Tips for baby-sitting 5 kids of all ages?

Julia

In a few days I'm going to be baby-sitting five kids. I'm sitting for: two 4 year old girls, one 5 year old boy, one 2 month old girl and one 9 month old boy. I want to know if anyone has any tips for: toys to bring for the 4 and 5 year olds, ways to keep the older kids busy while i tend to the little ones, fun art projects for the older kids. Thank you so much! :)
PS: the kids are my cousins but the 5 year old (and his 2 month old sister) live in Washington DC (i live in Minnesota) and the 4 year olds see him very much so if anyone has any ideas to have them all playing together and getting to know each other.
THANKS SO MUCH :D IT'S GOING TO BE A BIG JOB SO ANYTHING HELPS :D :) :D :) :D :)

Answer
I use to keep a group of kids all diff. ages during my late teens.

What I usually did was ask the older kids if they could help me. Most kids under 5 love this. So you can ask the 4yr old girls & 5yr old boy to be your special helpers. They'll feel important.

The 2mt old most likely will sleep a lot so make sure you have a baby monitor or something to hear her.
The 9mt old may be crawling so you need to keep an eye on him/her too.

I wouldn't suggest art projects. The 9mt old could find one of the small items and choke on it.

Playing outside while you watch will help get out most of their energy. Keep a baby monitor on so you can hear sleeping babies.

Coloring with crayons will keep them busy too just keep a basket for the crayons so they don't roll off the table since the 9mt old could get one and chew on it.

When the babies sleep you can read books to the kids then maybe after the story they could draw their favorite parts.

30mins videos work well too when you are busy with the babies.

Have fun

Toys for Kids Area...ages 3 Months to 12 Years?

brfloridab

work in a kids area of a fitness club that is non-profit. We rely mainly on donations to keep the kids entertained and we're short on toys again. They either disappear or they have broken peices so they need to be discarded. We aren't allowed to ask the general public for donations, so my co-workers and I have been taking turns bringing in stuff. This year, my Christmas donation is going to be oversized Legos as we need something that is safe for kids ages 3 months to age 12. It's difficult to find gender neutral toys or things that girls can play with as Barbies around allowed as the small kids can put the hair into their mouths on the dolls. We mostly have Happy Meal toys right now as those are cheap and have been donated.

What are some good toys for both genders? We have Transformers and little robots and cars for the boys, but we need some stuff for the girls. I was thinking about plastic play food, but that's only good for kids to like age 5. What can we get for the older kids so they don't get too bored? It seems past age 8 they're all "technology kids" and video games and hand held electronics aren't allowed to be brought in to the Kids Klub since we've had things break and get stolen. Any ideas are most appreciated. Thank You!!

Answer
You really do great work.

I think some blocks toys, building toys and pretending toys and figure toys would be okay.

Good luck to you. :)

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RV with kids.... TIPS??

Peyton

I am taking my 4 girls ages 7, 5 y/o twins and 1 we are driving from sacramento to las vegas with all the stops we might have to take it could be up to 15 hours i have switching off drivers so i have all the time with the kids we are leavving around 5pm and the kids will be going to bed around 8 or 9 plus we will have dinner on the RV any tips if they cant sleep on the RV or what to do so they wont get bored? THANKS!

Answer
LOTS of games, toys, books, and activities are a MUST. Growing up with 3 girls and 1 boy trust me long trips are easier with something to be entertained by. Also bring plenty dvds and dvd player helps when they are tired but bored. Possible bring easy foods everyone could make together for more fun? If they cant sleep soft music or a movie should put any kid to sleep

Differences between boys and girls...?

I was discussing this with my brothers partner today as they have two children. A boy (8 years old) and a girl (2 years old).
I haven't been around many children but just from what me and her have observed from them and others we came up with a few differences between them. I want to know if anyone else has noticed these things?

Boys
â Calmer, able to settle down more, don't always have to be doing something but can sit and relax.
â Less likely to share.
â More able to be reasoned with.
â Throw dramatic tantrums with crying and arms waving.
â More affectionate and able to be 'babied' more.

Girls
â Are always 'busy', need to be doing something all the time.
â Get the idea of 'sharing' a lot quicker and are really happy to do it.
â Their tantrums are often 'silent' tantrums. They will go into a huff or do things to manipulate. One time, my niece didn't want to eat an orange, my nephew would have been crying and fighting, she picked it up and dropped it on the ground very calmly all the while looking my brother dead in the eyes.
â They will hug you and let you fawn over them but seek independence a lot quicker.

