Mrs. Doubtfire Approved: Exploring Babysitting Games that Make the Time Fly

Being a babysitter is a rewarding experience. But sometimes, it can also be a bit challenging. Keeping the kids busy and ensuring they’re having fun is tricky. But with our compilation of engaging babysitting games, you’ll be able to explore the best options and find the ones that suit you best!

The Importance of Games and Activities for Kids

While some people believe that playing games with children is just for kicks and giggles, in fact, this simple process plays a crucial role in a child’s overall development and well-being. It affects many essential skills.

• Cognitive development. There are numerous activities, like puzzles, strategy games, etc., that enhance a child’s critical thinking, memory, decision-making, and other vital skills. Educational games also help to make the learning process more enjoyable and fun.
• Social skills. Games that require playing in group settings help your little ones develop important social skills. They learn how to communicate, cooperate, share, and take turns. Games provide a structured environment where kids can practice empathy, patience, and teamwork.
• Physical activity. Encouraging kids to move and exercise through physical games and activities is a great way to promote a healthy lifestyle. Running, jumping, and participating in sports all enhance motor abilities, coordination, and general health.
• Stress relief. In some cases, playing games is just about playing games. You need to remember that your kids are still growing and need time and opportunity to unwind and simply have fun. 

Most babysitting kid games provided in this article are great examples of activities that provide all of these benefits. So check them out and find the perfect options for your little ones!

Indoor Games and Activities

Staying indoors is inevitable sometimes. So, no matter how much your little ones like outdoor activities, it is essential for you to know how to keep them entertained when you’re at home. Here are some of the most fun things to do while babysitting.

1. Hide-and-Seek

Of course, starting strong with the classics. This traditional game has been a kids-favorite for decades. We’re pretty sure that even you’ve played it when you were a child. But in case you forgot, here are the basic rules:

• Choose one kid to be a seeker.
• When it’s done, the little one should close their eyes and count to the specified number (it can be from 20 to 100, depending on the kid’s age, number of players, number of spaces to hide, etc.), giving other children time to hide.
• Once the player finishes counting, they call out, “Ready or not, here I come!” and start to seek for others.
• The first kid found becomes the next seeker, and the game continues.

If you don’t know what to do when babysitting, hide-and-seek is one of the safest choices. It is always so much fun and can take a while. But don’t forget to set some ground rules and ensure the kid’s safety beforehand.

2. Puzzles

This is one of those activities that are not only fun but also beneficial. The main goal of the puzzle game is to put together pieces to form a complete picture or pattern. And it is one of the babysitting games with levels – you can choose the difficulty of the puzzle depending on the child’s age, interests, etc.

3. Memory Cards

If you’re looking for a game that will entertain kids and enhance their cognitive skills at the same time, opt for this one. You need to prepare a stack of card pairs with identical images. Once you have them (you can make a purchase or create self-made ones), shuffle the cards and place them on the table, floor, or any other flat surface facing down. Now, your little ones need to take turns flipping over two cards at a time, trying to find a match.

4. Building with Blocks

This one requires using some blocks, as the name suggests. They can be wooden, plastic, or magnetic in different forms and shapes. And you can also decide whether this activity will have an end goal (e.g., building the tallest tower) or be open-ended, allowing for creativity and imagination.

Outdoor Games and Activities for Babysitting

When staying at home becomes a bit boring, it’s about time to head outside! And luckily, there are plenty of fun games to play there, too. Take a look at our top picks!

5. Scavenger Hunt

Another classic on the list, simply because we can’t leave it behind. This is an exciting game where children search for a list of specific items or complete tasks within a designated area, such as a backyard or park. Here’s how to play:

• Create a list of items for the children to find or tasks to complete. This can include natural items like leaves, rocks, and flowers, or themed objects you’ve hidden beforehand, like toys or specific colors.
• Give each child or team a copy of the list and a bag to collect their items.
• Set boundaries for the search area and establish a time limit.
• The first child or team to find all the items or complete the tasks wins.

