My SIL just had her 5th baby, and is returning to work in a couple weeks. Her MILand FIL usually watch the kids when she is at work, but the week that she goes back they are out of town. She can not take that extra week off and it just so happens that my last day at my current job is the Friday before the week she needs child care... So I am available. She asks if I could watch the kiddos and I happily agreed. I rarely get to see my nieces and nephews :)
So here is the problem... I'm watching them plus my one kiddo all in our two bedroom apartment! Monday and Tuesday should go okay. Her older three will be their dad, so I will just have the 5 year old, Oliver (Almost 3), and the newborn. Oliver has plenty of toys to share with the 5 year old (They are both obsessed with tractors and Oliver has plenty of those to share), so all should go well. SIL doesn't work on Wednesday so that is my day to recouperate. Thurseday and Friday will be the hard days. The oldest is almost 13, and will be able to help. The twins are almost 8, so they won't be too rambunctious. I just don't have anything for them to do. Sure, we have tons of movies for them to watch and they can play on the iPad if they get too bored but what else? My car won't fit all of them, so we can't drive anywhere. There is a park kind of close, but it is still a long walk. I'm sure my nieces and nephew can easily walk it, but the baby would be in my stroller and I'm not sure Oliver would cooperate the whole way there and back. I do have the board game 'Life', and I have 'Monopoly' on the iPad. But, what else is there? What else can we do?
It will be from early morning to early evening each day, probably around 10-11 hours.
Mandy - Call me crazy, but I'm not getting paid for this. They are buying groceries for the week and offered to pay me for more, but I'm just an Aunty spending times with nieces and nephews :)
To everyone, going to their house is not possible. I will ask for an extra stroller and we can go to the park :) Lots of great ideas here. Thanks! :)
Take Oliver and go to SIL's house. All their stuff will be there and it will generally be more comfortable for all.
Duct tape?
Seriously, you can't, you have to take them to parks and pools, wear them down so they are exhausted little angels when you get them home. There really is no other way.
I wouldn't do this in a 2 bedroom apartment.
I would go to my sister's house and watch them there. Only ONE kid, Oliver, gets "disrupted" all the others are in their normal surroundings.
older kids - water balloons.
all kids, except for infant - sprinkler play.
Again, wouldn't do this in a two bedroom apartment...I'd go to their home.
My kid, who is almost 3, is most cooperative when there are other kids around. He's happy to walk, and to hold hands crossing the street with my 5 year old god daughter. He might however, put up a fuss with us.
I'd chance it and go to the park. The 13 y.o. can push the stroller or give your son a piggie back ride if need by.
pack chalk, a ball, a jump rope, gold fish and granola bars.
have a great time.
First I hope your making more then 5$ per hour for watching her 5 kids! Second I wouldn't watch that number of kids at my place. Thats way to many kids for a small area. and you seriously cant expect them to be cooped up inside on an ipad all day? To to their house
Would it be possible to watch the kids at her house on Thurs and Friday? Then, 5 kids have their own items instead of using your son's toys? Either way, I would think of a schedule for those two days. A.M. Outside/park, bubbles, balls, play dough, etc. after lunch movie, table games, draw/color, quiet time/older ones read.... Think of meal times, snacks. Hopefully the older kids can bring items to hang out with. I would mention to your SIL that if she has any suggestions on entertainment, you would appreciate it.
If you can't watch them at their home...
Definately take them to the park if weather permits. Ask SIL to bring a stoller that way you have the baby and the 3 year old both in strollers...the 12 year old can help with pushing duty.
Plan ahead what meals and snacks you will have and a tenative schedule (based on what their normal schedule is). Have some quiet activities in mind for first thing in am before all kids are awake and ready to go (definately ask that the older ones bring a few of their own things).
First, it's very kind of you to reach out to your SIL and help her like this.
Mixed age groups in a limited space can be difficult. I have organized this sort of care for religious groups (on a limited budget) and I'll tell you what worked:
Have the older kids bring a bag (yep, a whole grocery bag if necessary) of what they want/like to do. This means talking to your SIL and explaining the challenge and telling her 'it would really help if the older kids (the 8 year olds and 12 year old) would each bring a bag of things they want to do".
If the kids bring along some books, activities, etc. that's going to help a lot.
They know better than you do what they would like to do.
Consider taking at least two walks around the neighborhood each day. You may want to ask for some pocket money so that they can buy popsicles at a convenience store or some other treat. You can also make lists of interesting neighborhood sights/items to check off. Some kids really like this activity during walks and the older kids can help 'plan' their own lists. You can make one for each of the younger kids and bring a crayon for them to check them off. Bring a piece of sidewalk chalk for the kids who want one and mark your 'trail' as you roam, then follow your 'trail' back to the house.
I must also suggest Play-doh as a go-to option. Even if the older ones aren't as interested, I've kept groups of kids very busy with playdough.
