One of my favorite activities to do is babysit and spend time with little kiddos. Kids are super fun and they say the craziest things. Babysitting allows me to be a kid again, playing with fake food and running a restaurant or coloring and crafting for hours on end.
I've been babysitting for various families since middle school and I've been a nanny the past two summers for my neighbors. I've also taught Vacation Bible School at church and taught swim lessons for years as well, so being with kids is definitely one of my favorite pastimes.
However, in this digital age, it's becoming harder and harder to find things for kids to do that don't involve screens, especially when all the kids want to do is play on the iPad or watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse over and over again.
Because of this and because I started nannying last week, I've come up with a list of items and activities to do with children that don't involve screens that you and I can refer to in times of need.
And in all honesty, kids look up to and love their nannies, so they want to spend time with YOU, not hours with their iPad, television shows and video games (even if it sometimes feels that way).
1. Play outside
The first and most obvious answer, kids love to play outside! Play in the backyard, on the swing set, with the water table, blow bubbles, hula hoop, play HORSE or PIG at the basketball hoop or start a game, play kickball or practice throwing and catching a baseball. There are SO many ways to get outside and have fun.
2. Go to the park
Every neighborhood (usually) has a fun park for all the neighborhood kids. Plus, they have jungle gyms, huge slides, monkey bars, seesaws and/or sand pits which are things kids normally wouldn't have at home in the backyard. There's also other kids at the park as well, so it's easy to start a game of tag or follow the leader. BONUS: Have a picnic at the park!
3. Go swimming
When I was a kid, my favorite activity during the summer was swimming. If the parents give the OK, take the kids to the public outdoor pool or set up a kiddie pool in the backyard. Don't have a pool nearby or can't drive the kids anywhere AND they don't have a pool for the backyard? Get out the hose and sprinkler (or just hose).
4. Pinterest arts & crafts
GiphyThere's an INSANE amount of crafts out there for kids of all ages and most just require the basics: coloring utensils, paper, glue and scissors. BONUS: Have them make something for mom and dad, kids love making and giving their parents homemade gifts.
5. Color
GiphyColoring needs its own category separate from arts and crafts IMO. Get out all the 100 washable markers, the six glitter crayons, the 64 pack of colored pencils and the 10 pack of scented markers and you're ready to GO! If you don't have coloring books, construction paper or printer paper will do just fine.
6. Make fleece tie blankets
GiphyThis might not be the best idea for the summer, but during the fall and winter months, making a tie blanket is a fun easy activity. Fleece fabric is endless when it comes to designs, figure out what the child's favorite animal or character is and buy fleece in that design. A couple years ago, I bought three different Frozen/Elsa/Anna fleece fabrics for three girls to make. For younger kids, you'll have to do all the cutting and probably most of the tying, but the older kids can cut their own fabric and you can teach them how to tie.
7. Have a picnic
Have the kids help you make sandwiches and/or help you pack everything up for a picnic in the backyard or at the park. Go all out with the wicker basket and checkered blanket too.
8. Go for a walk or a bike ride
Put the younger kids in a stroller and/or have the older kids bike. These activities get the kids out of the house and a walk or bike ride can take up to about 30-45 min.
9. Chalk on the sidewalk
Have competitions to see who can write their name the fastest or neatest, who can draw their favorite animal, etc. Chalk is always super fun and you and the kids can get super creative with it.
10. Teach older kids how to "cook"
And by cook I mean make mac & cheese or spaghetti, cut up fruits and vegetables, mix together ingredients for cookies or brownies, make sandwiches and pour themselves a bowl of cereal — the easy stuff for those who aren't quite allowed to cook completely on their own yet. Always start with the basics!
11. Make your own pizzas
This is cooking for kids of all ages, but especially for the younger ones who can't use appliances or knives yet. For making pizzas, you handle the oven and cutting the pizza parts while the kids handle the design part. Coordinate with the parents on ingredients, so it's all ready to go for the next day or time you're babysitting. Then, have the kids smush their own dough, spread pizza sauce and add their own toppings. You can even teach them how to arrange the ingredients to look like a smiley face. Enjoy!
