8 Activities to Make Babysitting More Fun

By Christine Ascher on May 30, 2017

Babysitting is a great way to earn money when you’re in college and don’t have the time to take on a consistent part-time job. While it can be a fun and rewarding experience, it can also, at times, become stressful and overwhelming.

Generally, the more effort you put into making babysitting fun, the better it will turn out. To make the most of your babysitting hours, and hopefully to turn them into an enjoyable experience, try out these activities the next time you’re on the job.

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1. Make friendship bracelets

Friendship bracelets are both easy and fun to make. For young children, it’s better to make friendship bracelets rather than jewelry using beads, which can turn into a choking hazard if you’re not careful. There are many different techniques for making friendship bracelets, from simple — such as braiding the threads — to complicated. For this reason, this is the perfect activity when you’re babysitting children of different ages; it will keep all of them entertained.

2. Use old magazines to create a collage                                     

For a creative approach to arts and crafts, try making a collage by using scraps from old magazines. Find what you can around the house (making sure, of course, that the parents are okay with you using them) by way of old magazines and cut out some scraps that you can then use to piece together in a larger collage. Try it on a small scale first using construction paper or, for older kids who want more of a challenge, try making a large collage on poster board.

3. Make snowflakes

Especially for young children, making cut-out snowflakes is an easy craft that almost always turns out well. Simply fold a piece of paper into quarters and make cut-outs around the edges. When you open it up, you’ll find a beautiful snowflake. Use different color construction paper for some variety, and string them together to make it into a decoration that the kids can hang up somewhere around their house.

4. Make your own board game

While board games are a fun way to keep kids entertained, you may not have the necessary games with you when you’re babysitting. Plus, when you’re dealing with more than one kid, there’s always a danger when you suggest playing a board game that they’ll disagree on what to play and you’ll end up having to break up an argument.

To avoid this, and to open the way for some extra fun, bring a poster board and some markers to create your own board game with the kids. You can make it as simple or as complicated as you want, and the kids will be able to focus it on some of their favorite things. For instance, if they love animals you can make it a farm-themed game.

5. Karaoke                                                

Even if you don’t have any type of formal karaoke game, use the music on your phone or YouTube to have a karaoke contest. The best part about setting up your own game of karaoke is that you get to choose your favorite music — let each kid choose a couple of their favorite songs to create a playlist that everyone will enjoy. You can also turn your karaoke session into a dance party if the mood strikes you.

6. Build a fort

Though it’s a very simple activity that most of us have probably engaged in at some point, lead the kids that you’re babysitting in building a fort with pillows, cushions, and sheets. Once you have the fort set up, let your imaginations soar; you can turn it into a castle, a fortress, or even use it to play house.

Regardless, though building a fort might seem like a very basic strategy to keep the kids occupied, it will open up the way for further play and can keep them occupied for hours at a time.

7. Bake

Some parents are strict about the number of sweets they like to keep in the house, so check with them before you go about baking any desserts. If they’re okay with it, try baking to keep your kids occupied and entertained. Cupcakes are a great idea, as each kid can decorate their own. Bring different color frostings and sprinkles so they can get creative, and then — again if the parents are okay with it — they can taste the product of their efforts. Baking is a great way to keep kids occupied, as they’ll be rewarded with the results when they finish.

8. Scavenger hunt

While it may take a bit of time on your part to set up, doing a scavenger hunt can be very fun for your kids and — a big bonus — keep them occupied for several hours, depending on how long you make it. Include a fun prize at the end, whether it’s candy or a reward like a trip to the park, to keep them interested. Scavenger hunts are always fun to do outside, but on a rainy day, you can always make one that goes throughout the house as well.

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