Again, just my observations on a very small sample of children. Anyone else notice this or can think of any other marked differences between them?
Perhaps i should clarify... well no child is calm all the time or throwing tantrums all the time... they're children, not robots.
When they aren't throwing tantrums, they are calm whereas girls always seem to be busy...
Amsam - care to share some?

Answer
Jen I have 4 kids and I will tell you there are definitely some differences between boys and girls. I do not agree with some of the things you have mentioned but that does not discount the fact it is your observances about the children you are talking about. I really do think birth order and parenting plays a significant role more so than sex maybe.

My observances the first time I stepped foot in the headstart classroom were funny. The boys were literally fighting over a toy...elbows, fist and hands going. One the winner got the toy a little girl came along and wanted it. She grabbed for it and he pulled back...then she let out a SHRILL squeal. He dropped it immediately and ran away! I found this hilarious and very typical. Boys will resort to physical means whereas girls resort to verbal. Had the fight been between 2 girls you would have heard bartering, arguing and shrieking and crying. But confront a tuff little boy with a shrieking girl and he gives in (not much changes with age lol) So in conflict boys resort to physical means moreso and girls to verbal.

Boys tend to be more tactile, hands on. You can always see wheels turning with boys. They like to destroy things and figure out how things work. Girls are chatterboxes, they want to talk about stuff haha. More role playing with girls. Much more drama with girls.

I find boys to be far more busy and into things. I have 3 sons. To get them to sit through a movie is like pulling teeth. My daughter had more of the ability and self control to simply relax. She would do quiet activities like color, set up her barnyard, crafts etc. My boys idea of fun is peeing on the cats outside from an upstairs window or stringing a 5 gal bucket from a swingset and swinging in it. To get them to sit and do a quiet activity of an any sorts just wasn't gonna happen. My boys keep me on my toes. The things they come up with is never ending around here.

Girls do seem to seek that higher independence at a younger age. Whereas boys tend to have a need to be coddled much more. All my kids are snuggly etc but my sons demand it far more. I think girls can be reasoned with much easier and demand an explanation as to the whys of things. If given a reason they can associate with it will all be ok. My boys could care less as to why...who cares if it will break? haha. But an explanation such as "because you will get a spanking" seems to do the trick!

Tantrums is a horse a piece. Yes, girls can be more manipulative and cunning. I think boys are simply not as much in touch with their emotional selves as girls are. They blow up and its over.

Overall during the grade school years I would say girls are by far easier in a sense. Boys a bit more difficult because of their rough, rowdy yet needy ways. This changes my highschool. Boys tested those boundaries as children and by the time they reach their teen years are more go with the flow, the needyness wears off. Girls on the other hand can become more challenging to authority (mother lol) etc. They become more needy, more sensitive yet maintain a very independent stance. It almost seems as a role reversal switches as they go through puberty. Hope I helped!

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Dance songs for Kids ages 3-5?

dancerxox

I need songs that pre-schoolers can just like dance too. I have.....
-Hey Julliet
-Dancing Queen
-Mama Mia
-You'll Always find your way back home (Hannah Montana)
-Life's what you make it (Hannah Montana)
Thanks :)

Answer
You Got A Friend In Me-Toy Story
I Just Can't Wait To Be King-The Lion King
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious-Mary Poppins
A Spoonful Of Sugar-Mary Poppins
Chim Chim Cher-ee-Mary Poppins
Hakuna Matata-The Lion King
You'll Be In My Heart-Phil Collins
Circle Of Life-The Lion King
That's Just The Way We Roll-The Jonas Brothers
S.O.S-The Jonas Brothers
I'll Make A Man Our Of You-Mulan
Friend Like Me-Aladdin
Cha Cha Slide-DJ Casper
We Rock-Camp Rock
I Wanna Hold Your Hand-The Beatles
Can't Buy Me Love-The Beatles
Help!-The Beatles
It's A Hard Knock Life-Annie
We're All In This Together-High School musical
Popular-Wicked
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun-Miley Cyrus or Cyndi Lauper
Yellow Polka Dot Bikini-Connie Francis
Witch Doctor-Alvin and The Chipmunks
I've Got No Strings-Pinocchio
Cheetah Sisters-The Cheetah Girls
Cinderella-The Cheetah Girls
Blame It On The Boogie-Jackson 5
ABC-Jackson 5
YMCA-The Village People
LA Baby-The Jonas Brothers
Hang In There Baby-Bridget Mendler
Twist And Shout-The Beatles
Round and Round-Selena Gomez
Naturally-Selena Gomez
Never Say Never-Justin Bieber
It's On-Camp Rock 2
Ordinary Girl-Hannah Montana
Something About The Sunshine-Anna Margaret
I Want It All-High School Musical 3
Fabulous-High School Musical 2
Push It To The Limit-Corbin Bleu
New Classic-Selena Gomez and Drew Seely
All The Way Up-Emily Osment
Don't Stop Believing-Journey or the Glee Cast
Play My Music-The Jonas Brothers
Beautiful Day-Lee DeWyze
HoeDown ThrowDown-Miley Cyrus
Fireflies-Owl City
Gitchee Gitchee Goo-Phineas and Ferb
Tell Me Something I Don't Know-Selena Gomez
The Boys Are Back-High School Musical 3
You Are The Music In Me-High School Musical 2
It's Still Rock And Roll To Me-Billy Joel
Uptown Girl-Billy Joel

