how to get kids active?!

jiigglybutt

I babysit a 5 year old girl, a 7 year old girl, a 7 year old boy, and a 9 year old boy. I have my 5 year old girl too. There's also a 2 year old boy that I babysit only on saturdays along with the rest of them.
The boys are addicted to the playstation and it irritates me sooo bad! I can't get them to do anything else :ohwell: and the girls are super clingy to me. Sometimes I don't mind, but some times I want to rip out all of my hair. Also, the 7 year old girl is extremely overweight and when she isn't doing anything, (which is often) she wants to eat.. :frown:
It's starting to get really hot outside, so outside activities have to be limited. I can't even think of anything fun for them to do out there anyway!
My cousin suggested that I make them do my house work. I thought that was a good idea. :laugh: but of course there's only so much that needs to be done...
Anybody have any other good ideas or know of good websites? Activities, games, crafts, etc, that would keep them active? and interested in being active?

Punktorian

I have no idea, my parents would just lock my brothers and I outside with some toys and balls and make us figure out what the hell we were going to do for entertainment.

CeeRawr89

Get active with them. Take away the damn game console. Limit food options for the girl and offer her water instead.

jiigglybutt

I have no idea, my parents would just lock my brothers and I outside with some toys and balls and make us figure out what the hell we were going to do for entertainment.

I do plan to do this when I move into my house next month. Currently though I live in a huge apartment complex and my front yard is a really busy parking lot

Get active with them. Take away the damn game console. Limit food options for the girl and offer her water instead.

no way! and then what happens?! :flowerforyou:

CeeRawr89

Honestly, if it were me, I'd have healthy food options. I'd definitely get active with them, and I'd definitely get rid of the games. I'd get rid of juice because it is full of sugar and will do nothing but spike the sugar levels, and I would talk to the parent about portion control and explain why you are doing these things, because you care for them...

meshashesha2012

are you babysitting them at your house? if so then take out the playstation for a bit and set up some things to do in the meantime.

if you're babysitting in someone else's house then i dont think it's appropriate for you to be trying to change their lifestyle in their own home. that's kind of their parent's job.

CeeRawr89

are you babysitting them at your house? if so then take out the playstation for a bit and set up some things to do in the meantime.

if you're babysitting in someone else's house then i dont think it's appropriate for you to be trying to change their lifestyle in their own home. that's kind of their parent's job.

Agree. If you want them to get active in your home, take out the stuff that's causing them to be inactive in the first place, if it is not your home, speak with the parents.

jiigglybutt

the food is not my concern! I only offer them healthy options and they only eat at their designated times. it's their boredom and laziness and lack of enthusiasm to stay active. As for the girl, I don't feed her every time she says she's hungry. I am having trouble keeping her constantly busy so I'm not constantly hearing "I'm huuuuungryyyy".
I actually didn't think of hiding the console and games though... I am going to start doing that.
I usually do play with them too as much as I can but sometimes I just get "sensory overload" and need some quiet time which they don't seem to have ever been taught.
My question is though about fun games, activities, crafts, etc... to keep their bodies/hands/minds occupied?

are you babysitting them at your house? if so then take out the playstation for a bit and set up some things to do in the meantime.

the "some things" that would be set up is what I need suggestions for! I don't know what kinds of things to set up :laugh:

...I keep editing my post because I keep forgetting to add things. haha sorry if you miss anything. I do babysit them at my house.

hollyeverhart

Bump, interested c:

Ttopeka

I know you said outdoor activities should be limited, but I want to throw one out there in case you change your mind -- geocaching (http://www.geocaching.com/) -- "Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. Participants navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that location."

It's tons of fun for adults and kids alike, and can get you moving and exploring outside. The only downside is that you need a smart phone, or a GPS.

Lobster1987

Get active with them. Take away the damn game console. Limit food options for the girl and offer her water instead.

I wouldn't limit food options just for her. Offer healthy choices for them all. If she's singled out, it's going to hurt her feelings.

Take them to the park? Do they have a pool somewhere near by? Or pets that they can walk? How about just an old fashioned walk?

Or play hide and seek outside?