The best thing about this babysitting game for kids is that any number of participants can play it. So whether you supervise one child or not, you can be sure that the little ones will have fun.

6. Obstacle Course

The outdoors is a perfect place for kids to spend their energy. And when you know the kids you’re babysitting are pretty lively, an obstacle course might be a great activity for them. All you need to do is to set up a course using household items or outdoor equipment. Make sure the territory is entirely safe for kids, and use soft, non-breakable items.

7. Balloon Tennis

This one is the simplified version of regular tennis that works wonders for little kids. The best part is that you can create all the equipment by yourself – just tape some paper plates to popsicle sticks to create the rackets and blow up a few balloons to play with. And you’re all set! Now, your kids can have fun and pretend to be true tennis players. Who knows, maybe one of them will actually make it to the Olympics?

8. Sidewalk Chalk Art

And now it’s time to improvise! Grab some sidewalk chalk, find the perfect spot, gather your kids, and allow their creativity to shine! You can do anything – allow them to draw whatever they want, set a specific theme, or even turn this activity into one of the educational babysitter games by, for example, practicing Math or new vocabulary words while drawing.

9. Water Balloon Toss

For this one, you only need some balloons and water. Fill the former with the latter, gather the kids, and do exactly what the name suggests – toss the balloons for other players to catch! You can create your own rules, like receiving points for each successfully caught balloon, set up tournaments, and just have fun!

Educational and Brain-Boosting Games

Although most babysitting games for girls and boys are beneficial, some of them are specifically designed for educational purposes. It means that the main goal of such activities is to enhance some practical or cognitive skills while enjoying the game. Below are some examples of such entertainment you can use when babysitting.

10. Animal Movement and Sound Activity Dice

Many kids like animals – that’s why it’s probably among some of the first topics they learn when growing up. And this engaging game is perfect to practice this theme. Here’s how to play this game and what preparations you need to make.

• Create a small, square-shaped box with the pictures or the names of different animals placed on its sides. Make sure to use only those animals your little one is familiar with.
• Let the kid toss your hand-made dice.
• When it lands, peek at the animal that happens to be on the side facing up, and encourage your kid to make a sound or a movement of this animal, like hop like a rabbit or roar like a lion.

This wonderful game is not only fun. It also enhances the kid’s coordination and motor skills and encourages their creativity and imagination.

11. I Spy

We’re back with another traditional game (at this point, you’ve probably guessed that we truly like time-proven activities). The main goal of this one is to develop observational skills and the ability to describe things by finding objects based on verbal cues. You (or the little one) say, “I spy with my little eye something that is…,” and then add an adjective that describes the object’s color/shape/etc. Make sure to pick the things that surround you and are easily visible for the kid to make the game process smooth and engaging.

12. Giant Scrabble

This one is an oversized version of one of the best wordplay baby sitting games with the same name. If you know the kid or kids you’re watching are interested in such activities, don’t hesitate to try it out! Create giant letter tiles and a grid using cardboard or fabric, lay it on the ground, distribute letter cards among kids, and voilà! You’re all set.

13. Math Pop Quiz

For those kids who really like math, this is a perfect choice. In this game, children solve math problems in a fun, competitive format. Don’t forget to prepare a set of math questions appropriate for the children’s age and skill level, and remember to pick up the reward for the winner!

14. Storytelling

The last one on this list is an imaginative game where children create and share stories, either individually or collaboratively. You can start by creating a small prompt or theme to inspire the story or set the direction for it. And then, it’s up to the kids! If you want to add something special, you can even use different prompts and costumes to act out some parts of the story.

Creative and Craft Activities

Another thing many children like to do is create something unique by themselves. That’s when different craft activities step in! In the list below, we’ve collected the most exciting and creative games to play while babysitting.

