Finding activities to keep children entertained can create a successful babysitting job. Have plenty of activities and crafts in mind, and you will provide entertainment and fun for the children you are watching. From indoor and outdoor play to games or crafts, you can create an entertaining evening for yourself and the children.
Active and Board Games
- Games aren't just for kids; they can be great for the babysitter. Board games offer structured play, with rules and strategies. Be mindful to take the age of the children you babysit into account when choosing a board game.
Fun Crafts- Kids love crafts, this is a creative way to pass time while you are babysitting. From the simple craft ideas for the youngest children to more complex for the older children, you will find that the time passes quickly and the children are content and happy while creating. Be sure to assist the younger children while making sure that it stays their creation- (in other words- be sure not to make them color it a certain color- or put this sticker here, and not there... ) allow them to be creative.
Outdoor Activities and Trips
- When you are babysitting think about taking the children outdoors for nature walks or to an open field to fly a kite. Be sure to get permission from parents' first before venturing out. Playing with the family dog or cat can be another fun activity. On a sunshiny day, a picnic with playtime activities just in the back yard will be a fun change for the children.
Creative Snacks
- Crafts aren't the only way for kids to be creative. They can do so in the kitchen as well. With permission from the parents, and after making sure no one has food allergies, head to the kitchen and start mixing things. There are many simple, delicious and nutritious snacking options. A well-known creative snack is "ants on a log." Cut pieces of celery and spread peanut butter on them to create the "logs." And the "ants"
Baby-Sitting Games and Activity Ideas
- Have an indoor picnic.
·
Be sure that you get the parents permission and
only use "clean" finger snacks like Cheetoes, sandwiches, fruit
snacks, for example- don't use anything that can spill or stain like milk,
yogurt, or ice cream. Lay out a blanket
and use a basket or a backpack to "tote" all the snacks in. Use your imagination to pretend you have to
hike in the mountains, on the beach, or in a park.
- Build a fort out of blankets, or sheets (use chairs, couches, clothes pins, yarn- anything to hold up the blankets!).
- Have a picnic inside the fort you just made, or read books together in it or color in the fort.
- Make sock puppets, paper bag puppets, or even bring some of your own, then write a play using your puppets - do not make it too complicated- children like easy things so they don't become frustrated or bored.
- Water colors, painting- use aprons to cover clothes- do not allow children to use water colors or other paints without aprons- children will always get their clothes dirty with paints especially when you don't want them too.
- Play hide and seek.
- Color with crayons. Take off the wrapper and see the different ways you can color with them.
- Go on a treasure hunt.
- Play dress-up.
- Make paper hats.
- Make your own indoor hopscotch, tic-tac-toe or bulls-eye with masking tape on carpet, and use bean-bags or small stuffed animals to toss or use as X's and O's.
- Make a letter book. Let the kids draw a picture of something that starts with each letter of the alphabet.
- Play board games- some they already have or bring something new (remember to make it one that everyone can play).
- Have a talent show.
- Cut paper snowflakes.
- Make your own puzzle
·
Using poster board or cardstock, color a picture
from a coloring book or the Children's Friend, or find a good clean picture
from a magazine, cut it out, glue it on a piece of construction paper or
cardstock, using a glue stick, then cut it our in random shapes.
- Make your own matching game
·
Use 3x5 index cards, then make your own matching
pictures- have one child draw 2 pictures of a triangle (one on each card), 2
squares, 2 circles, or with older children you can have them draw, 2 houses, 2
trees, etc.
- Matching game with stickers-
·
Find stickers (with 2 or more of the same
picture or object) place them on the 3x5 index cards.
- Matching game with ribbons- cut two ribbons of the same pattern or color. Mix them up in a bowl, baggie, or basket.
- Make a necklace with yarn, beads or Fruit Loops.
- Play with Play-dough- use rolling pins and cookie cutters. Sculpt clay, let it dry, and then paint.
- Play Dance PARTY or choreograph a dance number.
- Play "house" with a mommy, daddy, and grandparents... use dollies for babies and children.
- Play school–have the child be the teacher.
- Play Hot and cold.
·
Have one child go out of the room while all the
rest hide a small stuffed animal, or object in the room, bring the child back
in- every time the child gets closer to the hidden object say warmer, every
time the child gets further away say colder.
- Read nursery rhymes, teach them actions to them.
- Ball toss.
