I babysit for this family quite often. Their kids are 7, 5, and 2. I always bring games, activities, videos, and books for them so they don't ever get bored while I'm there. (All 3 kids are boys!)Normally I do "themed" nights (We've had Baseball Night- play baseball, eat hotdogs for dinner, and watch a baseball movie. We've had 4th of July- fireworks craft and make cookies with red, white, and blue icing. We've had the Olympics Night and so on...) I'm kind of running out of ideas and activities and games to bring. Normally I'm there at night for 2 or 3 hours (7-10 pm) and the 2 year old is asleep by 7:45 and the other kids go to bed at 9:00... What are some more activities I can bring or games we can play that will be fun for them???
Take into consideration that they really don't like to play games that involve competition... One of them always loses and cries.
Try games that will require them to use their imagination. Try guessing games. You can teach tham their parents name by playing a game. Reward them with stickers or hugs. Use your imagination!
ReplyDeleteWell, first, congratulations on coming up with "themed" nights. That sounds like fun!
ReplyDeleteThey're still pretty young, which severely limits how much you can do, but let me see...
Bugs Night...Watch A Bug's Life and make "Ants on Log" (Celery, Peanut Butter, Raisins) and/or "Worms" (Crumbled Oreo cookies, Gummy Worms). For a craft, you could make little insect toys/dolls.
Race Car Night... Watch Herbie the Love Bug (or equivalent) and have them make their own race cars out of cardboard boxes so that they can race - non-competitively- around the yard. You could make car-shaped cookies.
If they have a favorite TV show, you could do a night based on that. For example...Wiggles Night. Have a Wiggles marathon and make crafts and recipes based on what they watch (fruit salad jumps to mind).
I hope that helped inspire you!
EDIT: Okay, I've thought of a couple more.
Camping Night...Set up a tent and sleeping bags in the living room. Eat hot dogs, s'mores, and tell "scary" stories around the campfire, I mean, flashlight. Perhaps when their parents get back they can join them down there.
Healthy Night...A night where you teach them about the Food Pyramid, and they learn what various parts of the body do (heart, lungs, etc.). I'm sure there are movies out there about it. They could have an impromptu "teddy bear clinic." Have them help you put together a balanced meal.
build a fort or have the boys set up a tent outside and roast marshmellows
ReplyDelete