EDIT: Thanks everyone for your great ideas and thoughts!!! I think I asked the right question for feedback this time. ;) (Check out the comments section… There’s a wealth of information down there!) The kids will be here any minute now, and I would appreciate your thoughts and prayers throughout the day and the rest of the week. I’ll try to update my blog with the happenings here.
You ladies rock my socks!
These kiddos are gonna be joined by a 4 and 6 year old for the next 2 weeks. Yep. While my husband works on the set of Pahappahooey Island, I’m babysitting one of the puppeteers’ kids. For at least 12 hours of every day. So…
I DESPERATELY NEED IDEAS!!! WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH A 4 & 6 YEAR OLD? I need games, activities, music, websites, fun snack ideas, whatever.
I’ll be searching The Crafty Crow today for easy art projects. I can only assume that these kids have creative genes with a puppeteer for a parent. Hmmm… Maybe paperbag puppets would be a good place to start…
Anyway, I have to get prepared, because once we’re all here, I don’t think we’ll be popping over to the store! :o
September 21st, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Some things that come immediately to mind:
Read a Bible story and have them 1) draw a picture of the story (using a varity of mediums–one time markers, one time crayons, one time paints) and/or 2) have them act it out with simple costumes; Emily could get into this
From the craft and grocery stores: pipe cleaners, glitter glue, different colors and shapes of pasta, different shapes and colors of cereal: all of these can combine into a wide variety of art projects as long as you have plenty of paper (some colored) and Elmer’s glue–alpahbet pasta is great for sayings, names, or verses; one project I have always liked was coloring a page with crayon solid and then coloring over the whole thing with black crayon till it is solid black; then the child uses a toothpick to scrape off the black and the picture (a tree or a house or whatever) shows through as multi-colored (can get messy scraping off the black so do it where clean up is easy).
Being active: make a tent inside (or outside) and eat lunch there; make a maze with blankets and sheets (ask Evan about this–our kids did it many times in E Asia) need lots of clothespins; set up a simple obstacle course in the back yard using household items for running, jumping, going around, etc; you could set up a maze or course to kick a soccer ball around; sidewalk chalk (good for multiple ages); keep the inflated balloon up in the air; play red light/green light, simon says or follow the leader; jump rope (you can find games on line I’m sure that don’t require the coordination of spinning and jumping but are still fun).
Hope that gets you started. I’ll be praying for energy!
September 21st, 2008 at 1:56 pm
no kids here, but wisecraft had this great summer post from last year with activities for kids: http://blairpeter.typepad.com/weblog/2007/06/no_kid_allowed_.html
Good luck and don’t pull your hair out! :)
September 21st, 2008 at 4:06 pm
Get them outside as much as you can (all weathers can be fun!). Remember you don’t need to structure the whole day — they need time for free play too (dolls, dress up clothes, boxes!)
September 21st, 2008 at 4:56 pm
I have a 3 and 4 year old, so I’ve got some experience with one of the ages you’ll have. Feel free to check out my blog to see some of the things we do.
Some suggestions:
1. Lunch/Snack-Do it in a muffin tin. We do Muffin Tin Mondays at our house. My boys LOVE it. Check out my blog and http://sycamorestirrings.blogspot.com and you can get all the info.
2. Get them outside if you can. If you keep them inside you’ll go crazy : ) We spend a lot of time at local parks or just in our backyard. It’s completely unstructured, but they’re having fun and running off energy. We set up obstacle courses in our backyard (usually sports related for my boys), but you can do anything. Go on a nature walk and have them point out everything they can find of a certain color, or collect rocks to bring back home and paint, there’s lots to do outside if you look.
3. At that age they’ll probably love to help with your kids, so let them. Ask them to help you by grabbing diapers, sippy cups, etc. It will make them feel involved and not like burden.
4. Set up a reward system for them. Maybe a sticker chart or something. Something that makes them feel special. When they help you with one of your kids or are kind to their sibling give them a sticker or something else. It will help them feel appreciated in a new environment. Being in a new situation can bring out the worst in kids so having something on hand to reward good behavior will set the tone for positive behavior right off the bat. Just make it simple. Right away, on the first day, when they do something good, say “hey joey, thanks for helping me with that. Here’s a sticker. You can put it on that sticker chart over there with your name on it or wear it on your shirt if you want.”
