Whether you are new to babysitting or have years of experience, keeping children entertained can be a significant challenge. Parents often provide specific guidelines, such as limiting technology use (TV or computers) or ensuring homework is completed before playtime. However, with a bit of research and understanding of the children’s interests, keeping them engaged becomes much easier.
To make babysitting more enjoyable and help time pass quickly, it’s beneficial to have a variety of activities ready. These can range from indoor to outdoor games and from quiet to more active pursuits.
Depending on the weather and the children’s preferences, there are numerous options available to keep them entertained and happy.
Babysitting Games to Keep Children Entertained
Keeping children entertained while babysitting can be challenging, but a few playtime games and physical activities can help them feel comfortable and engaged. Here are some ideas:
1. Hide and Seek
Hide and Seek is a classic children’s game suitable for both older and younger kids. It’s ideal for indoor play and requires minimal setup.
How to Play:
– Designate one child as the seeker while the others hide.
– The seeker closes their eyes and counts to a predetermined number (e.g., fifty).
– After counting, the seeker searches for the hidden players.
– The game is more enjoyable with four or more children, but it can be played with as few as two.
Variation:
– The babysitter can hide a specific toy, and the children can work together to find it.
2. Puzzles
Puzzles are excellent for keeping children occupied for extended periods. They are engaging, educational, and rewarding.
Tips:
– Use puzzles that the children already own and enjoy, or bring new ones to excite them.
– Choose puzzles appropriate for the child’s interests, attention span, and skill level.
– Plan this activity after snack time since it doesn’t involve physical exertion.
3. Animal Movements and Sounds
If the children tire of board games, try an activity that involves movement and creativity. A zoo-themed game can be both fun and educational.
How to Play:
– Write the name of a different animal on each side of a square box.
– Have each child take turns tossing the box like a die and acting out or making the sound of the animal that lands face up.
– To add a twist, use a regular die to determine the number of times the child must perform the movement or sound.
Benefits:
– This game helps build vocabulary, improve listening and social skills, and encourages children to follow directions.
– It also provides opportunities for learning while having fun and can be a great icebreaker if it’s your first day babysitting.
4. Eye Spy
“Eye Spy” is a versatile game that can be enjoyed by nearly everyone and can be played almost anywhere.
– How to Play:
– One player begins by selecting a visible object and announces the first letter of the word as a clue.
– For example, if the object is a television, the player says, “I spy with my little eye something beginning with T.”
– The first person to correctly guess the object gets to choose the next one.
– Alternatively, the game can be played without using letters. The player might say, “I spy with my little eye something that is red,” or “I spy with my little eye something that I can eat.” This variation makes the game suitable for different age groups.
This interactive game encourages children to open up, develop social skills, cooperate with others, and expand their vocabulary.
5. Lip-Sync Competition
If you have noticed your child singing along to their favorite tunes in front of the television or using household items as a microphone, a lip-sync competition could be the perfect game.
– How to Play:
– Set up karaoke on the television with child-friendly songs and let them sing along.
– To make it more fun, provide props like pots and pans or a broom to use as an air guitar.
This activity is great for engaging children in creative play and enjoying music together.
6. Charades
When babysitting multiple children, organizing a game of charades can be an excellent choice.
– How to Play:
– Divide the children into teams of two.
– Choose kid-friendly topics such as movies, animals, famous people, book titles, or songs.
– One player from each team acts out a word or phrase without speaking, while the other teammate tries to guess what it is.
– If the guess is correct, the team scores a point. The team with the most points wins.
– Alternatively, players can act out individually, and the first person to guess the word or phrase scores a point.
Charades is a clutter-free game that doesn’t involve running around, reducing the risk of mess and injury. It can be played indoors or outdoors, stimulating children’s imagination and promoting brain development.
7. Storytelling
Storytelling is an engaging activity where each participant draws a picture on a piece of paper. These drawings are then swapped with the person to the right, who must create a story based on the drawing they receive.
This game not only fosters bonding but also enhances children’s interpretation and visualization skills, stimulating their imagination and creativity. Additionally, it can spark an interest in reading.
Quick Tip: Enhance the storytelling experience by introducing puppets. Host a puppet show and interact with the children, or have them act out characters from their favorite cartoons or movies.
