Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Camping this weekend - with kids?




ariesalway


tent camping 5yr old and 3 yr old. Going with another family also. We've been before but love to refresh my mind about the little things Im gonna foget.
easy foods, snacks, games...ect..??



Answer
Make sure the kids have a way to get to their own snacks and drinks while you are walking. Little bags of trail mix can be customized - cheerios and pretzels for one, cheetos and peanuts for the other...you get the idea.

Make sure they have something to do other than just walk - a game like 'find the squirrel' or "who can find the most different leaves" is fun and educational - so long as you aren't in a rush.

When mine get tired I use my walking stick and play "little engine" - have them grab one end of the stick and move it in a circle like a train's wheels "I think I can, I think I can" will get the tiredest kids moving and get their minds off being tired - for a minute anyway.

Have a plan for rain! Gear up and take some imagination toys - dolls, action figures whatever the kids like.

Around the campsite the kids might like to make "fairy houses". Use sticks, acorns, bark, leaves and other found items to make little homes that can just decorate the forest...you might be surprised how creative the kids can be.

Take a small "boo-boo" kit - neosporin, Dora bandaids, etc.

Give the kids jobs at dinner time or set-up time - carry water, hand you tent stakes, gather wood, etc. They'll be under your feet otherwise.

Make sure the kids have a whistle around their neck just in case they wander off - they can blow a whistle louder and longer than they can yell.

Let the kids each have a flashlight at bedtime - it's fun and makes them feel safer. Show them how it works and take extra batteries - they'll probably leave it on all night.

I'm leaving out all the regular stuff - food, sunscreen, bug spray, toothbrush/toothpaste, stuffed animal to sleep with, tent, clean undies, etc. I'm assuming that bit is covered. Just sharing some things we do when we camp.

Games to play out side with 2 school aged kids?




Linda Lou


I am now babysitting a 1st and 4th grader for a few hours after school. today was my first day and I had the 1st grader go down the slide head first smash into a wall and bleed everywhere decided a playground/swingset in the backyard is prlly better to just look at lol

any ideas that I can do with them?



Answer
tag.
hide and seek.
board games (*checkers,charades,tick tack toe,connect 4.)

Never leave the kids alone. They might draw on walls or get into something they shouldn't be in. Keep them occupied and bring lots of fun games.Don't ever leave the child alone. They will pour soap down the potty and make bubbles.
Make a Fun Bag. In the fun bag you could have candy (if they are allowed), movies, coloring pages, stickers, books, games, and crafts, as well as various things for you when the kids go to sleep. The things in the Fun bag should consider the age of the children you are babysitting, as very young children will appreciate different things to older children.
When the kids start to get fussy or antsy, ask them if they want to color / do a project / play a game. They say yes and, voila! Fun bag!
Play with the children. They won't like it if you don't play. So, take out the thing they want to do. If you are doing a project or coloring and you have messy toddlers, let them help put down newspaper or a plastic mat to protect floors and tables. Have fun and they will be able to tell and enjoy your presence more.
For projects; when making things if you can make it edible it's good. Some finger painting recipies are edible. (Vanilla yogurt with food coloring)
Little kids also love doing things for themselves. Let them pour or stir their own drinks, make their own peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, or help you make cookies. It helps pass the time while teaching them skills, and they will feel more involved and grown up instead of you taking over everything.
Put a chair by the sink for the kids to stand on, and let them help you wash the dishes. (Take out sharp objects like forks hiding in the suds so they don't get poked accidentally.) Being allowed to help you wash the dishes can be a reward for young children.
Be patient with the children if they start getting bored or miserable, show them the things they have brought and encourage them to play. If they don't want to do something in particular, find something else for them to do!
Take them outside! Ride bikes, go to the park, walk the dog, anything outdoors will run their energy out! Make sure to be very careful because the outdoors also has many hazards.
Play fun age appropriate games. Don't do something that is to old for the kids because you want parents to want you to come back. Also, when playing with the child, be sure to not be rough with them especially when you have a younger age group. This may turn them off and somebody could get hurt.
Make or buy play-dough. If you have a recipe that doesn't involve cooking on the stove, you can have the kids help make it. If you don't have the materials needed for play-dough, you can make something called Ooblek with simply water and cornstarch. This is especially good because it doesn't involve dangerous, hot ovens or sharp objects. Do this outside of course, as it is extremely messy, but that's the fun of it!
Pick a movie appropriate for the age group you're babysitting. Pop some popcorn and put the popcorn in individual bowls for each child (if they are young). Give each child a ticket awhile before the movie. Be the ticket-taker at the door to the room, and give each child a bowl of popcorn. Then turn off the lights and start the movie!
Make a tent! Use chairs and big blankets. Fill the inside with pillows and blankets. After it's made, you can tell (or read!) stories. If it's possible, make it over a TV, so the TV is inside, and you have a movie theater! If the children are 4 or older (and less likely to make a mess), pop some popcorn to get the great movie atmosphere!
Remember, toddlers love anything that keeps them active. If everyone's bored, take out some scarves, turn on the music, and dance! If you have a lot of children, play freeze tag, or a team game where EVERYONE needs to be involved.For most kids under the age of 5, hide and seek may have some hazards.
They might run and hide to far, not come out of their hiding spot and you may not be able to find them.




[edit] TipsMany things that adults think of as drudgery is fun for young children. Find ways to let them help you and make them feel important. Thank them for helping.
Play with the children. They'll like it when you get involved and will ask for you as their babysitter. Neither parents nor kids like lazy babysitters who stay on the phone all day.
Don't make a mess. Leave the house as clean or cleaner than you found it.
Always clean up after an activity. But don't do it alone. Have the kids help, too. You can sing this song: "Clean up, clean up. Everybody do their share. Clean up, clean up. Everybody, everywhere," You can make up your own melody.
Don't just sit down and watch a movie. Keep the kids active. If it is a nice day, go outside play with a ball or your dog or your trampoline.
If it is dark encourage NOT to go outside =)
Also try to play games that are educational but still fun
Clean up




Powered by Yahoo! Answers

No comments:

Post a Comment