“Bee” a Great Babysitter !

Serving Others # 5 ~ Entertain young children with songs or games you have learned or made yourself. Show that you know how to care for and protect a young child.

The first thing that was got into my mind was like:

Am I going to prepare and do this lesson successfully with these 2 kiddos?

Would they know how to care for the younger children?

I thought that I would have a ‘hard time’ to get their attentions, but both of Issac and Annabelle proved me wrong!

I had no idea they would be so into this lessons and want to take preparing for babysitting so seriously!

So you can imagine how excited I was when I came across THIS little kit at Wendy's Activities.

So cute and full of great ideas...and, did I mention it was already done and put together!

All I had to do was print.  Love it when other people do the work for me!

I made each kid a folder using thick yellow colour paper with one of each of the hand outs.

The only files I printed in colour were the Labels for the Folders and the Labels for the Games (which I printed on full-sheeted sticker paper). And, the hand-outs too.

For our activity, we all sat in a circle, and I gave each kid a set of the yellow colour folder together with hand-outs, which they can assemble by themselves.

We went through the Babysitting Tips and Safety First hand-outs together. Both Issac and Annabelle took turns reading each bullet point, and we discussed each one.

I then showed them the "Important Information for Sitters" hand-outs, and told them they could make copies and take them to each babysitting assignment they had.

The next were the more ‘Fun Games To Play’!

Included in the list of songs and activities that they could do with the children were a couple of simple games that ready for them to compile and place in their bags.

All the materials I just got it from around the house.

Then, we spent the rest of the activity assembling the four games I had prepared.

They cut out their labels and assembled all of the items for their kits.

1.  Blowing Cotton Balls

Give each child a cotton ball. Designate a finish line. Have the children get behind the finish line on their hands and knees and blow their cotton ball across the floor. Whoever crosses the finish line first wins.

Use a piece of string (about 12″-18″ long) as a finish line.  We just cut the yarns that in my craft supplies. The cotton balls just from my dressing table.

You could even set up an obstacle course using toys or household items that you must flick your cotton ball through to get to the finish line.

2. Sink or Float ? Game

Fill up a medium-sized bowl with water. Choose household items (waterproof!) and have the children predict if it will sink or float in the water. Then try it out to see who is right.

The babysitter and children could also use items found in the house as long as they are careful that nothing will be ruined with water.

Then you can even predict how quickly different items will sink by holding a “Sink Off” between items, narrowing it down to the fastest sinker!

3.  Sock Guessing Game

This activity didn’t require any items other than what is found at a home.  Use a sock (can even be your own!) and hide an object in it.

We were using Daddy’s old socks which only left 1 piece after the laundry.

Have the child touch and feel the shape of the object and try to guess what it is without looking.

After they guess the object, let the child choose the next object to place in the sock for you or the other children to guess!

4.  Ribbon Matching Game

Find 3 or 4 matching coloured pairs of ribbon. Mix up the ribbons and give them to a child. Have the child find the matching pairs.

Our house do not have any ribbons, thus I saw the kids old baby socks, then I just got an idea to replace the ribbons with the colourful baby socks!

It turns out just nice as the socks were cute and colourful!

Each of Issac and Annabelle took about five minutes to put together and were simple but fun things that make a babysitter great!

5.  Colouring Book and Colour Crayons or Pencils

At last, we just added into the Babysitter Kit the colouring books and crayons that the kids got from the A&W Beary Meals. Just nice for the young children!

After which, I briefly touched on the remaining hand-outs - Things to add to your kit, Primary Songs, and fun Games. That may be can be added in the Babysitter Kit such as first aid kit, etc.

This activity was meant to teach about babysitting and get things started with a babysitting kit. It was not meant to be comprehensive.

But the big idea is getting them started on the right foot with information and resources to be successful gives them confidence and helps them become the responsible babysitter or young child taker.

We couldn’t cover everything in one hour but multiple activities throughout the year would be a great way to build up their kits and their excitement for babysitting.

For example, I think that the next thing that needs to be added is a first aid kit with a lesson from a nurse or health professional on basic first aid skills.

We also thought that other activities we hold could include something that could be added to their babysitting kit.  Perhaps the whole activity isn’t focused on babysitting but they could make something that could become a part of their babysitting kit.

“Mummy, I love this lesson. It is fun!” Annabelle said.

I was asking both of them, “So, do you know how to take care of the Nursery or young children now?”

“Yes Mummy!”

Overall, they were happy and learned a lot and had a lot of fun!