Help with kids this summer for sitter--3 boys

[Krischaser]

I have three very active boys that like to pick on each other ALL THE TIME..... Anyways I have a sitter for them. How can I make the sitters day easier? What activities so she is not breaking fights up all day long. We are on a tight budget so weekly camps are too costly. The boys are ages 11, 7, and 2.

 

[2disneyboys]

is there access to swiming? Places for them to do some light hiking or bike riding? Thats always a great way to "tire" them out. I have 2 boys and then I have 5 nephews, all the same age brackets so it gets CRAZY at times! We have found that the more outdoor activities they can do, the better, just make sure its done safely (like if it's really hot, make sure they are hydrating and taking precautions.) My boys spend 90% of the summer outside... I did make a rule that game systems could not be played between the hours of 9am - 6pm so that helps to encourage the outside time, when to hear them say it, theres "nothing" to do inside during the day, lol!

 

[sk!mom]

I agree that you need to keep them active. Is there any way to get them time away from one another. Their ages are so widely spaced that none of them would choose to spend their days together. For instance, for years we joined a neighborhood pool. It was around $400 for the season. That sounds like a lot until you realize that it provided daily entertainment, friends to hang out with, and exhausted my kids.

Our high schools also offer week long sports camps that are very inexpensive. Usually around $40 per kid. It's several hours and sort of a fundraiser for the different sports programs and a fun way to get kids up, moving, and hanging out with friends.

That being said, I simply wouldn't tolerate bad behavior from the 7 and 11 year old. I would establish clear rules. Things like each of their rooms are off limits to the other. Let them know that if their sibs are getting on their nerves they can go to their room and close the door for peace but they my not, argue, fight etc...
I would establish consequences for fighting as well as rewards for peaceful days.

 

[HM]

Hopefully you'll find that they act better around the sitter than they do around you. That is often the case.

 

[MinnieForMe]

If the sitter is old enough to drive, check out your local library. Ours has a ton of fun activities.

The two little ones might be happy for a little while painting with water and a paintbrush. My kids loved to paint the house and the driveway. It's a cheap hour of fun.

Local parks with a paperbag lunch.

Town pond although that may be hard if the younger two are not able to swim yet.

Do you have a sandbox?

Sometimes just pitching a cheap tent in the backyard sparks imaginative play.

Your oldest son would probably prefer to have a friend over and entertain themselves with supervision. I would ask the sitter if she would mind one more and to balance it off see if your son's best friend's mom/dad would take him one day too. Even if it's only once per week, your sitter would have 4 kids for one day, but only 2 the other.

Sorry, I'm not much help. My kids are older now so we spend a ton of time at the beach (State Park). It's cheap and wears them out!

 

[Princess_Meghan <3]

I take the kids I watch to some of our libraries summer activities- I think the boys favorite thing is getting to see the reptile guy who comes!

Our local movie theater also has $1 days- they show some older children's movies for $1 one day a week. The kids don't mind that the movies have been out for a bit, they just love getting to go to the movies.

We also usually pick about one day a month and go have a picnic in the park.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

too bad you don't live closer - there are days when I would trade your sitter your 3 boys for my one hormonal 12 year old girl

 

[Ashlander]

AMF has free bowling for kids all summer. I think you have to pay for the shoe rental, but you can play 2 games every day in the summer for free.

 

[100AcreWood]

What about vacation bible schools? I know a lot of those in my area are free and churches are usually happy to have kids that aren't members of their church. We're doing one of those this summer with a local church and doing another through our church.

 

[StephMK]

How about theme weeks? She or you can plan some activities & set up a loose schedule for them. Does the 2 yr old still nap? I'd try to have some activities for all of them & some that involve 2 of them while the 3rd does something alone or separate.

These would have to be modified for age levels but even the little guy could have fun at his level w/older brothers to help.

Countries - pick countries, do some research, learn some foods, games, customs, words - maybe the older 2 could make some new foods while 2 yr old is sleeping? Or give 2 yr old playdoh to smash while they cook? Look at the geography on a map, figure out how to visit - how far away, find books about that country to read, etc.

Olympics - learn new games & make up some - balloon volleyball, obstacle course, goofy races, bean bags - they could make them then play; bubble catching, chalk long jump

Drama week - read plays, make up plays, put on performance & have costumes, make props, scenery - paint or color flattened boxes, etc.

