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12 Fun Things To Do With The Kids You're Nannying This Summer

Keeping kids entertained all summer long isn't as easy as it seems.

Peyton Kline

Apr 11, 2019

University of Kentucky

363

12 Fun Things To Do With The Kids You're Nannying This Summer

Peyton Kline

For anyone that takes up full-time nannying as a summer job, you are all too familiar with hearing, "What are we going to do today?" Either that or being hit with the classic, "I'm so bored!" I've come to find that the key to keeping kids entertained all summer long is coming into every day with a plan including something to get them excited to do each day, whether that be a place to go or an activity to do. Here are some easy and inexpensive ideas for those days when there is "nothing to do."

Go to the park

For days when it's not too unbearably hot, it's great to get out of the house and go to the park to play on the playground or ride bikes. Plus, after the kids are done burning off all of that energy, you're likely in for an easy rest of the day.

Wash the car

Pull out the old fashioned soap bucket and big sponges and turn the driveway into a carwash! It's refreshing on a hot summer day, the kids love it, and your car gets clean- win-win!

Go out for ice cream

Every once in a while, treat the kids (and yourself) to some delicious ice cream at your favorite local shop! It may cost you a few dollars but it's cheaper than going out to eat and totally worth it. Making sundaes at home can also be a fun option. Don't forget the chocolate syrup and sprinkles!

Have a board game day

For the rainy days, have a board game day! It's very easy and provides entertainment for an extended period of time. Some favorites of the kids I watch include Connect 4, Chutes and Ladders, Candy Land, Sorry, and card games such as Go Fish.

Have a movie day

Another rainy day favorite is movie day! Pick out some of their favorite movies and pop some popcorn. You could even make a fort out of the couch to watch the movies from with blankets, pillows, and other household items.

Make slime

For some reason, making slime was one of the favorite activities for the kids I watched this summer. Mix together some glue, water, contact solution, and food coloring and you have yourself some gooey slime! There are tons of recipes online- you could even make it glow-in-the-dark or glittery!

Have a picnic

Make lunch a little more fun by eating it outside of the kitchen. Whether it be at the park or in the backyard, roll out your picnic blanket and enjoy the beautiful summer sunshine while eating a healthy lunch.

Do arts and crafts

glue, scissors, glitter, arts and crafts

Unlock your creative side by doing some arts and crafts! I bought my kids canvases and flower pots, gave them some paint, and let them do their thing! Make sure to cover the workspace though, because paint can be messy and easily spilled! Another easy craft is making bracelets with string a beads!

Bake cookies

Satisfy the kids' sweet tooth by baking some cookies (after a healthy lunch of course)! You can even cut them out into fun shapes. When they're out of the oven, let the kids decorate them with icing and sprinkles!

Play in the water hose

A great way to cool down and entertain is playing outside with the hose, if you don't mind getting sprayed! It keeps kids entertained for hours and you can even get a nice tan.

Have a spa day

This one is for the girly-girls. Pull out all your fun nail polish colors and turn the house into a nail salon! Don't be afraid to paint every nail a different color!

Let them play with the Snapchat filters on your phone

I've come to find that Snapchat is the most underrated form of babysitting entertainment. Kids get an absolute kick out of seeing themselves with Snapchat filters and recording themselves with the voice effects. Be careful to supervise, though, because you don't want them to accidentally (or not so accidentally) send things to other people or see something they shouldn't see on your phone.

Now, you have 12 ideas to entertain your kids in the summer. Summer is a lot longer than 12 days though, so for the rest of the days, good luck!

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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12 Fun Things To Do With The Kids You're Nannying This Summer

Keeping kids entertained all summer long isn't as easy as it seems.

Go to the park

Wash the car

Go out for ice cream

Have a board game day

Have a movie day

Make slime

Have a picnic

Do arts and crafts

Bake cookies

Play in the water hose

Have a spa day

Let them play with the Snapchat filters on your phone

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The Best Lines from the Fab Four

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all I got to give if you say you'll love me too. I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you. I don't care too much for money. Money can't buy me love

All you need is love, love is all you need

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

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6. The consequences of making bad choices.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

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10. How to work for what I want.

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12. How to be humble.

13. To be well-rounded.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

16. To be prepared for anything.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

18. How to be creative.

19. To brush off gossip.

I have never been so thankful to know you.

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Don't freak out

Email the professor

Attend the first class

Keep attending class

Have a backup plan

Remember that everything works out at the end

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