Babysitting/Nannying Activities

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!

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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!