Help Please

[Shandi]

Okay everyone, I know that many of you have kids. I am beginning a new job tomorrow and I am going to be watching my 2 1/2 year old daughter along with another little girl her age and a 6 year old boy. I am really excited because I love children, but I am confused on what to do.

I am going to have them for about 12 hours, does anyone have any advice on activities and things they can do? I really would appreciate any ideas because I agree with letting them watch a dvd or two since Bri has educational dvd's, but I do not agree with just turning on the electronic babysitter and I am not going to do that.

 

[Goblin6]

Okay everyone, I know that many of you have kids. I am beginning a new job tomorrow and I am going to be watching my 2 1/2 year old daughter along with another little girl her age and a 6 year old boy. I am really excited because I love children, but I am confused on what to do.

I am going to have them for about 12 hours, does anyone have any advice on activities and things they can do? I really would appreciate any ideas because I agree with letting them watch a dvd or two since Bri has educational dvd's, but I do not agree with just turning on the electronic babysitter and I am not going to do that.

How well do they get along? 12 hours is a long time.
Coloring and oher arts and crafts type stuff is good. Letting them outside to work off some energy. If the oldest is up for it have him help you do things.

 

[ArchAngel]

Play-doh, Legos, crayons, have them bat some balloons around for a while make it a game and see how long they can keep it from touching the floor. Interactive story time...read them a story but leave out words and let them fill them in and have a siily story time. Hide and seek, get some hair spray and have siily hair-doos for a while. Get some sidewalk chalk and turn them loose, it hoses right off. Take them to the park. I could go on if you really need me to...LOL My boy is 8 now so we've done a lot...LOL

 

[QueenB]

Coloring, simple art projects, reading to them...

The most important thing for you to give these children is a set schedule. No matter what you do, do it with consistency and make sure you plan the day properly.

If you have a local park that you can take them to for an hour every day, then take them (make sure the parents are okay with you taking them places).

At 2 1/2 both girls should still be getting naps but the boy won't. While the girls are napping you can set aside 30 minutes or so and read to him. The "special" time will be good for him. Like Brad suggested, you can also let him "help" you with housework.

One of Kait's very favorite things to do is help me fold clothes, seriously. She also likes to help unload the dishwasher. At 5, 6, and 7 putting silverware away and folding a stack of washcloths really isn't a big deal and will give him a sense of accomplishment while teaching a little responsibility.

You are right in not allowing too much time for the television. It's not really beneficial to their educational development and too many parents rely on it as a "baby sitter".

One of the decisions I made early on was to focus on getting toys that were of an educational nature. Kait has a VSmile rather than a Playstation. She had a Leapfrog rather than a gameboy. And, believe it or not, I had more teachers and other parents tell me that she was really advanced for her age. If you focus on games that will stimuate their mind rather than just entertain them then you'll be doing more for them in the long run.

Spend some time every day doing something active. It'll be good for you and the children. Let them have TV time while you are doing something they can't help with. But, for the most part, just try and relax and spend some QUALITY time with them.

Good luck. I did the whole babysitting for a friend thing, it isn't easy and it's certainly not always "fun". Kids are a handful, especially when they don't belong to you.

OHHHHH, one last thing, set boundaries and STICK to them. Their parents need to know that you have rules and you need permission to enforce those rules and then enough backbone to do so. Don't let them run your household or you'll end up hating every minute of the 12 hours they are with you.

Again, good luck, I don't envy you.

 

[Shandi]

Thanks everyone, you mentioned many things that I had not thought of. The sidewalk chalk was awesome because I have a whole box of it and while the girls may not be crazy about it yet, I have a cement pad outside and the boy will probably love it.

Em,
What you said about buying Kait educational toys is exactly what I do with Bri. We have already decided to make christmas an educational one instead of buying her a bunch of junk that she will not play with.

Thanks everyone for your ideas. My little girl has never played with them, but their aunt says that they get along well. They are kids though so they will definitely have energy. I have to figure out a set schedule though. I am not sure what it is going to be yet.

I really love the park idea also, but unfortunately, right now I only have a truck so I do not have enough room for two carseats and a booster seat in it so we will have to make do with my yard.

Once again, thank you everyone for helping me.

 

[QueenB]

Sweetie, the leapfrog stuff is excellent!!! They are fairly affordable and you can get TONS of games that will age with her. The VSmile product line is also awesome. I think Bri is probably a little old for it but Baby Einstein has some wonderful stuff as well.

 

[Angela]

Oh wow! Good for you

I ran a licensed child care out of my home for about 6 months and learned that I do not have the patience necessary for children at all hours of the day.... I soooo admire that ability. It is hard work.

Every day of the week had a designated project. Mondays we would usually go for an adventure outside in "nature." Tuesdays was usually arts and crafts day... mosts crafts revolved around the particular season we were in. Wednesdays were "free" days where the kids chose our activities for the day. Thursdays was geared around physical fitness where we would play group activities such as baseball or soccer outside (weather permitting). Fridays the focus was on nutrition and we would discuss the meals for the following week. We had a very strict nutrition guideline to follow given by the state and we (the kids and I) followed it and the kids learned a lot. Usually on this day we would have a cooking project that the kids could help with.

I ran a schedule but was pretty flexible with it. We ate at the same times every day, napped or had quiet time at the same time every day, free play, had story time etc, etc... Each week we would learn about something new and the weeks activities would be structured around it. I found that time went by much faster with a schedule rather than winging it every day...but I had up to 8 kids at one time. With 3 You will probably be able to be more relaxed.

The two year olds will love music and dance (maybe the 6 year old too).... Spend an hour or so just playing children's music and dancing around the house. The six year old can be "in charge" of the music and or be the "camera person"....or maybe he can be part of the "lighting crew" and flash the lights while the girls are dancing...lol He may think it a little too babyish at first, but I'm sure he would love being the center of attention if given an audience too....

Hope these help a little...??... Have fun!!

 

[Angela]

I thought of some other things....lol Actually, I can probably write a book...lol Em I totally right on with everything she said too!

You mentioned that the park would be out for now. If you have an extra $25 or so, call around to junk yards and get yourself a gigantic tire. I got one for about that price and they delivered it and hauled it over the fence with a crane for free. I cleaned it up and filled it half way with gravel. The kids loved playing on it and I would even let them paint on it too. You can always get a cheap swing set from Walmart and cement the posts into the ground. Have lots of balls and hoola hoops. Go to garage sales and pick up a couple small bikes too.

In the play room I kept all the basics: legos, lincoln logs, dolls, hot wheels, action figures etc. You can set up a little "performing arts" corner and have a box of old "dress up" clothes that you can pick up at second hand stores and garage sales (wash them first of course The kids go crazy and spend so much time dressing up! Old halloween costumes are great too. Also in this corner you can keep some hand puppets. You can buy a cheap set online. Check out orientaltradingcompany.com That's where I would buy mine. Have them help you build a "puppet stage" out of cardboard and paint and they will have hours of fun putting on puppet shows.

Have "special" toys that you can rotate out every month or so.

 

[KajedAnimal]

and most importantly...nap time! I don't understand why us adults don't get nap time at work??

 

[Shandi]

Thanks a lot, all the ideas really help. They should be here any minute. I will post back to let everyone know how my first day goes.

And Kaje, I agree, we should all get a naptime. Hopefully her child naps better than mine. Brianna woke up yesterday before 9 am and did not go to sleep until about 8:30 last night. No nap at all and ill as a hornet today.