15. Drawing Challenge

This one is an exciting activity where children draw pictures based on specific themes or prompts within a set time limit. Here’s what you need to do:

• Provide drawing materials such as paper, pencils, markers, and crayons.
• Give the children a theme or prompt (e.g., draw your favorite animal or create an imaginary creature).
• Set a timer and encourage your little ones to complete their drawings within the time limit.

Don’t forget to encourage the kids, praise their drawings, and make sure every participant feels included and valued.

16. 100-Cup Challenge

This one is for little engineers! All you need is a hundred plastic cups, the kids you’re watching, and some imagination! Use the cups to create different structures, towers, pyramids, and many other things. You can also challenge the kids to build the tallest tower, create the most unique design, etc., to add some competitiveness to the game.

17. Make Your Own Board Game

While board games are great for fun babysitting activities, they’re not always accessible. But fear not! You can actually have fun with your little ones simply by creating one by yourselves! Just provide some materials, like cardboard, markers, dice, game pieces, etc. Take some time to brainstorm game ideas setting rules and objectives, and you’re ready to have some fun!

18. Paper Tetris

Who says you can’t play video games offline? Tetris was once a huge deal, and you can bring it back to life by using some simple items. Grab a large piece of paper or cardboard, draw a grid, and make some Tetris shapes using the colored paper. Ask kids to fit those shapes into the grid to complete rows without gaps. Easy and entertaining!

19. Face Painting

This is another great way to engage the kid you’re watching. Grab some non-toxic face paints, brushes, and sponges, save some easy YouTube tutorials, and offer your little ones to take turns painting each other’s faces.

Interactive and Group Games to Play when Babysitting

If you’re watching two or more kids within the same household, knowing some group-focused games is a must. And we are happy to assist you with that, too! Check out some classic and new activities appropriate for kids of different ages.

20. Charades

The first one is a classic party game where players act out words or phrases without speaking while others try to guess. It can be fun not only for kids but for adults, too. However, when it comes to little ones, choose age-appropriate words and phrases children are well familiar with.

21. Lip Sync Competition

If you fancy some homemade concert, this activity is everything you need. Find out kids’ favorite songs, create a playlist, make some costumes if needed, and encourage them to create a real show with them being in the spotlight, lip-syncing to the lyrics.

22. Freeze Dance

Here’s another fun one! Turn on the music, and encourage your little ones to show their moves. But here’s the trick – when the song stops, they need to freeze in place and remain like that until the music starts to play again.

23. Musical Chairs

For this one, you need a music player and a set of chairs (one fewer than the number of participants). And then:

• Play music while the children walk around the chairs.
• When the music stops, the children must find a seat, and the one left standing is out.
• Remove one chair and continue until only one child is left.

And here’s your winner! However, be mindful when playing this game and make sure that even those kids who are already out still feel included in the game.

24. Simon Says

The last one for today is one of the most well-known babysitting games for kids of different ages. It is a follow-the-leader game where children only perform actions if preceded by the phrase “Simon says.” One kid takes the role of Simon and gives commands, e.g., “Simon says, touch your toes.” Other participants must follow the commands.

Find the Best Babysitting Games for Kids with Keiki World

Pre-K preparation can be a tricky task. But, access to proper recourses can help you make this process more engaging and smooth. Keiki World is an application created specifically to help you with that! Within the app, you can find:

• Educational mini-games for kids ages 1 to 6, focused on practicing the essential pre-k skills.
• Worksheets for parents on various topics, from “School Preps Roadmap” to “Thriving with ADHD kit.”
• Progress tracking opportunity to recognize and celebrate your child’s milestones.

Keiki World is a great addition to pre-k preparation, allowing both parents and their little ones to make the learning process more engaging and fun.

Conclusion

Being a babysitter is a great profession, yet it is also a huge responsibility. You need to not only watch the child and cover their basic needs, but also ensure your little ones are entertained and having a good time. We hope that our compilation of these exciting babysitting games will help you to always be prepared!