Movie week - try new genres, learn backgrounds of characters or stories, read books related to the movies, color pics

Spy week - camo crafts, sofa cushions fort, have them make spy gear out of recyclables & tape, play hide & seek, set up scavenger hunt w/clues, there is a fun website about FBI for Kids somewhere online

Wars - research famous battles, make forts outside, have water balloon fights

Legos -different competitions - highest tower, most creative, best use of odd blocks, etc. create different mazes w/blocks - my 3rd graders loved to create Egyptian mazes from blocks & set up ****y traps & treasure for others to follow & figure out the maze

While most of these apply more to the older ones, the little one should be able to have fun too if his brothers will see themselves as the teachers, showing & helping him w/the fun stuff. Good luck!

 

[tink576]

Look up all the local playgrounds you can think of to have field trips to go play and explore (all the elementary schools maybe even in the next school district over, I know some of the private schools around have open playgrounds, all the different town playgrounds scattered all over). I've found when babysitting, that kids love to go to the "new" playground that's not the one they would normally go to, and pack a picnic.

 

[MSSANDRA]

First.. I would pay her really well!.

It (as you WELL know) will be tough to keep three very different age boys happy, controlled and safe.

I too would establish the rules for the older two and make it very clear the consequences for not following the rules. Make it clear to your sitter that she can call you if she needs to and make it clear to the boys that they do NOT want her to have to call you.

I would next establish what you are comfortable with your sitter doing. Is she a teen or an adult.? Are you ok with her driving them? Supervising water activities? Having other kids over?

Next I would create a schedule. Get her and the kids input but you create it. Days go better when you know what is happening. Include things like outside play, TV times, reading time, chore time and REST time. Yep...even for an hour and even for the older two. You sitter deserves a little down time.

Maybe look for a few things for the boys to do separate. Play dates? Maybe a short inexpensive class or program?

If you are good with her driving the kids....all the off site entertainment activities are good if she can keep up with a two year old and watch the older two as well. Where is the younger child the rest of the year? Maybe consider keeping him in his child care routine?

 

[dimimi]

You have a lot of good ideas.

I would give the sitter a lot of ideas. She will have her hands full with the 2 older children and then a 2 year old.

I would try the vacation bible school. Maybe send just the middle child or the 2 older.

I also like the sports camp ideas. Maybe each child coul pick one?

I would try the pool.

Movies and bowling were great ideas but probably won't work with a 2 year old.

If your kids like crafts/activities, I would try crafts and the theme week ideas.

Sometimes the local parks have events.

Good Luck

 

[Krischaser]

Hi thanks for the ideas and please keep them coming. My youngest has always been watched at home. I will be gone to work for about 6.5 hours. The youngest still naps. We work close so I have told the sitter she can call anytime.

 

[MomToOne]

too bad you don't live closer - there are days when I would trade your sitter your 3 boys for my one hormonal 12 year old girl

I'm right there with you!! Mother's should get a special "hazard pay" tax break or something for having to deal with a 12-year-old girl with PMS.

 

[angwill]

pool pass, bike riding, park, library reading program.

 

[Donnainnj]

Does your town have a rec program? Just looked ours up, and the price has gone up a lot, used to be just a registration fee. Maybe your program would be more like ours was in the past. Now it it $48 a week for younger kids and $38 a week for older. But now they do cover more time, 8:30am - 2pm. Even if you couldn't participate in something like this the whole summer, maybe a week or two would break up the time better.
Donna

 

[mbsturgill]

I was a nanny for two years and although it was just one boy, he was often pretty mischievous. First of all, establish a clear standard from the beginning that your boys behave or there will be clear consequences every time. Let your sitter know what you are comfortable with, and let her handle it. If they choose to misbehave, they lose a game or are sent to their room for a period of time. If they don't cooperate with the consequence your sitter imposes then there will be further consequences imposed by you when you get home. Secondly, don't micromanage their day. Your sitter should be able to come up with this on her own, but if not you could print out activities you think they would enjoy and let her work it into their schedule. Yes, your sitter works for you, but I can tell you from firsthand experience that giving the sitter the resources and "power" she needs during the day will end with a happy sitter, which will result in happy children and a happy you

 

[Tosie]

You can google "free things to do in" your state and find some fun things.