After-school day care!!?

Question

Hi, I work at an after-school daycare. I need help..Next week the kids are going to be there all day, because no school. So I have to keep them busy!! Well beside having crafts for them, I was thinking about doing games, as in the whole class..what good indoor games would be good? they are k-3 grade. Also, if you have any other idea in to keeping them busy, I would love the ideas!! thanks so much.

Answer 1

4 corners is another game. One person is the caller, tey stand in the middle of the room and everyone moves around to one of the four corners. Number them ahead of time and after the person counts to a certain number they call out a corner. Everyone in that corner is out and they come sit in the middle. The last person to get out is the next caller.

Also, if you have access to a gym, use a parachute, you can do a bunch of stuff with that.

Answer 2

:-)  Those are the fun days!  We usually knew what days we had full-day care at the beginning of the year so we planned accordingly.  Usually we chose a theme for that day.  Consider that...it usually helps with coming up with some fun ideas...you can then search the internet for ideas as well or ask on YA again with a specific theme in mind.

This was the time that I always pulled out the games and art material that we barely used.  :-)  A favorite was the Creation Station.  I just provided (very organized...in the beginning anyway LOL) various craft pieces from pom poms/pipecleaners, to craft sticks, googly eyes, etc.  I also provided low-temp glue guns.   It's about the only time I did that...and...no...they won't get burned.  I tested it myself.  We went through a lot of glue gun sticks but they left very happy.  

Another favorite was to provide recipe cards and have them make their own special snack.

On these days we usually dressed a certain way...especially on week long full-day care.  We dressed a different way each day.  Funny socks, backwards day, hat day, etc.

Sometimes we had a talent show...we signed them up in the morning and they could practice in the morning and then we did the show for the group in the afternoon.

We've also done Treasure Hunts...indoor and out.

Obstacle courses are great.  We had access to the gym and the equipment and that made it easier but you can create an obstacle course with the furniture in your classroom and your outdoor equipment.  Even more fun is to let the older ones create the obstacle course.

This a was great day to do science experiments.  Purchase some modeling clay and have them make a volcano around a baby food jar or other container.  Then add the baking soda and red-colored vinegar.  They love it!  Especially the younger ones who have not done this very much.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Musical chairs

Treasure Hunt

Cooking projects ( English muffin pizzas)

Doggie, Doggie someone took the bone from your home.

Freeze Dancing( When the music stops the kids stop dancing and freeze)

relay races

Answer 4

Duck, duck, goose is a classic. Also there are tons of songs that have movement with them that kids love. Try the "Dr Jean" songs.

Answer 5

One of my favourite indoor games as a kid was Heads Up, Seven Up. All the kids sit down (hopefully at desks, but not necessarily) and put their heads down, covering their eyes and sticking up one thumb. Seven kids who have been chosen (drawing names out of a hat?) to be the first Seven walk around. Each kid of the Seven touches one kid's thumb. When a kid's thumb is touched, they put it down. When all the Seven have picked, they go back to the front of the room, and all say, "Heads Up, Seven Up!" The seven kids whose thumbs have been touched stand up. These kids have to guess who was the one who touched their thumb. If they're right, they become one of the Seven, replacing whoever had touched them. It's surprisingly fun and addictive.

Answer 6

Hi!

Tons and Tons of Ideas at www.After-School-Care.com.

It's a one-stop-everthing  web-site---that is  dedicated to the school-age care professional! (Although there are also lots of ideas for pre-k to high school)

I usually write extremely long answers; however, there are so many good ideas there -- just click on the forum page link and you'll find MORE than what you need  (for a year--let alone a day!)

As of now--there are 53 Easter ideas (many games)

35 Spring Ideas

34 Games for Pre-K to Grade1

57 Games for K to Grade 5

24 Tables Games

Lots of Games in the Literacy & Drama Threads

59 Science Ideas

48 Recipes for Play Doh and Concoctions

21 Paint recipes and...

More!!!

http://www.after-school-care.com/Forum.a...

The Theme day is a good idea :-)

Answer 7

I used to love to play this game with the older kids when I was in daycare.  We'd all sit in chairs in a circle then I'd start a beanbag toss - I'd toss to a child across from me, then name another person - you throw to the same person all the time.  Once they get good with one beanbag, throw another one into the mix.  Then another and another.  It's great fun and they always loved it.