Babysitting Games That Are Really Fun for Kids

Toddlers

• Peek-a-Boo
  Cover your eyes and then give the big reveal for a game of Peek-a-Boo. The element of surprise delights the littlest ones over and over again.

  Patty Cake
  Help toddlers sing along to this handclap game. Mark the cake with the first letter in the child's name or a \"B\" for baby.
  \"Pattycake, Pattycake, baker̵7;s man,
  Bake me a cake as fast as you can
  GO
  Roll it, pat it, mark it with a B,
  Put it in the oven for baby and me.\"

  Airplane
  Take flight with Airplane. Lift the child up on his belly and fly him around the room while making propeller noises. Describe the many destinations he will visit on his flight.

Ages 4-6 Years

• Ring Around the Rosie
  Join hands and skip in a circle as you sing \"Ring Around the Rosie.\" Everyone falls down as you sing the last lines.
  \"Ring around the rosie,
  A pocket full of posies,
  Ashes! Ashes!
  We all fall down!\"

  Tic-Tac-Toe
  Draw a grid for the game board and let the child have the first turn. Try to get three \"Xs\" or \"Os\" in a row to win.

  Go Fish
  Deal a deck of cards for a game of \"Go Fish.\" Encourage friendly competition while reinforcing numbers as you and the children try to create the most pairs or books of numbers to win the game.

Ages 7 and Up

• Hangman
  Guess the mystery word or phrase by calling out letters with a game of Hangman. Each wrong letter adds another limb to the hanging man. Use short words for younger children and more challenging, longer phrases for older children.

  Tag
  Go outside for a game of Tag. Designate a \"base\" and a player to be \"It.\" The \"It\" player tries to tag everyone else before they reach safety at \"base.\" Try variations such as Freeze Tag or Chain Tag.

  Charades
  Act out movie titles, professions or actions in Charades. Use hand motions and facial expressions to give clues, but remember, no sounds or words are allowed.