Babysitting Activities

Babysitting activities are fun and they could be helpful in developing various useful skills in the children. There are many outdoor and indoor activities and games to keep a baby engaged. This article gives an overall idea about various babysitting activities.
Babysitting Activities
Babysitting is a part-time job many teenagers would take up to make some quick extra money. There are times when even older people like a friend of yours would baby-sit in times of emergency. When you baby-sit, you have to plan out a few babysitting activities to keep the baby/children engaged. The activities have to be planned according to the age group of the babies. However, dancing, singing and reading out aloud from a storybook are some of the babysitting activities that are common to all age groups.

Babysitting Activities

Babysitting activities should be planned keeping mind the number of children you have to baby-sit. If you have to baby sit for only one baby, then the indoor/outdoor activities are limited. If the baby is a toddler, then there are very few things a baby sitter can do.
  • Babysitting Activity for a Toddler
One thing, which a toddler would love to do, is draw on walls or on anything that is within their reach. Give them a few fat color crayons and some waste papers. You can ask them to draw anything that holds their fantasy. Allow them to let their imagination run wild. For waste paper, you can cut open the large grocery paper bags. To prevent the paper bag from moving away, you can stick it to the floor using a paper tape.
  • Babysitting Activity for Age Group Three and Above
There are many babysitting activities for a three-year-old baby. However, if you have to baby-sit on a wet day, then you can try out this activity. This activity is called "Guessing The Object". In a grocery bag, put some objects that have a distinctive feel and shape. For instance, you can use objects such as a ball, cubes, spoon, toys and so on. Let the child/children take turn in feeling the object and guess what is in the bag. You can allow the children to take turns in putting the object inside the bag and let the others guess.

Another babysitting activity that can be played by children all age groups is making faces. You can ask the child to face the mirror and make silly faces at themselves. You can ask them to make a face as if they are happy, sad, angry or afraid about something. If there are more babies, then you can hold a contest.
  • Babysitting Activity for Age Group Four and above
A few of the activities that you can scheme out for the babies of age four years are treasure hunt, hide and seek, take them out for a walk, help them solve a puzzle and so on. If you happen to be babysitting on a rainy day, you can help them make fun crafts with materials that is usually found at home, read stories, give them a few color crayons and ask them to draw funny pictures and so on. However, on a bright day, take them out for a walk to the nearby park, allow them to use the baby swings and slides.

The babysitters can plan out various babysitting activities, while keeping in mind the age group and the interests of a baby. However, ensure that you have the permission of the parents to carry out various activities that you have planned out for their precious little ones. It is always wise to discuss the activities with the mother of the baby, before starting off.

By Maya Pillai
Published: 7/3/2008
 
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