CeeRawr89

Try crafts, like making cards and pictures and stuff that they can take home? Google search crafts that are age appropriate!

hollyeverhart

I know you said outdoor activities should be limited, but I want to throw one out there in case you change your mind -- geocaching (http://www.geocaching.com/) -- "Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. Participants navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that location."

It's tons of fun for adults and kids alike, and can get you moving and exploring outside. The only downside is that you need a smart phone, or a GPS.

My husband & his friends are obsessed with this! It seems really fun, I have been on a few but I am kinda not the nature type lol

Lobster1987

I missed the hot outside part.

Buy some of those bad *kitten* twistables colored pencils and have coloring contests.

Make food together...healthy food, and get all the kids involved.

Make noodle crafts with construction paper, glue, and a bunch of different noodles.

Pretend that you are on a diet/exercise kick and do some calethenics, and maybe the kids will think you're cool and want to imitate you. Teach them how to do push ups, and yoga poses?

Take 5 minutes every day to "stretch out" and do all kinds of stretches together.

I can't think of anything else right now.

gooiyw

Have children cooking class with them. With healthy foods. Make sweet potato chips or carrot fries or some vege ragu to go with pasta. Should kill about an hour or so and then get everyone to eat healthier. And then, get them to make a cold jug of lemonade for the heat outside, bring all that food (and drink) and have a picnic at some shaded area. Bring a frisbee. Bring 2 frisbees.

Ttopeka

I know you said outdoor activities should be limited, but I want to throw one out there in case you change your mind -- geocaching (http://www.geocaching.com/) -- "Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. Participants navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that location."

It's tons of fun for adults and kids alike, and can get you moving and exploring outside. The only downside is that you need a smart phone, or a GPS.

My husband & his friends are obsessed with this! It seems really fun, I have been on a few but I am kinda not the nature type lol

I was never the nature type until I started geocaching It amazes me how much I've changed and what I'll do to get a geocache -- climb trees, wade through rivers, get completely muddy and dirty and it's all so much fun! Of course, there are PLENTY of geocaches that do NOT require such extensive involvement and are perfect for children, so don't get the wrong impression. Geocaches come in all shapes and sizes. Some are 5 mile hikes into the woods, some are in city parks, others are located in parking lots. There is something for everyone there, even the non-nature types of people!

quietlywinning

Simple games like ring-around-the-rosey, hide and seek, duck duck goose.....can all be played indoors. If you don't have enough space for hiding places, then do egg-hunt type games. Follow the leader - you lead, so it doesn't get too crazy - can be really good inside. too. Reading to them isn't terribly active, but it is good for them, sparks imagination, and doesn't involve them looking at a screen. Legos, art supplies, and simple blocks are all great activities for little minds. We have some big floor puzzles that my 7 year old loves to do with me.

Other indoor games: Simon Says, Mother May I, hopscotch (colored tape on the floor), Twister.

EmmieSu

A schedule would help tremendously. If its the same everyday, they'll learn, and things will go much smoother,and they'll be more active. say something like this...
7-8 am breakfast and cleanup ( quiet activities for those that eat quickly)
8-9 am age appropriate educational activities ( coloring, puzzles, workbook pages, ect..) You don't have to "teach" per say, just encourage them in learning.
9-10 am outdoor activities, or games that get them moving ( no computer or playstation), you can find group games and such on the web.
10-11 playtime (non stationary) or they can help with your lunch prep (set the table, was veggies, pour drinks. etc.)

11-12 lunch and cleanup (have them help)

12- 12:30 outside play ( sidwalk chalk, bubbles, jump rope, walk)/or story time
12:30 ?? quiet/naptime (all children need quiet time, even if they just lay down and look at a book
Then follow naptime with a snack, then complete the rest of they day, with more activities.
Allow only a 15 min time for playstation time for each child, and keep a chart. Libraries, schools, churches and parks depts. often have activities for children on a weekly bases. During the summer our local library has activities for all ages, everyday. Make a daily/weekly trip to the park. I find tons of activities to do with children on the web, teacher aid stores and homeschool site. You can also fing books for gym like activities, too.