·
Have a few different sized buckets (bowls,
garbage cans, or even create cirlcles/line on the floor with masking tape) and
have kids throw balls, small stuffed animals, or bean bags.
- Read a book then act out the story.
- Make a paper countdown chain to Valentine's Day or an upcoming birthday by cutting strips of paper and stapling them together.
- Hard noodles, beans, dried rice, Elmer’s glue, and paper … need I say more?
- Marble racing.
·
Take 2 of your swimming pool water noodles and
prop them on the stairs.
- Play Barbies, Littlest Petshop, Polly pockets, or other toys that they have- sometimes it is fun for the children to play with their own toys with someone new.
- Play with matchbox cars- Make a car track all around your house with masking tape.
- Make paper princess/king crowns, rings, bracelets, necklaces, etc.
- Play red-light, green-light, what time is it Mr. Fox; duck, duck goose, Simon Says, or My doggie won't bite you.
- Make a story book out of paper. Have them make it up and draw the pictures.
- Make paper airplanes.
- Read their favorite book to them.
- Make flash cards (letters, sounds, addition, etc.).
- Indoor bowling.
·
Stuff socks into toilet paper rolls and line
them up. Roll a ball into them and you
have your own bowling alley!
- Play grocery store with toys. Let them check out with plastic bags.
- Make Marshmallow towers.
·
Jab the ends of the toothpicks into the
marshmallows and make cool stuff.
- Origami
- Play Jump the River
·
have two ropes (like jump ropes) on the ground 1
foot apart and have them try to jump over them. Every time they make it move the ropes farther
and farther apart.
- Play the Hokey Pokey
- Play Restaurant -
·
Play some restaurant role play with the older
kids when you are trying to get them to eat. Babysitters can be waitresses and the younger
kids are their customers.
- Play Job-
·
The kids get to pick their occupation and
everyone acts it out.
- Play Farm-
·
Every kid is told to make the sound of an animal
and the others have to guess the animal.
- Read the kids books!
·
Bring your favorite childhood books and share
them with them!
- Play with blocks
- Sing
Songs with them.
·
Kids love to sing...sometimes the same songs
over and over. These don't need to be
new songs. In fact, the kid standards
might be the best because there's no teaching required. Examples: London Bridge
Do as I'm Doing
Do as I’m doing;
Follow, follow me!
Do as I’m doing;
Follow, follow me!
If I do it high or low,
If I do it fast or slow,
Do as I’m doing;
Follow, follow me!
Do as I’m doing;
Follow, follow me!
Suggested actions: roll arms, nod head, clap,
sweep, etc.
Head, Sholders, Knees and Toes
Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, knees and toes, knees and toes,
Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, eyes, ears, mouth, and nose.
Sing song and point to parts of the body. Or, sing slowly and move parts of the body as they are mentioned. For example, nod head, shrug shoulders, bend knees, stand tiptoe, and so forth.
Hinges
I’m all made of hinges, ’cause ev’rything bends
From the top of my neck way down to my ends.
I’m hinges in front, and I’m hinges in back;
But I have to be hinges, or else I would crack!
I have Two Little Hands
I have two little hands, folded snugly and tight.
They are tiny and weak, yet they know what is
right.
During all the long hours till daylight is through,
There is plenty indeed for my two hands to do.
Kind Father, I thank thee for two little hands
And ask thee to bless them till each understands
That children can only be happy all day
When two little hands have learned how to obey.
Here We Are Together
Here we are together, together, together;
Oh, here we are together in our family.
There’s (name) and (name) and (name) and
(name);
Oh, here we are together in our family.
If You’re Happy
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your
hands.* (clap, clap)
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.
(clap, clap)
If you’re happy and you know it,
Then your face will surely show it.
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.
(clap, clap)
Once there was a SnowMan
Once there was a snowman, snowman,
snowman,
Once there was a snowman, tall, tall, tall.
In the sun he melted, melted, melted.
In the sun he melted, small, small, small.
Roll Your Hands
Roll your hands, roll your hands,
As slowly, as slowly as slow can be.
Then fold your arms like me, like me,
Then fold your arms like me.
Roll your hands, roll your hands,
As swiftly, as swiftly as swift can be.
Popcorn Popping
I looked out the window, and what did I see?
Popcorn popping on the apricot tree!
Spring had brought me such a nice surprise,
Blossoms popping right before my eyes.
I could take an armful and make a treat,
A popcorn ball that would smell so sweet.
