Activities for new foster children of varied ages

lunastar

Hi everyone, really hope that you can help me on this one. My MIL has just recently taken on 3 foster children (all siblings) girl of 12, boy of 7 and the littlest of the bunch is a girl at just turned 4.

As MIL has gone from a house of zero children to three all at once and at such different ages, she is struggling to find thing that will keep them all interested at the same time. they havent had them long enough for the children to settle down yet, but even still, they are all doing different things at different times, not often together so they each get bored at different intervals (no friends in the area yet).
Does anyone have any suggestions for activities which they can all join in, but won't cost the earth, be it things t do with them, leave them with to do on their own, or somewhere to go out to.

TIA

Lunastar

pinkpig08

Is there a local park nearby? The little one could play on the equipment whilst the older two took a football or tennis rackets etc?

No matter how old children are, they all love baking! Maybe fairy cakes, scones, anything like that. They can enjoy eating the result of their work

Mips

On rainy days... play doh (you can make it yourself :money: ).. board games, cards... Uno/Snap... has she got a garden? Perhaps she could encourage them to water the plants and things?

andyrules

The library! Sorry to sound boring, but all the disruption children in care face often puts them behind with reading and impacts massively on their futures.

Colourful picture books for the littly, and anything of interest to the others. Can the older ones help the younger? Could they make a little book about themselves, eg likes and dislikes - would be helpful as well.