Posts Tagged ‘babysitter activities’
Activities For Rainy Days in Georgia with Nanny Jenny
I was a nanny for 16 years. Over that time, I was with five different families. It was one of the most rewarding jobs I have ever had! To be able to watch children grow and learn each day, and to be a part of that growth was truly amazing. One of the best things about being a nanny was that my “office” could be anywhere! We could go to the library, museum, zoo, or any other myriad of places to participate in fun activities.
Living in Metro Atlanta, we had a lot of places and activities to choose from. Today, I want to give my top three places to go to on a rainy day in and around Atlanta.
My favorite place, ITP (inside the perimeter) has to be the Georgia Aquarium. Touting itself as the largest saltwater enclosure in the world, and housing four Whale Sharks, the aquarium is nothing short of spectacular. From the dolphin show to the otters, to the touch tank; the aquarium is a joy for all children and adults alike! I highly recommend this attraction any rainy day. Each time I go, I see something different. They often have reduced prices on the weekdays at different times of the year. Be sure to take your charge(s) to this magical place!
I have two favorite places OTP (outside the perimeter). First, The Center for Puppetry Arts in Roswell is an amazing museum, playhouse and workshop all in one! Go here for a show throughout the year and see timeless tales such as “The Little Mermaid”, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”, and “Peter Pan”. The Center also has a permanent display of Jim Henson’s most famous “Muppets”. It is truly a sight to behold. They also hold workshops where you can learn to make your own puppet and learn about being your own puppeteer!
Second, The Tellus Science Museum, in Cartersville is a science lovers dream! From the moment you walk in, the display of the weighted pendulum and guessing which domino will fall next starts your day of fun experiments! They have a dinosaur exhibit, automobile and space exhibit, rock and precious gem exhibit, as well as many other attractions. For the little ones, there is a small children’s area with a lot of enjoyable things for them to touch and play with. To finish it off, they have a gem mining room as well as fossil find! The planetarium is also something you will wish to explore for the space and astronomy loving child you may nanny for.
If you need a great caregiver to show your kids a good time in Atlanta, TLC is always ready to provide you with one on short notice. No matter where you go, there are many indoor attractions in and around Atlanta to explore with your charges. Have fun, be adventurous, and happy trails to you all!
Easy Spring Crafts for Kids
Spring is season of teachable moments: flowers and trees are blooming, new animals are coming out and about, and the weather is warm enough to get outside. TLC for Kids babysitters come to work with cute craft ideas. Here are some activities to help teach children about spring:
1. Cut & Paste a Caterpillar as Long as Your Name. All you need for this activity is construction paper, pipe cleaners, markers, crayons, scissors and glue. Depending on the age of the child you are working with, you can draw circles for the child to cut out or they can draw and cut on their own. During the activity, talk about how caterpillars turn into butterflies and other insects that we see when the weather warms up. This activity will help with fine motor movements, learning their name and letters, and you can practice counting by counting the circles of the caterpillar.
2. Paint a Windsock. All you need is washable paint, construction paper, streamers, and a stapler. Have your children paint on a piece of construction paper, and then use a stapler to turn the paper into a cylinder-like shape. Then, you can either have the children glue streamers to the paper or you can staple them yourself. Hang the windsock outside to see how it moves or the children can run with the sock to create movement. This activity is a great sensory activity, promotes fine motor movement, and gross motor movement if you allow the children to run with their sock.
3. Create a Sun Catcher. All you need for this activity is contact paper, adhesive foam paper, tissue paper, scissors, cupcake wrappers, and water paint. Depending on the age of your child, you can trace flowers on the adhesive foam and the contact paper and have your child cut the flowers out themselves. Then put the foam flower onto the contact paper. Now your child can take the tissue paper and fill the flower however he or she chooses. For the center of the flower, your child can use the cupcake wrapper and add color by dipping it into the water paint. All that’s left to do is stick the flower to the window. If your child isn’t interested in flowers, be creative with the foam and contact paper and trace animals instead. This is a great sensory activity and promotes fine motor skills.
For more ideas, check out the TLC for Kids Pinterest page.