Games to Play With Toddlers While Babysitting

Music

• Make singing into a game with the toddler that you are babysitting. Sing "Two Little Blackbirds," using hand movements. Ask the toddler to follow your lead. Bring out basic instruments like drums or tambourines to sing "Old MacDonald," and ask her to name animals for the sounds. Dance around with your instruments and engage her in a game with the song, "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes." Music with lots of movement increase coordination skills and vocabulary.

Pretend Play

• Collect stuffed animals and puppets to create an interactive puppet show for your toddler. Act out happy and sad scenarios with the pretend cast of toys so your toddler learns about feelings and emotions. Pretend play also develops a child's imagination. Create a farm with toy animals or a large city with blocks. Help your toddler build and create any landscape she wants with her toys. Tea parties and recreating scenes out of books also helps with toddler development.

Outdoor Play

• Toddlers enjoy outdoor games. Classic games like tag are fun and good for exercise. Rolling and gently kicking balls to a toddler builds up balance and coordination. Sand and water play is early science, and it builds fine motor skills. Take a nature walk through the neighborhood or the backyard. Point out birds and plants, and listen for different sounds, such as the wind. Collect rocks and twigs on your walk to create a nature scene inside the house.

Considerations

• Toddlers have boundless energy and little attention spans. Every toddler is different, and you need to consider his personality and temperament before choosing a game. Some toddlers enjoy quiet indoor games, while others only want to be outside. Ask parents for permission before taking their child on a nature walk, and ask parents if their child has any special needs or requirements. Also, offer toddlers choices in games. Many toddlers are starting to become independent, and offering free choice helps their self confidence.