Easy Ways to Entertain Children

Children aren't too complicated when it comes to having a good time. If you're new to babysitting and you're a little nervous about entertaining the kids, you shouldn't be. There are tons of easy ways to keep them distracted while their parents are out for the night. You may need to be a little creative, but most traditional forms of entertain will suffice for the evening. Check out my list for suggestions.

Pop in a good movie. This is by far the easiest way to keep little ones distracted for a least a couple of hours. Just make sure you choose the right film. If you aren't sure what the current children films are out, stick with some classics. "Jumanji," "The Adventures of Robin Hood," "Babe" or "Toy Story" are all great choices. Just make sure to have some yummy snacks on hand as well.

Play air hockey. Assuming you have an air hock table on hand, this can be a great way to have some friendly competition with the kids. Make it into a tournament for added fun and then reward the winner with a prize. Just keep it something simple, like allowing them to choose dinner or the next movie, so that no one gets too jealous or upset.

Make art. Bring a bag full of crayons, color pencils, glitter, construction paper and glue. Then make the evening an arts and crafts party. The kids will be full of excitement and wonder when you empty out your bag of goodies. You can choose a theme for the artwork or just let them be creative all on their own. There parents will also love coming home and finding that you've put their kids up to something productive.

Put on a play. You can bring some costumes or create them out of sheets, random items of clothing and hats. Then you can either write your own simple play, or stage a classic in the living room. Allow everyone to have time to practice their lines and be sure to take some pictures, or better yet, videotape the play so their parents can watch the whole thing later. This will be a fun night for everyone involved.

Kids don't need a lot to have a good time. Just think back to when you were a kid. You could have hours and hours of fun with just a cardboard box and some pillows. So don't over think it and just have fun. The kids will appreciate your attention and your fun spirit if you just relax and plan ahead a little.



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