Childminding tips please ???

Question

A colleague of my ex husband has a 4 year old that is between nursery and school and I said I would help with childcare. I have a 5 year old of my own and the other child is 4. Over the hols they have played well together and we have gone out to parks, play centers, farms etc But now my son is going back to school fulltime and I am going to have the other child most days while they are doing the odd morning at school. I have realised it will be very different. The child isn't the best behaved and I am looking for ideas on what to do with her. I am doing this for free so haven't any money to spend on going out places. All ideas gladly welcome !! I will have the child between 8am and 3pm so will be a long day ! I also have MS which is why I'm off work so nothing too strenuous please as I get tired x*x

Answer 1

i would make sure there is lots of time for playing outside.  this makes kids tired.  lol.  so, maybe start your morning with a walk and play at the park or just play outside in your yard.  you can also do art activities outside (color, paint, sidewalk chal/paint).  other things you can do are to cook with her (easy projects she can help with), kids exercise video, kids movie at naptime, storytime.  there are also many websites that you can download free stuff for her to color, cheap art ideas, etc.

since you are doing this for free i think you should ask the parents to supply things for her like crayons, paint, coloring paper, sidewalk chalk, books to read, toys to play with.  they need to furnish what she needs since her daycare is free.

also, they should send a sack lunch everyday and snacks.  you shouldn't pay the cost of raising their child. it's nice enough that you do it for free.

Answer 2

Depending on the four-year old, you might get away with going to fun places without spending anything.  I frequently took the kids to Chuck E Cheese (without tokens) or Toys R Us just to look, and they were fine.  (But they were trained since birth that I didn't have any extra money, and we were just going to look at all the neat stuff, not to buy).

P.S.  I would simply say NO to babysitting a 7 hour day without being paid.  That is CRAZY!!!  If the child is not related to you, then don't do it.  (Especially if the child isn't even the best behaved).  But, I commend you for being such a good person, but make sure you really wanna do this.

Answer 3

-Take child to parent and toddler or stay and play groups....many are free or about 50p (if you're in england: http://www.childcarelink.gov.uk/index.as...

-Outdoor play in the grden-plant some flowers, play with any toys you have.

-Ask parents to bring favourite toys and play together!

-Ask for money now and again to talk child various places like museums, local parks, national parks etc.

Answer 4

Well, I suggest a light snack between 8-10am then a walk in the park and have lunch there and a little bit of games too. Spend the remaining hours for naps.

Answer 5

No specific ideas, but, you're a saint! I would arrange days with lots of my friends - coffees and shopping - you don't owe her anything and you're doing her a massive favour. Let her watch TV alot and have conversations with her. Generally speaking 4 year olds can be good company, but under the circumstances, don't feel guilty if you're not providing A1 childcare. Her mother should be very grateful to you and she should be paying you something and at the very least covering your expenses. What a nice person you must be.

Answer 6

coloring, puzzles, telling interesting stories, try the treasure game too. You make small pieces of papers and hide them all over the house. each piece of paper leads to the place of the others in a bit vague hint a (the next paper is under a brown chair) and the kid spends time and energy searching and running. Make a time for the game and for sure you'll have to read the papers. At last the kid will find the treasure which is best to be a paper of an advice or an ethical value in addition to a little present, may be a chocolate bar or candy or whatever preferable for the kid.

Good Luck dear