Shannonbayer

A homemade obstacle course?

beccalucy

Team work games and activities such an obstacle course where one's blindfolded and one isn't and has to guide them.

Activities based around festivals/events ie religious events, olympics, holidays whether it's card -making, learning basic words, discovering why, food related,

Jigsaws, books, colouring, card making.

I like the idea of healthy food stuff, maybe make a fruit salad, a blind-folded food taste test with diff fruits/veg.

I shall have another think and come back

Kell_Smurthwaite

Take them to the park - let them swing and climb and slide and run about. Take a ball and play football or catch. f it's raining, put them all in waterproofs and welly boots and take them puddle jumping. If it's really nasty wehter outside, take them to a soft-play centre where they can climb and jump around to their hearts' conent. Keep an eye out for local free festivities such as fetes, galas and festivals that you can take them to - the summer is usually filled with them. Check out all the different parks in your area and WALK to as many of them as possible. Take a picnic lunch with you so you can stay all day (don't forget to take the sun cream with you though!). Turn on the radip and play musical statues or musical bumps or just all dance like crazy things. Find out if there are any local dance or drama workshops they can attend. Read them a story and then have them act it out afterwards.

These are all things I do with my 3-y-o boy. He's aware of computers and occasionally watches a couple of music videos or we let him play around with his letters on a Word document, but he has no idea computer games even exist.

Make computer games a big No-No when they're in your care. They can play with those at home if they want, but make their time with you so exciting and fun that they don't even think about the computer console.

seraphinaglitter

Just a random suggestion, but my sister did this for her two and it worked: Hide (or sell on if money's tight) the game controller and replace it with wii fit or xbox kinect. They can get a lot of exercise out of certain games and they probably won't even realise. Plus ebay has wii packages especially on the cheap. Another technology based idea is the active DVDs (sing and dance along to favourite children's characters).

Pedometres help too. Who can do the most steps in an hour? Who can get their's highest by tea time?

As for outside games, if it's hot use a water game. Water pistols (cheaply picked up if not got already, I've got 3 for £3 before) to have a water fight with. Or head to the woods, it's much cooler there so Hide and Seek is an option, or an organised game of imaginary play (You're all little sheep and I'm a big lion coming to get you!). Most children when left to their own devices without being plugged into technology will start imaginary play themselves. If you can't do strenuous exercise due to heat then go for a walk and either hide clues or have landmarks on the way, so the children get points for spotting something. Have a star chart they can move forward in if they complete the task. Whoever does the most, moves furthest ahead in the star chart and gets a treat (choose the game for the day or something). I loved skipping, and it's something you can easily do with them. If you have enough space inside you can do it there too. If you wanted to stay in the garden, then treasure hunts are brilliant.

Inside energetic games are a bit more limited, but simple party games go down well, musical bumps for example, or musical statues, dressing up and dancing and then everyone having to swop hats when the music stops (anyone left with their hat is out). As others have said, Duck Duck Goose is great, as is Simon Says (the kids I know love it if you link it to a favourite character eg. Fireman Sam, or themselves and they take it in turns after you) and Twister. Party Tapes (when I was little I had paddington bear which me and my sister put on and played to endlessly with just the two of us haha) are available, fun and something to stick on if you do need that quiet time. Hand-clapping games are good fun and they start learning the rhymes of by heart too (Hi Low Jack-a-lo is great and simple). Pirates and Ladies or other similar games are easy to play, lady has to hide from the Pirates and Pirates have sword-fight, and that can be done indoors so easily, just move anything breakable in case the sword-fighting gets a bit to energetic.

