What should I do with 8 year old boys while babysitting them this summer?

Question

I will be babysitting some boys around 8 years old this summer. Does anybody have any good ideas about what they would like to do? I know they like sports and swimming, but I can't think of anything else.

Answer 1

Bring so clay. All kids LOVE to play with clay.

Answer 2

If you can, have their parents enroll them in classes at the YMCA. Of course you will be present.

An an open field somewhere, throw catch. Add some basketball. Do some extra-curricular sports activty through their parent's consent.

It beats staying home in front of the television.

Answer 3

Practice baseball or football with them. They'll think you're the greatest!

Answer 4

you can take them to a basketball court or a park thats what i do with my brother and loves it

Answer 5

hide and seek(:

Answer 6

Inventing things. Think flying, running, exploring. Give them magnifying glasses, or go outside and collect bugs while explaing a little bit about nature. Fishing is messy but exciting, especially for little boys. When it rains pretend it's THOR the god of thunder is bowling in heavan. Tell them a story! Or better yet, encourage them to use their artistic skills making boats to float in the tub, or spinnint wheels made out of coat hangers, and have them tell YOU the story! (less work) :)

Answer 7

I'm no expert on babysitting. But you can certainly teach them football, baseball, soccer and maybe even volleyball. At night, if one is available, they can use a computer to practice applications (MS Word). They can use the internet, but only with your supervision and parental controls. Just my own ideas.

Answer 8

Do you have any sort of Game systems. I know it's not exactly anything active, but it keeps them quiet.

Answer 9

Do something that can last the whole summer.  One summer we "grew" butterflies.  We got this kit and they mail you the catapillers.  We watched them make cacoons then waited for them to emerge.  Then we set them free in the garden.

So, how about an Ant Farm, Sea Monkeys.....I saw they have these "bug vacuums" out where they can go hunt bugs.

Answer 10

I babysit all the time, I like to play like x-box with them or playstation, whatever. Bring some fun movies, or if a movie theater is close by ask your mom to drop you guys off. Just make sure you tell the parents and they should leave the kids money. You could bring waterballoons and silly string over, make sure you clean up the mess afterwards. You can make cookies, or brownies. Have them invite a friend over. Play with waterguns. Use chalk outside, or go on a bike ride. A nice idea would be to take like a "Treasure Box" and go buy stuff like at the $1 section of Target and put little stuff they might like in their, then if they are good the whole day they can pick ONE thing until next time therefore the can look foward for you babysitting. Good Luck && Have Fun!

Answer 11

take them to the park..

take them swimming...

play football or baseball with them...

take them to an arcade...

teach them how to play ddr if you have it...

videogames...

hope any of that helps :)

Answer 12

Take them to the movies, usually towns have specials at the movies in the summer for kids, sometimes they are free.  Also bowling or skating are always good.  The library usually has things going on with reading stories to kids.  Swimming is a sure bet and a trip to the park works well too!

Answer 13

Get outside.  Kick ball at the park...frisbee...hide n seek...tag....go to the skatepark.....swimming....fishing.....go eat ice cream....relax with some action thrillers on the floor with some pop corn!!

Answer 14

ice skating can be a fun different way to cool down in the heat.

Water guns are Great fun!

Going to the park and community pool will keep them happy many days in a row.

Answer 15

x box--clean movies--board games--battleship---uno card game--go fish card game --play catch,football or soft baseball--there is always the good ole frisbee--miniature golf-----pop popcorn---bake cookies-kick a soccer ball around

Answer 16

Movie, order pizza, play games outside, play video games. Ask them what they want to do

Answer 17

Play "war", the card game or Uno. Lots of fun there for cheap!!

Answer 18

play ball with them

Answer 19

well.. any kind of physical activity will be good, any kind of sport or anything is always great.

Answer 20

invent new games like "attack of the giant dinosaur monster" something with a fun name. i have two brothers who are eight and they love to do stuff like that, but if they get bored u can always play video games.

Answer 21

Now this might sound crazy, but when my boys were that age I had them plant veggies and take care of them all summer...of course, they got to pick them and cook them and eat them!!  If you don't have a place to garden consider doing a few in containers. They'll love getting their hands dirty and when they see those seeds sprout they will be excited.

  It's also a great age to get them started in a library reading program. A lot of public libraries have summer reading programs...little competitions and fun prizes etc.

  Also, have them make their own musical instruments...there are books on this at the library and let them have fun making music.

  Of course, if their parents agree, there are lots of good Vacation Bible Schools that run for about one week at various churches. They have Bible stories, music, crafts, snacks and games. Kids love them and you don't have to go to that church to go to their VBS. Check it out.

  Hope these are helpful.

Answer 22

If you are going to babysit at night start reading to them.My son has a favorite book that we started reading last month.A perfect book is Billy Creekmore by Tracy Porter.I bought this book at BooksAMillion for 10 bucks. I enjoyed this book and he does to.It's about a boy that is 8 and all the changes in a boys life.So good we have a difficult time putting it down.Plus his mother will be impressed.

Answer 23

if its okay w/ their parents - u could invite some of their friends over to also play w/ them ( it'll be double the fun)

you could ask them what they wanna do?

or u could just let them do what they want, while you watch them

(as long as ITS OKAY W/ THEIR PARENTS)

hope that helps

=D

Answer 24

First off you might want to check with the parents to see what they are willing to pay out in the way of entertainment.  My son, who's this age would be just as content riding his bike and hanging out with neighborhood friends part of the time.  If you have a lake near by maybe take them fishing or pack a lunch and go to the park.  Maybe you can ask to let them invite friends over that way they entertain themselves.  Mine love to help out in the kitchen so on rainy days we bake cookies, play games and maybe do an art project.

Answer 25

1. Have them take things outdoors (sticks, leaves, rocks) and create musical instruments...

2. Have them draw an item they want for their birthday or Christmas.

3. Get some new comic books and have each one read one, and then do an oral report , or act out the story to the others!

4. Buy a large table from a road side junk dealer/thrift store and let them paint or decorate it and keep it outdoors for them to play or eat on.

5. Give them all a fruit and have them find a way to make a new dessert with a partner.

6. Help them all create a new shaped pinata, and use it to decorate their play area until you use it on one of their birthdays.

7. Pin the tail on the animal of choice; or the eyes,nose, ears and mouth on the clown.

Good luck!

Answer 26

swimming will take up your days ..frisbee ..painting..water balloon fights are always a blast. Hiking looking for frogs reptiles ect..animal tracks..look for rocks with crystals and collect them...knock on nieghbors doors and run! (thats just me though )

Answer 27

Watch movies with them or play non-violent sport video-games in addition to the things you listed above.

Answer 28

my 8 year old brother likes to build lego sets, and play with stuff... he likes computer games too, but too much of that isnt good for you...

Answer 29

anything outdoors and video games

Answer 30

-rent an age appropriate movie

-bake a cake

-bike ride w/ picnic

-visit the aquarium, zoo, etc.

Answer 31

t.v in th summer is like heaven