Help please baby sitting

enthusiasticsaver

I would be sending them to bed a lot earlier than 10pm. What sort of parents keep a 5 and 7 year up until then? You shouldn't make bedtime activities too exciting or they won't want to go to bed. I would have thought one or two board games and maybe half an hour of TV and then pyjamas and bedtime stories.

ERICS_MUM

Poundland sell bags of kids' crafting bits and pieces - coloured card, stickers etc and pads of coloured drawing paper. Most children love making pictures - get a cheap glue stick (the solid ones they apply like a lipstick) and that's an hour gone.

Mojisola

helcat26 wrote: »

I am baby sitting for a 5 year old girl and 7 year old boy soon.
I am asking for advice on things/ activities we can do.
Evening 6pm to 11pm.

I usually do baking- but I know their mum disapproves and would like us to cut the sugar

Mum disapproves but allows them to stay up til 10pm+?

I think I'd be saying that if they want me to childmind all evening, I'll be choosing the activities (and billing the parents for anything that has to be bought).

If she disapproves that much, she can find another childminder.

maman

Pollycat wrote: »

Rather than you asking for advice on babysitting, the parents should be seeking advice on how to parent their children.

The Mother should be more concerned with a 5 year old and a 7 year old who refuse to go to bed until their parents come home from an evening out than with cutting sugar in their diet.

Caroline_a wrote: »

Not so much perfect parents, more normal parents!

I'm amazed that someone who picked you up on sugar and playing computer games would let their children stay up that late. IMO that's not normal. That's irresponsible.


My advice is to be as boring as possible. I can see why watching a film is easier but personally I wouldn't do anything stimulating at all. I'd do bath and bedclothes (assuming they've had their dinner). It's good that it's winter and it'll be dark so they probably won't know what time it is.


Then I'd take them up to bed and read them a few stories and keep telling them it's dark and late and time to go to sleep. Keep yawning for effect!


Good luck.:)

starting_again_in_the_sun

As someone living in a country in which 10pm is considered a perfectly reasonable bed time for young children, I'm surprised it's being considered such an issue. Personally, I think being a parent is hard enough without being constantly judged!

But ,anyway, OP if I were you I would play active games for an hour or so, then make pizzas/ pancakes or something, followed by colouring or a board game, a movie and stories. Not sure if you have your own kids but I find time flies with a 5 year old .

kingfisherblue

Whatever you do, don't spend your own money on the kids' activities. Their parents are taking advantage of you enough by expecting you to look after them whilst they are up so late.

HampshireH

Is this for just 1 evening?

I think it's lovely you are putting so much effort in.

10pm is the time I usually manage to keep my eyes open till. 7pm for youngest and 7.30 for eldest is adequate I feel with 30 mins quiet reading at a push.

Im sure the kids will be happy with a film and sofa night. Most kids either play up or are disengaged if they have adhoc childminding nights. I'm sure they won't need too much entertaining before bed.

Goodluck

unholyangel

I wouldn't advise against exciting things completely, just make sure they're finished at least an hour before bed to give them time to settle. Warm (not hot) baths before bed can also help them sleep as it puts their body temperature within the range it will be while asleep (can work on adults too - similar to how if a house is very warm it makes you sleepy because it reminds your body of being wrapped in your duvet in bed).

As for ideas on what to do with them....what about home made play dough? Or paint printing using potatoes? Soap making? Tbh if you search online you'll get hundreds of ideas. You can also ask them questions etc to get their minds working/learning during crafts. Even if they're just drawing pictures, ask them why they drew that picture, do they think it might be a bit better if they added a _____ (fill in blank with something appropriate to what they've drawn).

You could also do a deal with them. If they go to bed at x time without fuss, next week you'll bring xyz with you/let them choose what you do (although you might want to give them options to choose from else you might end up with one of them requesting a unicorn - you know what kids are like )

GwylimT

Nevermind the kids staying up until 10pm, I can't stay up that late!

Ours are a similar age, they are in bed at 6:30pm, we have a chat about the day and a story and they are asleep by 7pm and wake around 7-7:30am.

helcat26

unholyangel- thanks
I am absolutely not doing it 2 weeks running:o !!


At this rate I am worrying about me falling asleep- which would hardly be looking after them!