It wasn’t really so, but it seemed to be
Popcorn popping on the apricot tree.
Smiles
If you chance to meet a frown,
Do not let it stay.
Quickly turn it upside down
And smile that frown away.
No one likes a frowning face.
Change it for a smile.
Make the world a better place
By smiling all the while.
- Blowing Cotton Balls
- Give each child a cotton ball. Use a piece of yarn as the finish line.
Have the children get behind the line on their hands and knees and blow
their cotton balls across the floor. Whose ever crosses the finish line
first wins!
- Sock Guessing game:
· Put an object in a sock. Let each child hold the sock and feel the
object inside of it. Then have the
children try to guess what the object is. Give them clues or show them parts of the
object until they guess what it is. Repeat with other objects. Remember to keep the age of the children in
mind when finding the objects to put in the socks. If the children are 4 and younger, you can
even have them help pick out small objects of their own toys- this way they are
more familiar with them and can be successful with their guessing- remember
when the children succeed they are happiest. (But older children can tolerate
more of a challenge.)
- Sink or Float? Game
· Gather several small waterproof objects
from around the house, like spoon, a toothpick, a plastic toy, a key, a comb,
and so on. Fill a large bowl with water.
Using one item at a time, ask the children if they think it will sink or float,
then place it in the water and see who guessed right.
- Laundry
Basket Basketball
· Set out a laundry basket or tow. Give the kids socks that have been rolled up
into ball shapes. Let them throw the socks in the baskets.
· Variation: For each basket that the child
makes, move the basket farther away to see how far they can stand back and
still make a basket.
- Marching Band (Help the children make instruments out of household)
TAMBOURINE
2 paper
plates
stapler or
glue
hole punch
string
jingle bells
crayons
Staple or glue two paper plates together, facing each
other. Using a hole punch, make holes
around the plates and tie jingle bells to the holes with string. Decorate the tambourine with crayons.
Shake to play.
Note: Heavy duty paper plates may be more durable for
this craft.
Safety note: If using a stapler, an adult should do
this. When finished be sure to cover the
staples with scotch tape.
HORN
Paper towel
roll
waxed paper
rubber band
pen
Cover one end of the paper towel roll with waxed paper,
secure it with a rubber band. Punch a row of holes along one side of the roll
with the tip of a pen.
To play, sing a tune into the open end of the horn.
DRUM
Empty oatmeal
box with cover
yarn
pen
2 pencils
2 spools
construction
paper
crayons
Before beginning, you can decorate the oatmeal box with
construction paper and/or crayons for a colorful effect.
Place the cover on the box. Use a pen to make a hole in the center of the
cover and in the center of the bottom of the box. Through these holes, pull a piece of yarn
long enough to hang around child's neck and down to their waist.
For the drumsticks, place the spools at the ends of the
pencils, secure with glue if necessary.
Beat to play.
CYMBALS
Two matching
pot covers
yarn or
ribbon
Tie the ribbon or yarn around the handles of the pot
covers. To play, strike together.
CHIMES
Ruler or
stick
washers
nail polish
string
mixing spoon
Hang the washers from the ruler or stick with pieces of
string by wrapping the string around the ruler or stick and securing. Strike
the washers with the mixing spoon to play.
Note: You can make this craft colorful by painting the
washers first with different color nail polishes, such as red, gold, glittery,
etc. Parents should supervise this part of the activity closely.
XYLOPHONE
Tall glasses
or jars
water
mixing spoon
Fill the glasses or jars with different amounts of
water. The more water in the glass, the lower the pitch will be. Having less water in the glass or jar will
raise the pitch.
To play, gently
strike the glasses with a mixing spoon.
Note: This instrument should probably be played by
older children in "the band" because of the use of glass and water.
GUITAR
Empty shoe
box
rubber bands
ruler or
stick
Remove the cover from the box. Stretch the rubber bands
around the box. Attach the ruler or stick to the back of the box on one end to
act as the arm of the guitar.
To play, strum or pluck the rubber bands.
COMB BUZZER
Pocket comb
tissue paper
Fold a piece of tissue paper over the tooth edge of a
comb. To play, hum through the tissue paper.
HAND BELLS
2 paper towel
rolls
hole punch
4 jingle
bells
string or
yarn
Punch a hole in each end of the paper towel rolls. Tie
two jingle bells to each side of the paper towel rolls by running string or
yarn through the holes and carefully tying off.
Shake to play.
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