Kindergarten Games For Babysitters

One of the most important yet challenging tasks while babysitting is keeping all the kids happy and occupied. Happily occupied kids are less likely to get into trouble, and more likely to give you rave reviews when their parents are back! However, some people have a tought time finding games and activities that appeal to all the kids they’re caring for. Kindergtarten games are a good bet because they’re simple enough for younger kids, interesting enough for older kids and perfect for children between the ages of 3 and 6. Here are some of the most popular kindergarten games for you to try out the next time you’re in charge of a group of youngsters.

Photo by caswell_tom

Outdoor Kindergarten Games

Taking the kids outdoors is a great way to get them moving around and letting out energy before bedtime. Kids enjoy the greater freedom and space they get outside the house, and sitters don’t have to worry about the kids toppling furniture or bumping into objects while playing these active kindergarten games. However, these games are only an option if the house has a yard to play in. It’s better not to take the kids to a park or any other location away from the house as it gets more difficult to keep an eye on all of them in large, open spaces.

Chase my Tail – Cut a foot-long piece of string for each child and tuck it into the back of their pants. Then let the kids run around the yard trying to step on each other’s tails. This kindergarten game ends when only one player is left with a tail, making that kid the winner of the game.

Bubble Pop – This kindergarten game may be as old as it gets, but it hasn’t lessened in popularity. Get a bubble blower and blow bubbles into the air. Ask the kids to jump up and pop as many bubbles as they can.

Scavenger Hunt – Make a list of things for the kids to find in the yard. Include items like a twig with a leaf, a triangular stone, and a yellow flower. Make a copy of the list for each child, and draw pictures of the items for the kids that can’t read. The one who finds the most items wins the game. The advantage of this kindergarten game is that it can easily be adapted to play indoors as well.

Indoor Kindergarten Games

There are many occasions when playing outdoors is not feasible. If you have to entertain the children inside the house, you can try playing any of these fun kindergarten games with them.

Pretend Play – Kids LOVE pretend play. Many babysitters find that little girls are only too willing to put on a princess gown and be royalty for a few hours. But this kindergarten game is not for girls alone. You can build a fort out of bedsheets and let the boys play knights defending the castle. The best thing about pretend play is that it can be adapted to accommodate everyone’s interests and age groups. However, you may have to sort out differences regarding who gets to play the juicier roles in the game.

Puppet Show – You don’t need to have puppets to put on a puppet show. All you need are a few paper bags, socks, buttons, markers, yarn and construction paper. It’s best to take the items with you when you go to the house. Decide on your story and characters, and make cute puppets to go with them. You can use the construction paper to create a backdrop for your puppet show. With a table as your stage, you can put on an incredible performance with the kids.

I Spy – This kindergarten game is best for when you want the kids to settle down in bed. Keep them in the room without getting restless by taking turns giving clues and guessing the objects. One player begins the game by mentally selecting an object from the room and saying ‘I spy with my little eye something that begins with the letter …’. The other players try to guess the object.For younger kids, you can use colors instead of letters.

With these and other fun kindergarten games up your sleeve, you can be sure to hit it off with the kids on your first day and have the parents call you back for more appointments in the future.