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three year old and a five year old
Hey!
K so, I got a new babysitting job this weekend, and I havnt met the kids yet. All I know is that they are a three year old boy and a five year old girl. I have to babysit for about 6 hours, from 11 am to 5 pm. and I'm not sure if they are going to take a nap or not, but I need to try and find some things to do with them. Like I can take them out in the back yard and stuff, but six hours is a long time. Is there anything I can bring to get through the boring parts of the day? Oh, ps, it's supposed to rain, so I kinda doubt I will be able to take them outside for very long.
Thanks!
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Yo.
If the kids are close to the same age then they will probably be interested in the same things. Finger painting, TV, movies, board games, yes going outside is fun but if it will rain then it might not be a good idea. Hide-n-seek, and if you tire them out then they probably will want a nap. You could also try follow the leader, simon says and if they have a computer and some kids games, then they could always do that.
Hope I helped!!
-YOLIV
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Kids around this age normally will tell you what they want to do. I babysit for a 6 year old and a 4 year old, and they are always pulling me in different directions wanting me to play with them. Since you haven't met them yet, ask to see their rooms. Kids love to show you their toys, their bed, books, stuff like that. Also, if they have any pets, ask them to introduce you to them as well.
If it doesn't rain, make sure you get them outside for some fresh air. If the youngest does take a nap, have the five year old relax as well. Read some books, have a snack, or watch tv.
As others have suggested, arts and crafts are a great thing to pass time. The kids I sit for LOVE to paint. If you aren't sure what to do for crafts, look online, or you could even just bring a coloring book. They may not want to draw, but at least you have that as a backup.
Best of luck!
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Yes art supplies, board games, and books are always good. Plus if you have any other toys in good shape from when you were little thats good to. Kids love anything new, (not litterally new just new to them) If the toy isnt from their house specifically their bound to be entertained by it for awhile. Go to even a dollar store and spend a few dollars on some new age appropraite toys, play dough, puzzles, books, or board games, if you dont want to bring or dont have your own.
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Usually when I babysitt I bring this box with me. its called a "kid kit" I have some toys and books and colouring stuff in there! i have found
out that kids prefere to play with something thats not theirs but they like it!
bye!
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I would imagine the parents have children's videos to help you entertain them for an hour or so and there's kid's channels too.
A five year old girl is the easiest because she can tell you what she wants to do and play with dolls etc. It's the three year old boy that'll be the most difficult-- but he has toys and the videos and maybe books too so read him (them) a story.
Play a board game even if he can't follow rules well, let it slide and compliment him and encourage him and let him cheat to his understanding and explain to the five year old girl what you are doing and let her help you.
Just ask the parents what the kids like to do and ask the little girl too. Maybe make cookies if allowed, they both can get involved that.
Little girls like to "dress up" and put "make-up" on and maybe ask the parents if that's okay as long as you remove the "make-up" and the little boy might have fun watching that and want to dress up like a superman with a towel as a cape or twin sheet, etc. and who knows...the hours might pass by fast.
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hey, i'm in the same situation except the kids i'm babysitting are a baby, 5 and 3! anyways, play-dough is fun. when babysitters babysat me i always wanted play-dough. what about a coloring book? kids love coloring and art crafts. how about you rent some movies that their parents permit you guys to watch and watch a couple? that should take care of about 30 minutes- to an hour because they don't like to stay still for long. puzzles are fun too but they do get boring after like 3-5 minutes... or somewhere around there? maybe make them cookies or read them books. and if i were you, i would give them each naps because you don't want them cranky when their parents get back :3 milk makes them tired so if you want to put them to sleep for a nap, give them milk like 15 minutes before it and read a boring story to them- they'll get bored and doze off. that should take care of a good 1-3 hours of time off your shoulders. maybe put on a little show like a puppet show- i know cheesy, right? but it'll entertain them.
hope i helped!
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Art supplies are good. Paper, crayons, safety scissors, tape, and coloring books will keep them very happy for a while. It would be appropriate to ask the parents if you can be reimbursed up to ten dollars for such items (bring them the receipts). A ream of white copy paper and a box of 64 crayolas will go a long way (for the three-year-old, get a box of the big fat crayons).
Books are useful. They probably already have some, but they might be interested in hearing some new stories. Raid your old stuff for Dr. Seuss and similar literature.
Bring some fun music to dance around to, if you can. Dance with them and don't worry about looking foolish - they will not pass judgement. If you don't have any age-appropriate music of your own, you can probably find some at the local library.
It might be a good idea to bring ONE movie that they can watch, but this would be something to do once you've exhausted all the other possibilities. Most parents don't like it when a sitter just plops their kids in front of the TV, but there are times when it's a valuable distraction. Make sure that what you bring is something they both can enjoy. Disney/Pixar movies, of course, are the standard.
The three-year-old will probably want to take a nap at some point, so bring something you can do with just the five-year-old, like an age-appropriate game. Again, she may have her own things that she will want to do with you. I hope you like Barbies or Bratz dolls, because you can pretty much count on that activity.
Don't forget the classics! Hide-and-seek is lots of fun for kids of this age group. Let them win.
Finally, whatever you bring along, bring it in a big bag and withdraw activities one at a time. If you pull everything out at once, it will not last nearly as long. Let them do one thing and get tired of it before introducing something new.
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