Ideas for Babysitting Activities

Story Time

• Young children, from birth onwards, enjoy being read to and as they near school age, love to read for themselves. Babysitters can spend some time exploring the child's favorite stories. Alternatively, babysitters that care for the same children on a regular basis can create a story with the children in their care. Together, decide on a storyline and add a few pages to the story each time, along with illustrations made with crayons, pencil crayons or markers. When the book is completed, plan an elaborate book cover with glue and sparkles, scrapbook decals and any other craft items available. The child, or children, will have a memorable token of the time spent with their babysitter.

Makeovers

• When caring for girls of varying ages, babysitters can bring along a mini-spa and makeover kit for an evening of pampering and beauty. Bring a basket with nail polish, hair accessories, cosmetics and body glitter. Homemade spa treatments can be made from bananas, avocados, yogurt, peaches and honey. Babysitters should secure the parent's permission prior to the activity. For very young children, spend an hour or two pampering the little princess. Begin by applying a kid-friendly facial mask; then let her choose a nail polish. While her nails are drying, wash off the facial mask and put her hair in a ponytail, bun or French twist. Finish her look off by applying a little bit of eye shadow and lipstick. For older children, adventurous babysitters could consider an evening of mutual makeovers. Spend the evening playing hairstylist and cosmetologist to one another; and perhaps have a good laugh over the results.

Baking

• Babysitters can find recipes that can make age-appropriate activities for the children in their care. Crisped-rice squares can be a safe baking option for younger children because the ingredients can be melted in the microwave rather than on the stove top. Another idea for very young children is to come prepared with pre-made cookies and some tubes of icing, sprinkles and other toppings with which to decorate the cookies. Older children may enjoy making a chocolate-chip cookie pizza and substituting white icing for cheese and green, red and black candies for olives and pepperoni.

Outdoor Games

• Babysitters can plan an afternoon of outdoor games and activities in the backyard to occupy a group of children. Begin by hiding a variety of items around the backyard that can be used in a later activity. For example, hide a few bottles of bubbles and some small and large bubble wands for the children to find. Babysitters can organize a succession of games, including chain-linked tag, relay races and "statue." For chain-linked tag, have one child be "it" while the other children stay linked together by joining hands. As each person is tagged, they join the other team until there is only one person left. Let everyone relax on the grass for a few minutes and blow some bubbles. Then bring a music player outside to play statue. Have the children dance around to the music and then when the music is paused, all of the children must try to be as still as a statue. Those who move are out until the next round. Finish off the day with some relay races. Babysitters can set up an obstacle course involving a path made with hula-hoops, a pillowcase sack race, and a tricycle ride to the finish line.