Hope some of that helps.
September 21st, 2008 at 10:16 pm
Sounds like you’re really going to have your hands full! I don’t really have much experience with that age group, but it sounds like outdoor play would be a great option if the weather permits. And have a ball…there are countless games you can play with a ball. Also, puzzles might be a good option for something quiet for them to do when the kiddos are napping. You seem to have alot of ingenuity so I’m betting the two weeks will go off splendidly…Good luck!
September 21st, 2008 at 11:52 pm
Wow. I just realized that you said TWO WEEKS. No husband AND extra for TWO WEEKS? You are a brave soul. I think the craft projects will be on hold for a while?
My sister-in-law just started this blog with fun/easy craft projects for kids. Simple things to do:
http://heapsoflaundry.blogspot.com/
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:46 am
Dear Kristena,
Well, as you know, I did have four pre-school children. I don’t know what I would have done without Donny, as he was extremely helpful at all times. That’s probably why, when pressed for an answer to “Who’s your favorite child?” After “Whoever needs me” as a reply and pressed for another answer, I say now, “Donny, because he helped me.” So, don’t overlook the capacity of a six-year old to play “Mommy” with you.
Of course, throwing a blanket or sheet over a coffee-table to make a bear’s den is always fun, especially if you can convince your crowd that they are all bears and want to crawl in and out of the den. (That’s a rainy-day saver.) A six-year old would enjoy rolling out pie-dough and pouring a can of cherry-pie mix in and then adding the criss-cross dough lid. (This kept Ronny busy for hours.
In good weather you can buy finger paints and paper to keep them busy at your picnic table. (You WILL need this because meals in the yard are a snap…no clean up…can be hosed down after each session of creativity or spilly meal. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are also real food and easy. They all need real milk and real fruit juice. I added V-8 to the spaghetti so they’d get veggies when they didn’t want veggies. I poured extra orange-juice into ice-cute trays and stuck a toothpick into each cube so they would have a treat after naps. Yes, don’t forget naps. they needs to lie down for at least a half hour every afternoon…because YOU need a break. then YOU lie down and rest with them. Quiet reading of “Goodnight Moon” is a good prelude to naps.
Who will be responsible for all of this laundry? Will a teen-ager come in and distract the kids while you push laundry? Can you pay her back by promising her that you’ll teach her how to sew/knit/crochet, help her pass her finals? In a span of two weeks you may welcome a helping hand. Also, do you have all of their various medications lined up and their pediatricianss’ phone nunmbers lined up? Suppose there’s a sudden chest cold and fever? You might need a lot of advice all of a sudden. Are the neighbors aware of your new responsibilities? What if YOU become suddenly ill? then what?
Good luck with this undertaking. I admire your endless spunk.
Love and hugs, Grama Ginny
September 22nd, 2008 at 11:39 am
Wow…it looks like you have a wise MIL and grandma! Having emergency contact numbers and the kids pediatrician sounds like a good idea. Especially with a 4 year old boy :-)
September 22nd, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Mine are about that age, and what works for them are general art supplies - crayons, paints, markers, glitter, glue, etc. That keeps them entertained for quite a while. Also, playdough. As much as I don’t like to admit it, it’s good at keeping them really entertained. I used a homeade recipe that’s great and makes a ton.
September 22nd, 2008 at 2:27 pm
looks like you have a pretty good list here.
i was going to say the same thing. unscheduled play can be some of the best times.
just to be outside. playing with a ball or sidewalk chalk.
have fun! :)
September 23rd, 2008 at 11:26 am
outside , outside , outside!! fresh air makes them sleep well , for sure ! my kids love to do ” craft” with empty pare towel rolls and toilet paper rolls. they make “toot -to- dos” they colour them , sing into them , look thru them… also empty large boxes make great caves , trains , and play houses :0) you’ll do fine i’m sure.