Hope this helps!

Tips for baby-sitting 5 kids of all ages?

Julia

In a few days I'm going to be baby-sitting five kids. I'm sitting for: two 4 year old girls, one 5 year old boy, one 2 month old girl and one 9 month old boy. I want to know if anyone has any tips for: toys to bring for the 4 and 5 year olds, ways to keep the older kids busy while i tend to the little ones, fun art projects for the older kids. Thank you so much! :)
PS: the kids are my cousins but the 5 year old (and his 2 month old sister) live in Washington DC (i live in Minnesota) and the 4 year olds see him very much so if anyone has any ideas to have them all playing together and getting to know each other.
THANKS SO MUCH :D IT'S GOING TO BE A BIG JOB SO ANYTHING HELPS :D :) :D :) :D :)

Answer
I use to keep a group of kids all diff. ages during my late teens.

What I usually did was ask the older kids if they could help me. Most kids under 5 love this. So you can ask the 4yr old girls & 5yr old boy to be your special helpers. They'll feel important.

The 2mt old most likely will sleep a lot so make sure you have a baby monitor or something to hear her.
The 9mt old may be crawling so you need to keep an eye on him/her too.

I wouldn't suggest art projects. The 9mt old could find one of the small items and choke on it.

Playing outside while you watch will help get out most of their energy. Keep a baby monitor on so you can hear sleeping babies.

Coloring with crayons will keep them busy too just keep a basket for the crayons so they don't roll off the table since the 9mt old could get one and chew on it.

When the babies sleep you can read books to the kids then maybe after the story they could draw their favorite parts.

30mins videos work well too when you are busy with the babies.

Have fun

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What age do you think girls should start playing with Barbie?

Sasha N

And what age do you think they stop?
Is Barbie suitable for a 5 yr old girl and a 7 yr old girl?

Answer
I also wouldn't give a Barbie or any other doll with small accessories to a toddler, but a 5 year old & a 7 year old is another story.

Dolls don't give girls negative self images or perpetuate stereotypes, that is a bunch of nonsense. I am 50 years old, grew up with Barbie, my friends, my sisters, my nieces & their friends ALL played with Barbie & NONE of us have eating disorders, poor body image or any thing else.

Of course, we were lucky enough to have parents who didn't put us on diets when we hit the chubby stage (which most kids will grow out of with proper nutrition & exercise), didn't force us to wear contact lenses in grade school because "boys don't like girls who wear glasses", didn't buy us padded, push up bras when we were 12 & never made us feel as if brains were NOT as important as looks.

I have worked in various forms of retail for 20 years & the stuff I have heard & still hear parents (especially mothers) say to their young daughters breaks my heart. Most recently, a mother who was dressed like Pamela Anderson told her daughter (who was maybe 6 years old) "you don't want that dress, it is too little girl looking. WTF? The child IS a little girl.

Let kids be kids & let them decide when they are done playing with ANY toy, whether it is Dora, Barbie, Hot Wheels or anything else.

POLL: Do you think this os safe 4 little kids?

gganne

ok im going to start babysitting my neighbors little girls ( i have baby sat b4 just not 2 sister!) idk their age.. around 2-6 i guess but 1. is this safe to give as prizes? http://www.orientaltrading.com/ui/browse/processRequest.do?demandPrefix=12&sku=5/1398&mode=Searching&erec=1&Ipp=16&D=kids+toy+assortment&Ne=90000&Ntt=kids+toy+assortment&Ntk=all&Dx=mode%2bmatchallpartial&Ntx=mode%2bmatchallpartial&N=377322&requestURI=processProductsCatalog&sd=Toy+Assortment+For+Girls
2. any tips on babysitting 2 girls at once?

