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Summer is in full swing and that often means a lot of lively activities with the kids! I’ve whipped up a quick list of simple summer activities for babysitters to do with the kids they babysit.
All super fun and kid friendly activity ideas… no transporting kids anywhere, just fun and games right at home.
You might also be interested in a few of our other posts:
- Popular Backyard Birthday Party Ideas for Your 7-Year-Old
- Spectacular Birthday Treat Ideas for Your Greatest Friends
Interview Each Child
This one will be appreciated by both kids and parents! What parent wouldn’t love to come home to thoughtful interviews from each of their children to store as a memory?
You can either write or record the kid’s responses to each of the following points:
- Ask what they like to do.
- Ask what they don’t like to do.
- Ask about their preferences for food, friends, school, TV shows, etc.
- Ask what they love about their parents, siblings, and other family members.
- Ask the kids what they would like to try, but haven’t had the opportunity: “What are some of cool things you’ve heard about but haven’t tried?”
- Ask them for suggestions for activities: “Have you ever tried any of these?” If so, ask them how it went and what could be improved in future outings with this or similar groups of people (e.g., “I’ll definitely bring more snacks next time!”).
Also, consider getting a fun microphone for the interview! I really like this Wireless Bluetooth Microphone For Kids Interview. Plus it doubles as a fun karaoke tool!
Plan a Scavenger Hunt
For this activity, you’ll need to get together a list of items that can be found outside and a prize for the winner. It’s also best done outside because it encourages exercise, but it can be done at home if no one wants to go out on a rainy day.
The game is simple: you split up into teams and each team goes out looking for different things on their list. Whichever team finds all the items first wins!
There are many variations of this activity depending on what kind of prize you’re offering: ice cream cones, movie tickets, candy, or stickers.
Help the Kids Write a Play
You can go full original material or copy a book that they really enjoy. Make it really simple by following the outline below:
- Ask them to write down all of the steps that are in order from beginning to end.
- Assign roles to each of the kids and help them practice by acting out the play with their assigned roles.
- Give each child a copy of their script (you can make one for each on posterboard or print it out). When they’re ready, get together again and act out this play!
Make Frozen Hot Cocoa With Marshmallows
This is one of my favorite things to do on a hot summer day. I used to make it all the time when I was younger and my brother and I would go for long walks around the neighborhood. If you want to make this recipe, here are some tips:
- Use hot chocolate mix instead of making your own from scratch (it’s much easier).
- Add ice, milk, and hot chocolate mix into a blender to liquify.
- Add lots of whipped cream, mini marshmallows, crushed candy canes or peppermint extract. You can even add peppermint schnapps if you want to get fancy!
Learn Some Magic Tricks
This is a great way to make kids feel special. Give them a magic trick that they can keep with them and show off at school during playtime or before bed.
- Learn some simple magic tricks yourself, like how to pull a quarter out of their ear or make their hand disappear
- Show the kids how to do it and teach them how to do it on their own so it becomes second nature (you don’t have to have a knack for magic)
- If portable, give the kids the actual magic tricks themselves!
Teach The Kids How to Play Chess or Checkers
Chess is a game that challenges the mind and helps kids learn skills like strategic thinking and forward planning. Checkers is simpler, but still takes some brainpower and it’s fun for all ages! The best part about this activity is that you don’t need any special equipment besides a board and pieces.
Go on a Bug Hunt
Bugs come out in the summer and we come out for the bugs! There are many types of bugs to capture based on the time of year and location.
- Find a good place to go bug hunting. Some good places include parks, farms, forests, and gardens.
- Bring a jar and a magnifying glass for collecting bugs in the wild.
- Bring a field guide if you have one available—or visit this website
Don’t forget to bring binoculars to get a closer look at any birds or animals on your adventure and a butterfly net (just in case)!
Make a Bird Feeder for the Backyard
The first thing you need to do is get some supplies. You will need a plastic bottle (a 2-liter soda bottle works well), a piece of string or twine, bird seed and/or snacks, and scissors.
There are various ways to make this feeder; the easiest way is to cut the top off the bottle and then poke holes all along its length with your scissors until you reach the bottom. Be careful not too go through both sides of the plastic! Then tie your string around it and hang it outside in a tree or on a fence so that birds can fly up underneath it and grab food from below.
Play Board Games
Board games are a great way for you and your younger charge to spend some quality time together.
If you’re having trouble choosing a board game, look for one that’s easy to learn but still fun after all these years. The classics like checkers and chess are still great, as well as more modern options like Battleship or Boggle.
Kids love simple, easy things that don’t cost much money and don’t make a mess. So be creative and have fun!
