Babysitting activities?

Question

This weekend I'm going to be babysitting an 8-year-old boy. I really wanted him to have LOTS of fun, so that he will want to come again. It will be at night, so we won't be able to go outside.

Any ideas for what we could do?

Answer 1

I babysit a lot. I love to babysit. i am babysitting tomorrow night actually and my mom does daycare for a living. and i know how to get kids to have a ton of fun and tell their parents to go away more often so you stay more.

Do a lot of things. Don't stop. You need to have as much energy as they do. Get outside. Be fun and spontaneous. If you see a park, stop by there, maybe for even just 10 mins. It would just be 1 more thing on his list of things to tell his parents. On the walk, you could pick up leaves and when you get back to the house, put paper over them and color on the paper so you leave a print of the leaf. Play video games. Make something like...if your making lunch, let him help you by stirring whatever you are cooking.

A big thing is you need to have a happy face on even if you are tired and not happy. Kids really can sense how you feel by your attitude and it has a huge impact on how happy they are.

With boys you can do things like play with Lego's. If you make something, let him destroy it. You could go on a bike ride. there are so many things you can do. Just be creative! If you try to have fun, he will too. Good luck!

OOO, forts! build forts. Right in front of the TV so you guys can play video games and watch tv while you sit in something you built. Make sure you clean it all up before the parents come home!

Answer 2

First of all, remember that a one year old can't walk, and a two year old may not even be able to talk. The five year olds will love your games though! Kids like to be active, so dancing is great and games are fun, too. Set up little relay races. Little girls also love clapping games, like the Miss Sue games (sorry if you don't know that game, ask a friend!) Older kids like trivia games too. Maybe you could think up some fun trivia questions (like Disney trivia or movie trivia) and have little prizes, like little candies or something. Kids have big imaginations, so anything where they get to pretend to be somebody (playing house or something) will be good. When you give them crayons to draw, try telling them something to draw. Maybe they can make a card for their parents, or draw their dream house or something. You can find some brown lunch bags and construction paper and make puppets, then they can make a show for their parents later. Oh, make a scavenger hunt, or something like that. Or, do this: give them their first clue, which is some simple rhyme about where the next clue is. Then, they go find the next clue (on the fridge, on the bed, in the shower, places like that) and at the end they find a treasure. Good luck, and make sure you include everybody, since they're all different ages!

Answer 3

The game Clue. Boys like to use mental skills and problem solve, so anything that can keep him occupied for a period of time.

Also, try (if available) Disney's Scene It!.

Or, get him distracted and put together a "treasure chest" of goodies, like popcorn, candy and a movie. Then draw a treasure map with clues around the entire house (like take 18 steps up the staircase and turn 360 degrees and take 18 steps down). Keep it up until X marks the spot and then he and you can have popcorn and watch a movie together!

Answer 4

You could make a cubby with him, then you could play with torches and stuff underneath. To start with he could maybe design the cubby himself. i work at before and afterschool care and the kids LOVE building cubbies. maybe you could make your own cubby too and then you can each have a 'fortress' if he is eating there you could have a picnic in the cubbies.
Cooking is also a great idea, if you cook somthing like pretzles then he will be able to need the mixture for a bit and roll it out make the pretzel shapes. We did this in vacation care and the kids all had a great time and it did take a while, the pretzles are simple to make too!
hope this helps

Answer 5

Make him good food and bring toys for him to play with. Most kids are happy just to have someone to play with, so just play games with him and he'll love you. Another thing that makes them think you're pretty awesome is if you let them stay up a couple minutes past their bed time. Also, learn some magic tricks! Then afterwards you can teach him how you did them, all kids love that.

Answer 6

Well if it's a night thing remember that he has to be in bed at a reasonable time, therefore you probably don't have to worry about to many ideas.

Boys like to play video games so if you have a game player or you can ask him to bring his own and play his favorite games, you can also rent some at the video store.

Board games are good too.

Good luck

Answer 7

Make some cool and colorful juggling balls with him, using balloons, and rice. They're easy but look amazing. Then have fun juggling together.
You'll find instructions on my website, below. If you follow the links to other pages there are lots more craft ideas and recipes you could try.
Have fun!

Answer 8

Make snacks. Popcorn or even Pizza!

Then have fun doing the dishes!

Answer 9

i like th cooking ideas, like show him how to make pizza or something he likes and play with some stuff like if he like trucks or whatever. art stuff is good too. anything to keep him busy. video games! ^_^ just whenever u here the words "I'm bored" change what ur doing and ask what he wants to do. ^_^

Answer 10

You could cook or bake something. That might be a little messy, but I bet it would be fun!