Don’t panic Mr Dad! Babysitting is not rocket science but racket science under parental guidance
If you’re reading this, chances are your wife or partner got you to. But don’t hit the panic button. The ideas come from a hands-on dad who has discovered that babysitting isn’t impossible. Before you read further, let’s get one thing clear. TV is not a nanny. TV in moderation is okay, but plonking your kid in front of the idiot box for hours on end is a recipe for disaster. Such babysitting can mess up your kid’s learning ability and even lead to obesity.
1 Watch animals From ants and insects to cats and dogs, animals never fail to get kids curious. However, be ready to answer questions like, “Why did the ant cross the road?”
2 Build a fort or a princess castle Use blankets and pillows to build a fort on the bed. This activity greatly reduces the risk of heads hitting the floor.
3Play some upbeat music
Bring out your air guitars and jam together. Select kid-appropriate music to avoid awkward moments like your kid singing Eminem’s song Insane in front of your mother-in-law.
4 Cardio, kiddie style If ‘exercise’ and ‘babysitting’ are clashing on your schedule, do some cardio to a Richard Simmons video with your kid. Be open to try out some crazy moves.
5 Paint, draw or do a craft project Have paper, colouring books, crayons and craft materials at hand. Be prepared for spilt colours on the floor. Have enough white paper ready to stop your munchkin from treating the nearest wall as a canvas. Don’t forget to keep scissors and sharp objects away from the reach of little hands.
6 Play hide and seek at home Make sure you always search all other places before you find your bundle of joy. But do not show your kid how to hide in a washing machine.
7 Use multimedia Watch family videos and photos together on your smartphone. Your kid will especially love seeing his/her baby videos and pictures. This collection of memories can come in handy when you are in an emergency sessio n.
8 Read a book for your kid Show off your mimicry skills as you turn the pages.
9 play games Stack up toys and dash them with cars. Your child will love it fast and furious. Or, try playing Master Chef.
10 Use the bubble-maker When it comes to kids, bubbles have this ability to lighten their mood 99.98 per cent of the time. A bubble maker is integral to your babysitting kit.
11 Let your kid piggyback Become a horse, tiger or elephant. Throw in some roars and neighs for added effect.
12 Try balloons They’re a close second to bubbles in alleviating kid troubles. Stock up balloons because there will be a burst or two sooner than later.
13 Skype Get your kid to video-chat with grandpa or grandma. Everybody involved is going to love it.
14 Go outdoors Take your kid to a park or a playground. In all probability, he/she will not want to return home soon.
15 Gaze at the stars Awesome if you have to babysit at the end of the day. It may also be a good way to introduce your little one to the basics of astronomy. Hope these ideas are enough to get you started. You can use them individually or in combination during a single session to make babysitting fun for your kid and you. Just make sure toilet doors are closed when you try out idea #6.