Answer
1. no....if they are 2-6 ages, those little toys will go straight into the mouth. They would choke on them. Think bigger toys, ones that they can't choke on!

2. patience....lots of patience! play it by ear and have fun with them!

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What are some toys that kids of all ages can play with?

best kids toys age 5 girl image

B

What are some toys that kids ages 6-12 can play with together? There is also a 1 1/2 year old. Preferably something that can be played with outside and at least 4 or 5 kids can play with at a time or take turns playing. Something the 1 1/2 year old would enjoy too if you can possibly think of anything to fit with that age. We are already buying a slipping slide and sand toys. Does anyone else have any suggestions? Something that isn't very expensive either. Thanks.

Answer
these are things my kids play with and they are a girl 6 and boy 3.

soccer ball

jr football or foam one might be better

Frisbee

a rubber ball for playing kick ball with bases. you can make ur own bases and the dollar tree did carry them

jump ropes

kid size rakes

plastic t ball

paint, lots of paint and boxes or posters are 2 for a dollar at $ tree
Spray paint a big huge box, let them i mean, and make a play house outta it.

How bout a tent? If not that, they could make a fort using kit chairs and blankets and sheets and stuff

if you have a table, uno and other games without tiny pieces might be good. My daughter loves uno!

horse shoes is fun too, they make them mobile kinds so you can bring them in when your done with them

kites are a $ at the $ tree too

who doesnt like bubbles or bubble blowers? You can get an awesome bubble blower at wal mart for not too much like 10 or 15 dollars and its GREAT LOADS OF FUN

potting soil and seeds is fun too

dont forget the boom box, gotta have tunes outside right?

I hope this helps it was just off the top of my head!

What toys do little girls ages 5 and 7 like to play with?

Sasha N

Well I have these little kids who I take care of sometimes and are kids of my family friends.
Recently I've been quite busy and haven't seen them for ages, they're moving away and I don't know what to get them.
They are five and six years old.

Answer
Little girls love barbie dolls, bratz, they like Hannah Montana brands (like bags, dolls, doll house, etc.) American Girl dolls (buy the baby ones if you want), webkinz, club penguin toy (at toys r us), littlest petshop, high school musical dolls, hello kitty (bags and stuffed animal), and a Dream Dazzlers Stylin' Guitar.

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What are some toys that kids of all ages can play with?

What is the fairest way a parent can discipline all of their children?

best kids toys age 5 girl image

NeedAdvice

I have 6 kids. A boy age 9, a boy age 7, two girls both 5, and two more boys who are 3. They all have to follow the general house rules but obviously the older kids have more responsibilites and such. But I am always worried that we are either being too hard on them or not hard enough.

My question is how do you know whether you should have different consequences for all your kids or have them all the same??

Answer
They should be different according to age and each individuals circumstance. You could take a toy away from a five year old and this could be devastating to them whereas the nine year old probably would not care and just find something else. You need to find something that works for each individual child.

What age do you think girls should start playing with Barbie?

Sasha N

And what age do you think they stop?
Is Barbie suitable for a 5 yr old girl and a 7 yr old girl?

Answer
I also wouldn't give a Barbie or any other doll with small accessories to a toddler, but a 5 year old & a 7 year old is another story.

Dolls don't give girls negative self images or perpetuate stereotypes, that is a bunch of nonsense. I am 50 years old, grew up with Barbie, my friends, my sisters, my nieces & their friends ALL played with Barbie & NONE of us have eating disorders, poor body image or any thing else.

Of course, we were lucky enough to have parents who didn't put us on diets when we hit the chubby stage (which most kids will grow out of with proper nutrition & exercise), didn't force us to wear contact lenses in grade school because "boys don't like girls who wear glasses", didn't buy us padded, push up bras when we were 12 & never made us feel as if brains were NOT as important as looks.

I have worked in various forms of retail for 20 years & the stuff I have heard & still hear parents (especially mothers) say to their young daughters breaks my heart. Most recently, a mother who was dressed like Pamela Anderson told her daughter (who was maybe 6 years old) "you don't want that dress, it is too little girl looking. WTF? The child IS a little girl.

Let kids be kids & let them decide when they are done playing with ANY toy, whether it is Dora, Barbie, Hot Wheels or anything else.

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