I know you feed them healthily already but food ideas for snacks that are easy to replace higher calorie stuff with, and might be added to your list are:
low-cal jelly (that's jello to Americans, not jam),
sugar-free lollipops,
Pie Filling (their favourite fruit with sweetener sprinkled on top and microwaved until mushy --> If apple, add a little cinnamon and it tastes like the McDonald's pies, works wonderfully as a dessert),
Home-made Vanilla Milkshake (Skimmed Milk with vanilla essence and a tiny bit of sweetener if needed, all whisked up or frothed in a blender),
Chocolate Strawberries/Fruit (Get a sachet/pot of the options 40 cal, put into small dish and add a tiny bit of water until it becomes a paste, they each get cut up fruit and get to dip it in chocolate, you can interchange the chocolate for fat-free yoghurt),
Extra Light Philidelphia/Cottage Cheese with little veggie sticks to dip in,
Popcorn (salted is the best, but if they want sweet add sweetener, can be a great treat for the evening and a film, story audiobook or book after all the activity),
New kinds of fruit (I know it sounds obvious, but unusual fruit that they haven't tried before can be really exciting. One of my favourite childhood memories is the Greengrocer at the end of our road who used to give me a different fruit to try every few days, he was called Tony - he was great! Starfruit, passionfruit, different melons, coconut - all fab!)


Mini Milk ice-lollies are surprising, if you want to give them a treat these are fab! They're only around 30 calories. Alternatively, buy/make lolly moulds (around £3) or use little pots, yoghurt pots or similar, and make out of juice, squash or skimmed milk with vanilla. It's so fun for them! If you don't have time to make them, stick fat-free yoghurt pots in the freezer instead.

Really hope this helps, do keep us updated!

evertongirl

do they have bikes / scooters or even on foot - set out obstacle courses, let them have races, teach them to do somersaults and cartwheels, help them plant a herb garden, if its hot let them lay under the sprinkler - get a big piece of plastic, wet it and add a little detergent/soap mix and they run and slide along it.

We are in australia where summer dys are regularly 40C plus, the kids still play outside all morning (until 10) and afternoon (after 3) - just make sure they have hats and sunscreen and drink water.

encourage them to play schools and its sports day - mine love that.

hula hoops and skipping ropes - cheap and kids love them.

foam swords and toy guns - they will run around chasing each other to play pirates or cops and robbers until they drop.mine love playing spys and invent all kinds of devices to spy on each other

encourage their imagination at that age - once they learn to play 'lets pretend' there is endless ways to entertain themselves.the internet has endless supplies of art and craft you can print off and do.



Inside - cooking wiht them (healthy treats), again imaginary

castadiva

Where are you that it's too hot to go out? It's not clear when you have them, but couldn't earlier-morning and later-afternoon activities be outside? Middle of the day might be too much, but with hats/sunscreen/plenty of water and high-water-content snacks (fruit/raw veg), there must be some time in the day you could get them outside? Walk to a park, take a ball/frisbee/hulahoops/skipping ropes etc. Is there a park nearby that has an adventure playground? Or, how about swimming? If you have a local pool, that'll keep everyone cool and thoroughly occupied in an active way!

Inside, dancing and related games are often popular - you can make it competitive if that makes it more appealing to the older boys - statues, for example, (and there may be dance challenge games for playstation? That might be an easy compromise...) and the winner gets to choose their favourite fruit/vegetable for the next meal (offer only the things you have!)/pick an outing for later in the week. Building 'forts' in the sitting room/bedroom was always very active (and very popular) for us as well.

shadowkitty22

Is there a local community center with free kid activities that you can look into? Buy a croquet set to use in your backyard once you move? Hula hoops, jump ropes, sidewalk chalk, lots of water bottles and sunscreen to keep them hydrated and protected for when they play outside (because otherwise I think you will go insane with having them inside all day). Movie time with homemade popcorn. Bubbles. WATER BALLOONS! Squirt guns. Tye dye t-shirts. Paper bag puppets. Make up a secret code for them to write letters to each other with all day (A=1, B=2, etc). Make cards for Mother's and Father's day. Flying kites. Library.

kr3851

I teach dance - and there are some indoor games that you can play that work on coordination and fitness.

Sailors - clear a space and have all the kids stand in the middle. Then you call out 'directions' and each direction has an action that the kids have to do. Not being a sailor myself, I've probably got all the directions wrong, but my kids have fun!
Port - run to the left.
Starboard - run to the right.
Climb the ropes - mime climbing ropes with arms and legs.
Scrub the decks - get down on all fours and mime scrubbing.
Captain's coming - stand to attention and salute.
Ladies on board - hands on hips and strut around on your toes.
Calling out the directions in random order makes them run all over the place and get up and down a lot. You get faster and faster and eventually everyone's running and falling and laughing and being ridiculous.

