year old.
Having activities that are age appropriate can make your babysitting job that much easier and more fun for you and the child. This is a page about activities for babysitting a 2 year old.
To keep your time babysitting interesting, you can include many different art projects. This is a page about activities for babysitting a 5 year old.
