I'm going to a church today to "baby-sit" for the first time ever, and I don't know what little kids are into. I'd hate for them to throw crayons at me because I'm boring.
2007-03-11 05:14:27 · 11 answers · asked by yahyouknow 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Adolescent
you sound very nice for being concerned! i would interact with them, color with them, play with them, sing some songs. all kids are different, find out what they like by asking questions and getting to know them. good luck!
2007-03-11 05:17:59 · answer #1 · answered by WxEtte 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Little kids don't sit and colour for long. The most interesting thing you can do after 10 minutes with wax crayons is to melt them and experiment. And if you have felt pens, after 10 minutes the most interesting thing you can do is test which ones are dry of ink, open them up and put water in, making them work again but in paler colours. If you don't want it to get too messy, it doesn't matter if you're the one doing most of the stuff; as long as they're involved in some way and they like the result, they will be happy.
A few more ideas that don't take much in the way of resources (I think it's really sad when babysitters spend a lot of money on glitter glue and stickables only to see the kids scatter it all over the floor and fight):
Get red, yellow and blue food colouring and tip them into different (white) tubs of water, and watch the drops slowly spread through the water. Then ask the children what will happen when you mix red and yellow; try it, and so on...
Get watery colours--eg felt pen ink--spotted onto tissue, then apply water to soak along in one direction. Some of the inks will separate out into component colours.
You can do "secret messages" on coloured paper and then paint them back to visibility: Draw or write the message or picture in wax crayon the same colour as the paper, so it's nearly invisible. Then paint a different colour in watery paint over the top, and because the wax-covered bit will resist the wateriness, the message will show up.
Lastly, you have to remember that little kids like to do whatever they see you doing. So, if you do want them to sit and colour pictures, you start by colouring one yourself, talking away happiliy to no-one in particular about what you're doing and what colours you like. Then they'll start asking for colouring to do.
2007-03-11 12:40:42 · answer #2 · answered by Fiona J 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Children at this age, especially 3, learn through play and imagining. Telling or reading stories and encouraging them to take part works well. Also, invent little play situations with any toys that are there, i.e. playing house, school, etc. Games are always good to inspire their imagination and keep them active as well, such as tag, finding things in the room that are a certain color or shape, I spy. Let them lead you in what they want to do, they will often know what they want to play.
2007-03-11 12:22:15 · answer #3 · answered by Jacqueline P 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on what type of activity and space you have available. If you cannot take them out to run around and need indoor stuff try activities like coloring, singing songs, crafts, things that use small motor skills. Keeps them busy. You may be able to have the older ones help the little ones w/ things like cutting and glueing.
2007-03-11 12:21:07 · answer #4 · answered by krispeds 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Little kids have short attentions spans and learn through imagination and playing. You could always play hide and seek, I spy, color, read books, make up songs, puzzles, age appropriate movies. Talk to them. Just watch out with small peices and foods with the little one. Kids that age like to stick things in there mouths.
2007-03-11 14:19:18 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They like to color and play easy games. The also like activity. You can sing songs like the itsy bitsy spider.
2007-03-11 12:40:38 · answer #6 · answered by Nyomi's Mommy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well...Some of them like to color, some of them like to just play with their toys, some like to watch movies, some enjoy reading. I suggest just asking them what they want to do.
2007-03-11 12:17:44 · answer #7 · answered by Saeran 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
just get down to there level color with them play games i spy bingo etc good luck
2007-03-11 12:18:39 · answer #8 · answered by Katheryn L 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they like to draw
play house (i remember playing that when i was younger)
play dress up
play tag
boys like to destroy things (its just in every boy's genes)
little girls wanna feel 'grown up' and put on make up
2007-03-11 15:41:09 · answer #9 · answered by Lina 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
play plenty of games
2007-03-14 20:57:13 · answer #10 · answered by 789512 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