Homemade Games for Babysitting

Go on a Treasure Hunt

• A treasure hunt can be fun at any age. For a small child, you could simply hide a fun snack or favorite toy in the room. You could let the child know when she is getting closer or farther away by telling her if she is getting "warm" or "cold." For older kids, you could write out clues that lead them to the next clue and ultimately to the prize.

  Consider making the treasure hunt relate to an upcoming holiday. You could hide the clues in Easter eggs or Christmas gift boxes. The prize at the end should remind the kids of the holiday season.

Play Pretend

• Playing pretend is one of the most fun childhood games. Let the kids' imagination run wild by building a pillow castle. You can step up all the pillows and cushions from the couch around cardboard boxes or kitchen chairs. Cover the top with a bed sheet for a house-like feel. You can even design costumes by fashioning a royal robe from a bathroom towel and a sword from leftover wrapping paper tubes. If you do not have the time to build a castle, set up the kitchen chairs like the seats of a car and pretend to be on a road trip. Let the children decide where to go while you help point out the sights along the way.

Start Your Own Band

• With a little bit of craftiness you can create musical instruments out of household items such as pots and pans, paper plates, macaroni, shoe boxes and rubber bands. To make a tambourine, place some macaroni between two paper plates and staple the edges of the plates together. Be sure that all the staples are safe and secure to avoid hurt fingers. To make a guitar, simply put a few rubber bands around an old shoebox. The child can then pluck at the strings as if it were a real guitar. Of course, the pots and pans make great drums. Use wooden spoons for drumsticks.

Stick to the Classics

• Even if you are short on creativity, you can always stick to the classics. Active games like Simon Says and Charades keep the children entertained while burning off some of their seemingly endless energy. Think about ways to give these old games a new twist. For instance, play a new game of Charades in which the children reenact their favorite family memories or their favorite movie scenes.