8. Fun with Chalk
Chalk is a versatile and enjoyable medium for outdoor activities. Children can write messages, draw, and play games on the driveway, allowing them to enjoy the sunshine while expressing their creativity.
Older kids can play games like Twister, Foursquare, or Hopscotch, while younger children can focus on drawing and coloring. For an educational twist, encourage them to write letters and numbers.
9. Balloon Tennis
When outdoor play isn’t possible, Balloon Tennis offers a fun indoor alternative that enhances hand-eye coordination. The game is a simplified version of tennis, using a balloon instead of a ball.
To play:
– Create rackets by attaching popsicle sticks to paper plates or using fly swatters.
– Set up a “net” by tying a rope between two chairs, ensuring it’s low enough for the children to hit the balloon over.
– Each child stands on either side of the court. One player starts by tossing the balloon, and the other players hit it back.
– Continue the game as long as the children are enjoying themselves.
10. Paper Plate Ring Toss
Bring some carnival excitement home with a homemade version of the classic ring toss game. For this activity, you will need paper plates, scissors, glue, paint, and paper towel rolls.
Materials:
– Paper plates
– Scissors
– Glue
– Paint
– Paper towel rolls
Instructions:
1. Cut out the centers of the paper plates to create rings.
2. Let the children paint the rings for added fun and set them aside to dry.
3. Glue the paper towel roll to a sturdy base.
4. Once the tube dries, the game is ready to play. Have the children toss the painted rings onto the tube.
Benefits:
This activity helps relieve boredom, builds hand-eye coordination, develops gross motor skills, and improves spatial perception.
11. Pop the Bubble
Bubbles never fail to fascinate children. Take the kids outdoors, blow bubbles into the air, and encourage them to pop as many as they can. They can either pop the bubbles together or take turns.
Benefits:
Bubble games help develop visual skills, improve gross motor skills, and boost hand-eye coordination.
12. Bowling with Plastic Cups
Create a mini-bowling alley at home using plastic cups or bottles as pins and a regular-sized ball or tennis ball to knock them down. Set up the cups in a traditional triangle, stack them in various ways, or create a pyramid.
Note:
Children will likely want to play this game repeatedly, so be prepared.
13. Drawing Game
For this game, use 10–15 cards with instructions to draw specific objects, such as a lion or an apple. For older children, you can set a timer to add a challenge.
Benefits:
This game fosters creativity and improves drawing skills while adding an element of fun and competition.
14. 100 Cup Challenge
If you’re babysitting and want to engage the children in an active and creative activity, try the 100 cup challenge. Here’s how:
– Activity: Provide the children with a stack of paper party cups.
– Objective: Encourage them to stack the cups into a pyramid or any structure they can imagine.
– Benefits: This challenge stimulates their engineering minds and improves their fine motor skills.
– Adaptability: If 100 cups seem too many, adjust the number to suit the group. For a one-on-one activity, turn it into a friendly competition between you and the child.
15. Paper Tetris
Bring the classic 1980s video game Tetris into the real world with this screen-free version:
– Materials: Download and print a Tetris-challenge template along with the different shaped blocks.
– Instructions:
– Cut out the blocks and mix them up.
– Draw a block from the pile and place it at the bottom of the template.
– Continue drawing and placing blocks from the bottom to the top, simulating the falling blocks of the game.
– End Game: The game ends when you can no longer place a piece. Count the empty squares on the board to determine the score, with the goal of having the lowest score possible.
16. Build a Fort
When craft supplies are running low or you need a quick and fun activity, building a fort is an excellent option:
– Materials: Gather sheets from the linen closet and any nonbreakable items like pillows.
– Activity: Work together to construct a fort.
– Benefits: This activity enhances team-building skills and encourages creativity.
– Variation: If possible, take the activity outdoors and create a cozy fort between trees.
17. Scavenger Hunt
A scavenger hunt is a versatile activity that can be enjoyed indoors or outdoors:
– Setup: Create a series of clues that lead from one item or location to the next, with a treat or toy waiting at the final destination.
– Benefits: Scavenger hunts help children develop task completion skills and learn to work collaboratively, skills that are valuable later in life.
