Slider

Babysitting/Nannying Activities

Tuesday, July 17, 2018

If you read my "My Chic Week" posts, you know that I've been nannying since my junior year of high school. I started babysitting when I started high school but started nannying the summer before my junior year of high school. In high school, I nannied three days a week after school as well as the summers but now that I'm in college, I nanny during the summer.

Since I've had a lot of experience babysitting, I wanted to share some of my favorite activities to do with kids that are fun and a perfect way to keep them busy! I know a lot of my friends nanny as a summer job so this time of year is perfect to be sharing with y'all!


Painting
Painting is such a fun activity for all ages and the kids always seem to enjoy this. Put some old newspaper on the table and make sure the paint is washable for a fun activity (that is fun for us babysitters too!).

Bring a "new to them" game to play
If you're babysitting a family for the first time, bringing a fun game for the kids to play is always a great way to help them warm up to you. It also makes having a babysitter come be exciting, especially if it's a game they don't have! Some of my favorites to play with kids are Life, Blokus (the best!!), Apples to Apples, and Uno!

Go out for a treat (ice cream, a cake pop at Starbucks, donuts, etc.)
Obviously not an everyday occurrence if you're nannying but going out for a treat is a great way to reward good behavior and make having a babysitter be special! Give the kids an option or two and let them pick!

Take a Walk/Ride Bikes
If you are watching a younger baby, taking a walk in the stroller is a great way to get out of the house and it gives the baby so much too look at. A bike ride is fun if the kids are older! You could also take a walk to get a treat if it's within walking distance

Bake
Kids always love to bake, whether it is cookies or anything else! If they are a bit older, they can help you bake the cookies, which is always fun! Another option is to bake sugar cookies before you go over to their house and have the kids decorate them! Having whatever you bake as a treat is also a great incentive to behave!

Take a "field trip" to your house
The little boys I nanny love coming over to play at my house. We still keep some of our old toys so they love playing with those, jumping on the trampoline, seeing my dogs, and playing in the pool. Obviously, ask both their parents and your parents before hand!

Go to children's museums or the zoo
Charlotte has a lot of fun activities for kids to do so it's always fun to check those out! Whether it's a museum, the zoo, or even a library, it adds something a little different to the kids's routine and is always fun!

If it's rainy, watch a movie
I don't like to have the kids I babysit and nanny have a lot of screen time when I'm there but if it's raining, a fun activity is to turn on a movie (especially if they haven't seen it before) and make some popcorn. I nannied all day a few summers ago so we would always watch a movie after lunch to get a little quiet time! You can also bring one of your childhood favorites over to watch!

Go to the Park
I've never met a kid who does not like going to the park so if the weather is nice, go to the park to play and get some of their energy out!

Make Jello
The boys I nanny love making jello and it's a fun activity that doesn't take up too much time either!

If you nanny or babysit, what are your favorite activities to do with the kids? Let me know in the comments!

22 comments:

  1. Props to you girl! I need babysitting for one year and it just wasn't for me unless the kid ended up being super sweet and chill! It's definitely the toughest job there is besides fast food

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Makaela! I've definitely found it depends on the family to make the job great!

      Delete
  2. Such great tips Katie! I used to love baking when I nannied in college!! (And taking the kids over to my college for little tours :) )

    xoxo A
    www.southernbelleintraining.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Annaliese! That is so fun- the kids I nanny and I have walked by your college a few times :)

      Delete
  3. These are great ideas! A lot of my friends had year-round nanny jobs in college and loved it!

    ReplyDelete
  4. The kids I babysat in my neighborhood loved games! Card games were the best because there were endless games we could play. I taught them how to play and they even taught me a couple of games!

    xo,
    Bailey
    baileysbulletin.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. What great ideas! I nannyed a lot during college and part of grad school. Loved your rec to make Jello - so fun!!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. is fingerpainting still a thing? that was totally my jam!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Great ideas! I am so bad with kids and frankly, I don't really love children all that much. One of my good friends is pregnant though and I have been thinking of activities to do with her baby as they get older!

    xo Deborah
    Coffee, Prose, and Pretty Clothes

    ReplyDelete
  8. Miss all my babysitting days, you've got some really great ideas on this list and I remember using them myself back in the day!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Going to museums and parks were the best parts of my job when I was a nanny! I love these options.

    -xo, Azanique | www.lotsofsass.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. These are such great ideas! I love starting summer days with a walk or run!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love the new to them game idea! Kids love games!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I nannied when I was younger and we would always go to the park to play- he loved it!
    -Nicholle
    www.nichollesophia.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's always such a fun activity! Thanks for reading, Nicholle!

      Delete
  13. Great tips! I used to doing art projects all the time when I babysat in high school.

    -Michele Renee
    www.lifewithmichelerenee.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. I used to nanny three sweet kids and miss it! These are all great tips I totally agree with. I always tried to keep the kids away from the tv and computer!
    -Carly Delski
    www.beautyandthebeach.com

    ReplyDelete

Background - www.pixlis.com. Powered by Blogger.

Disclaimer

Chic in Carolina contains affiliate links, meaning if you click/make a purchase, I may make a commission. Even though I participate in affiliate programs, all opinions are my own.
Theme Designed By Hello Manhattan
|

Your copyright

Chic in Carolina 2019