Hands-On Activities for Babysitters

• Hands-on babysitting activities can make you a big hit with the children. Children love babysitters who play games and do activities with them, and will request you the next chance they get. Try some hands-on activities and make the day or evening go by in a flash.

Bake Cookies

• With permission from the parents, let the children help you bake some cookies. Make sugar cookies and let the children use cookie cutters to make different shapes of cookies. Once the cookies cool, allow the children to decorate each cookie using icing and candy sprinkles.

Flavored Drink Mix Paints

• Purchase several packets of flavored drink mix, paintbrushes and thick construction paper. Mix each packet of flavored drink mix with 1/2 cup of water. Help the children paint a picture with the drink mixes. These paints will also smell good and the children will love smelling them while they are painting. After the painting dries, the children can scratch the paper to smell the paints again, like a scratch and sniff sticker. Wear smocks and put down newspaper while painting, as the flavored drink mixes can stain clothing and countertops.

Board Games

• For older children, play board games, card games or a game of hide-and-seek. This keeps the children involved and prevents boredom. Children love it when they have someone new to play games with.

Sundaes

• Make ice cream sundaes with all the fixings. Tell the children they are going to create a masterpiece and then eat it. Purchase edible waffles or ice cream cone bowls and all the fixings, such as cherries, nuts, cool whip, ice cream toppings and sprinkles. Give each child a scoop or two of ice cream and let him make his own sundae. Take a picture of the masterpiece to show the parents later.

Build a Fort

• Build a large fort in the living area with the children. Use pillows, blankets and chairs to create a fort. Hang sheets and blankets over the chairs so there is plenty of room for you and the kids to get in. Once the fort is finished, turn off the lights and give everyone a flashlight and tell bedtime stories or read books.

Color

• Get several coloring books and colors out for coloring. Spread newspaper all over the kitchen floor. You and the kids can lie down in the floor and color pictures. Tell the children to color a picture for their parents.