Fun babysitting ideas?

Question

I start babysitting 2 girls tomorrow. They are 12 and 7. It is an all day job...8-5, three days a week. I'm just looking for fun ideas of things that I could do with them. It's their summer and I want them to enjoy it. I already know that I will be taking them to the pool, the park, and on bike rides. But if there are any ideas of things that I could do with them indoors at the house, that would be great because it does tend to get pretty hot here. Games and craft ideas are good too. Thanks!!

Answer 1

There are so many ideas. One could be have a movie night and not just pop some popcorn and sit in front of the t.v. Make tickets, have a concession stand, have pretend money, escort them to their seats, even have many choices of movies for they could pick while "buying" their tickets. Have a talent show. Help the children put on the show, get into costumes, make masks with them for the show, do up their hair if they want it's a lot of fun in the end. I personally make homemade board games with the children I babysit. It lets their creative juices flow lets their ideas/opinions be shown while having fun. Another thing I've done with children of all ages is a treasure hunt. I would go to the dollar store before hand and pick up something that each child would like. Then I would hide it in the house and draw each of them a map and tell them use the map to find your prize. I found the treasure hunt was great for dealing with behavioural issues too by telling them treasure hunts are for children who were helpful, listened pretty good, and had fun throughout the day. Music...oh my I cannot stress enough how much music has helped me with children. Just putting on completely different types of music while having them draw what they are feeling to that specific music entertained the children for hours. I hope this all helps.

Answer 2

Get some rubber or palstic play balls. or ask them about there intrests.

Answer 3

Hey! I'm a mother of a 12 year old girl, 4 year old boy and a 1 year old.

My 12 year old loves to cook.  The 7 year old would be interested in it also. So just make cupcakes and get different candies. And let them decorate.

A spa would be lovely. Do them pedicures and manicures.

The 12 year old should have a lot of hair bands and other hair accessories. Do their hair.

A fashion show. Since you should be a teenager you might have some clothes that you don't really wear or was something you wore when you were younger and does not fit you anymore. You can make a runaway in the middle of the living room. And when their parents come back or whoever their guardian comes back they can make a fashion show for them. Make them do play tickets. And make them serve the cupcakes or another treat for them. Hope you have fun!

Answer 4

Have themes for the week and whatever you do should play into that theme. like a beach theme decorate the backyard like a beach and make a day of it. using colored sand and glue have them draw the beach/ocean with all the animals and things you can find there.

Try a cooking activity each week pertaining to the theme.

Talk to the parents about special outings like museums and the movies.

Answer 5

You should have them play whoever goes to sleep first wins game

Answer 6

The 12 year old may be a bit stubbern. I started babysitting myself when I was 12 years old, and I hated being treated like a little kid. I started staying home alone when I was 11.

So, I would go easy on the 12 year old, when it's time for bed, don't say ' Okay you two, it's 9pm, bedtime! ' say it like ' You guys, it's getting pretty late, let's get ready for bed in a few minutes. '

How old are you? If your 13 or 14 years old, it may be a little hard to handle the 12 year old before your ages are so close. Just make sure you never give in when she mentions that she is only 1-2 years younger than you and doesn't have to listen to you.

Anyways, have them write you letters saying what they want t do the next time you babysit. Or hide things around the house and have them look for them. Or have them find things in a magazine.

Good luck:)

Answer 7

Well you could bring something to mybe bake because baking is always fun like mini cakes because it would be fun for them to decorate. You could bring some movies and make popcorn and that always takes up like 2 hours. Hide and go seek always entertains everybody if its a big ebough place!

Answer 8

Well, here are some ideas:

1. You can have maybe a mini "spa" by doing each other's nails and hair.

2. Bake cookies.

3. Watch a movie

4. Make pizza

5. Play boardgames like Monopoly or Trouble

6. Experiment with makeup.

Answer 9

If they're into "girlie" type things a fashion show and "modeling" could be fun - get out the dress up stuff, and the digital camera and have a blast

Craft activities - Get beads and stuff for making jewelry, painting stuff, etc.

Baking - Brownies, cakes, or cookies are always fun

Board games

Answer 10

u could play a game called ghost in the graveyard, thats wut i play with the kids i babysit, wut u do is, the "ghost" hides, and the other people look for the "ghost", when a person finds the "ghost" they shout "Ghost in the Graveyard!" and the ghost tries to tag the person. If the ghost tags the person, that person becomes the ghost and if the ghost doesnt tag anyone, they have to be the ghost again. it is really fun.

Answer 11

1) Board games, but try to make sure that they arent baby games, because the 12 yr old wont be into that

2) baking, cupcakes, muffins, anything fun that involves ising (kids love it)

3) Movies, easy, but not very origional

4) Dress up, girls love it

5) Indoor Picnic (tell them days ahead, they will get excited and tell their parents, and their parents will be ahppy they're happy and tip more)

6) Making Jewlery out of everyday stuff (buttons/beads)

7)graveyard( the game where the kids are still and everytime you turn away have to move befor you turn back and see them.

8) hide and go seek

9) thier toys

10) if their parents are okay with it and your feeling up to it, make sure to offer for them to each invite a friend over, maybe like one a week or once every two weeks,

Have fun:)

hope i helped a little

Answer 12

Shopping is always fun. It doesnt have to be buying the most expensive things. Rummage sales are fun. They will be able to pick out things they like and can haggle with the price. You usually can find good deals.

There are lots of little fairs that go on during the day. Those are always fun.

Have a lemonade stand!

Answer 13

imm sure some would like maybe to play with some make up or color maybe the younger would want to play dress up i know when i was 5 i likeed to