At some point in your life, it is inevitable that you will become a babysitter. Most people think it's the easiest way to make money, but sometimes it's way harder than it sounds. Keeping children occupied all day for multiple days of the week is not as easy as it sounds. With almost ten years of experience under my belt, I've come up with a list of things that could easily make you the best babysitter ever!
1. Craft
This is wonderful for those rainy days or unbearably hot summer days. Every child loves to create. If you don't mind a mess, paint will keep a child occupied for at least an hour at a time! This is where Pinterest comes in handy. If there's a holiday coming up, have the kids make cards or gifts for their friends and family. I've found that if you come up with a craft for the kids to make for their parents, they are willing to work until it's perfect! If you're really brave, let the kids make their own PlayDough and they'll be occupied for hours!
2. Bake
Kids love to bake, and babysitters love to eat! There is nothing better than baking with your kiddos and being able to munch on your edible creations all day long. Duncan Hines makes a "Perfect Size" cake mix that includes the cake mix, pan, and icing! This is simple and makes sure the kids don't go into a sugar coma! Throw in some sprinkles to let the kids decorate their dessert and you'll be voted their favorite babysitter ever!
3. Free Bowling
After a little bit of research, I've found that our local bowling alley does free bowling during the week for children! The only expense is renting the bowling shoes. How awesome is that? The kids get two free games of bowling a day all summer long! To check and see if your local bowling alley participates, check out this link: http://www.kidsbowlfree.com/
4. Make a Scavenger Hunt
This is super simple and it can be as easy or as time consuming as you want it to be! I suggest making it the day before, but you can just as easily make it up as you go. For the kids that can't read yet, draw pictures of the places you need them to go to find the next clue. For those that can read, I suggest making the clues into a type of riddle to make it a little more fun for them and for you! The prize at the end can be bragging rights, or (if you really want to be the best babysitter ever) throw in a small toy from the dollar store; the kids will think they won the lottery!
5. Free Movies
Most movie theaters will do a free movie once or twice a week in the mornings. Our local theater even throws in free popcorn if you bring a canned good! This is a great way to entertain your children in an air conditioned environment. Make sure to get there a little bit early because most daycare facilities bring their children and the theaters fill up fast!
6. Build a Fort
Who doesn't love forts? Grab as many blankets and pillows as you can and build the most epic fort for your kids to chill out in all day. They can spend endless hours playing house, board games, and watching movies under their fort - and you can join in on the fun!
7. Have a Water Fight
Since a pool isn't always accessible during the summer, have water guns, a sprinkler, and water balloons handy! Most babysitters don't like to deal with the mess that outdoor water activities create, but if you brave the mess, this will be one unforgettable summer for your kids! They will love squirting each other with water guns and dodging water balloons left and right! And it's a great way to burn some of their built up energy and keep cool while doing it!
Make sure to be re-hired and voted best babysitter ever by using some of these great ideas and by not being afraid to get a little messy; just make sure the mess is cleaned up before the parents get home! And never, ever forget to join in on the fun and play right along with the kids!