Musical Statues - dance until the music stops, and then call out a statue which everyone holds for 5 seconds or so and then the music starts again. Statues we use all have a foundation in core strength, but you can make up your own. We use:
Elephant - stand on one leg and lift the other knee, hooking the same arm underneath the knee to hold your nose. The lower leg becomes your 'trunk'. (this one teaches balance, but mostly is for the amusement of the grown-ups watching the kids try to grab their noses and falling over)
Ballerina - stand on tip-toe with arms above your head (we make them suck their tummies and bottoms in and try to get as tall as they can)
Superman - on your tummy, lift your legs and arms off the floor (arms in classic Superman flying pose) - strengthens back muscles
Dish - on your back, arms by your side next to your legs, lift legs and shoulders off the ground while keeping as much of your back on the floor as possible - strengthens abs

You can also set up a circuit and spend a minute at each station - push-ups at the couch, punches in the doorway (air punches, not punching the other kids!), star jumps/jumping jacks by the TV. After a couple of sessions, get the kids to pick their own exercises. See what they come up with.

And if they insist on playing the playstation? Get dance games, workout games, movement games and for every 15 minutes of movement games they play, they are rewarded with 5 minutes of mindless play. You'll be surprised how hard they'll workout to earn half an hour of mindless game time - of course they play the mindless games when YOU decide, not the instant they earn them!

And, as others have suggested, get them involved in food prep (mini pizzas, fruit kebabs, fried rice, sushi rolls, veggie plates) so they get excited about eating the healthy foods.

LilacDreamer

How were we active as children?

I was always outside doing something...anything. I didnt sit at home all day staring at the TV and playing video games or surfing the internet like todays android-children.

My cousin is 13 and I don't think he's gone outside to play since he was around 6 years old. seriously. his life revolves around his Xbox.

The BEST thing a caregiver can do for a child, when it comes to activity is just get them up and outside participating in any sort of fun activities, whether its at your local community center, a festival of some sort, or just going to the park. Google is your friend, do searches to see if your town or city has any upcoming events planned. Do you have a beach near you? A lot of times beaches will host activities for children. How about the local library? I know for a fact many libraries host activites for children all summer.

Even craigslist might have postings about different events, festivals, arts and crafts in the local park, nature walks, make it fun for them.

Girlwithnoname77

I know you said outdoor activities should be limited, but I want to throw one out there in case you change your mind -- geocaching (http://www.geocaching.com/) -- "Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. Participants navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that location."

It's tons of fun for adults and kids alike, and can get you moving and exploring outside. The only downside is that you need a smart phone, or a GPS.

LOVE THIS IDEA for my own kids! Thanks for sharing!

Girlwithnoname77

Get active with them. Take away the damn game console. Limit food options for the girl and offer her water instead.

I wouldn't limit food options just for her. Offer healthy choices for them all. If she's singled out, it's going to hurt her feelings.

Take them to the park? Do they have a pool somewhere near by? Or pets that they can walk? How about just an old fashioned walk?

Or play hide and seek outside?

^^^ LIKE.

For various craft ideas, google is an amazing reference book. I have leveraged some fantastic ideas from there.
http://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?st=110000&e=craftslanding is one, but there are sooooooo many.

For the age group, there are learning to read websites such as starfall.com that is free and will easily and happily entertain WHILE educating the 5 and 7 year olds. Great wet weather or babysitter-needs-alone-time activity.

Message me if you have trouble finding activities, I will send you more links.

Girlwithnoname77

http://www.educational-freeware.com/news/easy-crafts.aspx is another site I just found via google.

CassieReannan

Get active with them. Take away the damn game console. Limit food options for the girl and offer her water instead.

You know, if you got a wii or a xbox kinect you can actually get kids to be active when playing it.
Me and my nephew play wii sports all the time and were always using our arms.

Other than that, we play "treasure hunts", go to the park, ride bikes and jump on the trampoline.