I need some ideas of things to do with a kid in preschool and first grade while I babysit?

Question

BEacause I never have anything to do with them!

Answer 1

preschool: shapes, colors, building blocks, animal sounds, songs, any of those little kid games like ring around the rosies, playing with dolls and toys

first grade: letters, numbers, spelling small words like cat and sun, finger painting, drawing, dance around to music, make up games and play "pretend" games like house and animals or something, dance around to some music, play outside, read to them and get them to interact with you and use fun voices, horsey back rides on your back

most of those ideas you can use with both of them.. also, you can make up crafts like stringing beads or gluing macaroni, or even just putting some shaving cream and food coloring in a bowl and letting them squish their fingers in it (outside lol)

kids are easily entertained.

Answer 2

Let them make their own chex mix its easy,fun,healthy. also try letting them play with play-do or some kind of clay . Play simple games like i spy, or do a scavenger hunt.

Answer 3

Lots of good answers already. Don't forget about reading to them!

Answer 4

Make instant pudding or jello

Beading

Coloring  books

Board games

Chalk

Play Doh

Go to your library and get craft books for ideas

Borrow books from the library and read to them and act out book after  or books on tape they even have videos @ the library

I used to buy little craft projects at  the craft store and have them do a craft.

Freeze dance

Put on a little  show  have children sing to you songs they sing in  school

Answer 5

build them a mini assault course with old tyres and plant pots anything old which are suitable for young children

play shops , mums and dads

if its wet make up a tent in the livin room under the table with an old sheet you can have picnics under there.

there are loads od sites on the net you can try.

Answer 6

make a cake. something simple like flapjack. fun to do and can be eaten after wards

if not go down to the park or painting or drawing lol

Answer 7

Color, finger paint, play dress up, go to the park and have a picnic or in your yard, watch a movie, go buy a couple of games for that age, get a small plastic pool and let them play in it, make cupcakes and let them help, and most important have fun.

Answer 8

I'm going to assume that you are babysitting for only a short period of time and your goal is not "education"...though we know most everything can be turned into a learning moment.  :-)

Sensory fun has always been a big hit.  You can even take it outside.  If it's really messy have them where their swim suits and then wash them up.  The messier they get...the more fun they have.  You just have to be prepared for the mess so it doesn't get out of hand.  In my home we use a dish tub (dollar store) inside a plastic wading pool.  Sand, water/rocks, water and soap, water and two containers of primary colored water (water is always a hit :-)  and you can do so much with it.), beans (a mixture), lentils, oatmeal, cornmeal, dirt and water (of course mud :-)) etc...add measuring scoops, spoons, toys etc.  The kids love the farm set in the oats...I've even purchased the "squirrel corn" and they had so much fun removing the corn from the cob and then we used it with the farm set.  This is a good time to use silly putty, gak, etc.

This age also enjoys "board games".  Have them help you decorate a container and help the write down all the names of the games they want to play.  Every day have them each choose one during "game time" and play it.

Musical instruments...MAKE YOUR OWN!  Add a little music and off you go.

Playdough is always a hit...there are many different recipes!

Obstacle courses are fun at this age.

Sprinkler outside... I set our so it would go over the sidewalk and then they could drive their bikes "through the car wash".  :-)  I also provided sponges and soapy water to wash their "cars".  Buckets of water and large paint brushes keep interest as well.

Open ended art ideas... It's amazing what they can do with collage/craft items.  In my school age program I used to have a week where I would set out the low-temp glue gun (no, it does not burn fingers :-))  The kids went haywire and made all sorts of cool creations.  With it just you and the little ones you can do more since you'll be right there to supervise.

Fingerpaint is always a favorite.  I've even let them do it out side inside of a wading pool and then made prints.  They did "body painting" with it ...we just added water and then also hosed them off.  So fun.

Good luck.

Answer 9

Maybe bake some cookies. Like 6, two for each of you. Each kid could make their own cookies, but don't let them make them too big. Have them put cute little designs in there, like smiley faces with the chocolate chips or something like that. Or maybe make a simple scavenger hunt for each of them. Make hem just have to scavenger in a specific room, about medium-sized. Help the preschooler read his, and don't use big words for them. You could make some spelling errors on the preschoolers so it's easier to read, but I wouldn't recommend that. Or you could get out Legos, Building Blocks, etc. and just have them build with those. I hope I helped!