18. Tape Shape Game
Tape, with its adhesive strength and versatility, can be a valuable tool for creative play at home. This simple game uses tape to create shapes on a flat surface, such as triangles, rectangles, and squares.
Alternatively, shapes can be drawn on paper and taped to the floor or carpet. Ensure the shapes are large enough for children to jump into safely, with adequate space between each to prevent collisions.
Variations of the game include drawing shape cards for children to find and match, or navigating around taped shapes as part of a timed challenge. This engaging activity not only promotes physical movement but also stimulates creativity and coordination in children.
19. Obstacle Course
When outdoor play isn’t an option, creating an obstacle course in your yard can provide hours of active entertainment. Using everyday items like jump ropes, blankets, and even kitchen utensils, set up stations with various challenges such as jumping through hoops, tossing rings, balancing on boards, crawling under obstacles, and more.
Obstacle courses can be tailored to suit different ages and skill levels, offering younger children simple tasks and older children more complex challenges.
This dynamic activity encourages physical fitness, problem-solving, and teamwork in a fun and engaging way.
20. Sack Race
A timeless favorite, the sack race is a straightforward yet enjoyable game suitable for babysitting sessions. Children hop inside a sack and race each other across a designated track, whether it’s in a hallway or outdoors on the lawn.
Supervision ensures safety and fair play, with the first child to reach the finish line declared the winner.
This classic game not only promotes physical activity but also enhances coordination and friendly competition among children.
21. Name That Animal
Fueling children’s imagination and creativity, “Name That Animal” is a game where each player takes turns pretending to be an animal of their choice.
Participants mimic animal movements—slithering like snakes, hopping like bunnies, or crawling like spiders—while others guess the animal being portrayed.
Playable indoors or outdoors, this game encourages children to think creatively, express themselves, and stay active while having fun.
22. Pin the Tail on the Donkey
Pin the tail on the donkey is a classic party game that remains popular for all ages. To set it up, you’ll need a large paper donkey image mounted at an appropriate height on a wall. Cut out several “donkey tails” with adhesive backing for players.
Here’s how to play:
– Blindfold a player and spin them around (optional for young children).
– The player then tries to pin the tail on the donkey by placing it as accurately as possible on the donkey image.
– The player who pins the tail closest to the correct spot wins.
23. Pass the Balloon
Pass the balloon is a game that tests agility and teamwork. You’ll need a few inflated balloons or any round object.
Here are the steps:
– Form two teams, standing in lines opposite each other.
– The first person in each team holds a balloon between their chest and chin and passes it to the next person using only their chest and chin.
– Continue passing the balloon down the line. If the balloon falls or bursts, the team starts over.
24. Hot Potato
Hot potato is a lively game that instantly brings laughter. Have children sit in a circle on the floor, and provide a softball or a potato.
Here’s how to play:
– Start the music and have players pass the item quickly around the circle.
– When the music stops, the person holding the item leaves the circle.
– Repeat until only one player remains.
25. Touch-and-Feel Box
Create a sensory experience with a touch-and-feel box using a corrugated box with a lid. Cut a hand-sized hole in the box and decorate it with paint or stickers.
– Place an item inside and have children guess what it is by feeling it.
– They can ask questions and receive clues to help them guess.
– Use simple objects like a bar of soap or more challenging items like spaghetti to keep it exciting!
26. Tape Maze
Transform any room into an interactive maze using tape.
– Design simple mazes for younger children and more complex ones with dead ends and obstacles for older kids.
– Have children navigate through the maze by kicking or dribbling a ball without crossing tape lines.
– Add numbered markers for a learning twist, challenging them to follow the sequence correctly.
27. Balance Beam
Create a balance challenge with tape lines on the floor.
– Challenge children to walk straight or zig-zag along the line.
– Make it more fun by having them walk backward, with closed eyes, or in unconventional ways like heel-to-toe.
– Ensure adult supervision for safety.
27. Floor Is Lava
A timeless indoor game for all ages, perfect for sparking imagination.
– When someone shouts “floor is lava,” players have five seconds to get off the ground.
– Use pillows for younger kids to jump onto.
– For a learning variant, scatter sheets with letters or numbers on the floor and call out challenges for them to find.
These activities offer a variety of ways to keep children entertained, active, and engaged during babysitting sessions, fostering both physical and cognitive development in a playful manner.