Talk with your SIL about usual naptimes, etc. All the kids should have some quiet, no- electronics down time each day. If it were me, I'd use all that information and pull it together to create a daily routine for the week. Could you also borrow an umbrella stroller from your SIL or a friend so that one of the older kids could push either Oliver or the baby? I'd be asking for that, too. Be sure to have her bring a bag of snacks, food for the week for sandwiches, snacktimes, etc. as well, so you don't get caught up short. You will not be in a position to 'just run to the store'. :)
Hope it all goes well!
I have 5 kids and we are currently in a 2 bedroom, thanks to the housing market and being underwater. Anyway, it is not totally difficult to have 5 kids in that space. First, do not try to fill their whole day. If you can get to the park, bonus. I agree with asking if SIL can bring you a stroller to use and the older children can push it. Get outside and kick a ball around. Watch a couple of movies. Make sure you give the 13 yr old time to him/herself. I find that my 14 yr olds need time to themselves, especially my girls. they need to "chill" away from the younger group.
Go to her house with your child-that should be easier-
Whoa.
I wouldn't do it.
Why can't you go to their, house?
She's the one with the most kids.
PLUS, the concern is not about entertaining them, but ALSO... hopefully nothing in your apartment gets broken or stained or ruined etc. with all those kids there.
And, how cooperative is the 13 year old anyway?
**ETA:
And... the ratio of 1 adult... to 6 kids?
One of which is a newborn.
And you will be taking them all to the park?
Sounds like a real handful.
And, will all the kids, listen to you?
The Mom KNOWS you have a 2 bedroom apartment and it is tiny for all those kids. What does she expect you to do with them?
I'd think she is just happy to have someone to drop off her kids with.
And for 10-11 hours?
Entertaining them for that long?
And the Newborn... will need to nap/feed etc.
You will have the newborn in a stroller or wear him/her???
And 3 and 5 year olds, especially boys... can really be FAST AND RUN off REAL fast. Too. And they don't just hold your hand when walking. They run.
I have a boy. They are not, still as a statue. And your hands will be full with the newborn.
Taking them all to the park can be a safety hazard.
My son, was a runner. And fast.
Once, my daughter who was 8 at the time, went to the park with an aunty and an older girl who was 12. Walking back, my daughter fell down, tripped, and her knees got all mangled up and totally bleeding. The Aunty, had to CARRY her home. My daughter could not walk and did not have a cell phone.
And, will ALL the kids, listen to you?????
And follow any rules????
And what about naps per the newborn?
My kids as newborns, would not nap on the go. They'd only nap, at home. In quiet. In their crib.
-Any chance you can watch them at THEIR house?
I think it would be easier.
If not, have them bring some of their toys & electronics.
-Then rent some fun kid friendly movies of diff age groups. Have them bring their DVD players or borrow some.
-enlist the older one's help
-Play things to engage all of them. Have a mini party, do a small scavenger hunt around the house, play store, do a mini homemade pinata using a small lunch bag, fill w/candy you buy ahead of time/confetti/sm toys from the party store, make mini cupcakes/decorate & eat.
-get some easier, sm kid-friendly games (Operation, Candyland etc).
-have the younger ones build blocks. Don't have them? Buy some cheap
ones.
-Go to the Dollar Store ahead of time & pick up a few inexpensive toys.
Even look at the "school" aisle & play school w/the middle age.
-Do you have a grassy area at your apartment complex,? Go down there & throw a football, frisbee, play mini golf etc. Buy all of these at the Dollar Store.
-Have checkers on hand.
-Buy a couple of extra decks of playing cards
-Have a party in your apartment complete w/decorations ($1 store), mini
cupcakes, sandwiches, chips, plates, balloons, streamers etc.
-Throw a mini carnival in your apartment: get poster board or part of a cardboard box & have them fish over it w/a pole, string & clothespin to which you affix a small prize. Have them throw ping pong balls into small vases etc.
-Take them for a walk around your complex to get out of your cramped quarters. Use a wagon (stroller for the baby). Just go around a few times.
Ask your sister to have the 8 and 13 year olds bring things to play with. My six year old girls usually travel with a backpack of dolls, books, and other games when they visit family, so they're fairly self sufficient. Your eight year old twin nieces will probably be like that - they're used to playing together and if they bring a few toys, they might just ignore the rest of you. And plan in advance how much TV or video games you're ok with the 13 year old playing in front of all of the other kids. If the answer is "not much" - ask your sister to ensure he brings books to read or headphones for the iPad so he can play a game without everyone else watching.
I would have the 13 year old and the 8 year olds go to the park on their own, or take the infant and the newborn to the park in a double stroller, or take the 3 and 5 year old in a wagon and let the 13 year old push the infant in the stroller etc...Anyway, the majority of the day would be spent outdoors...
We have 5 too, all little and it's difficult to entertain. Mostly we try to go places all day but that's really hard too with the baby and toddler in tow. I realize you can't fit them in the car to go anywhere though.
I think with those ages you'll be much better off.
The age range is a little bit of a challenge, but then you don't have to entertain everyone all day. I would organize and alternate busy time with quiet time... Art is always a fun thing for kids to do, though it can be a messy idea for inside and a small place. Often when kids are presented with a mixture of familiar things ( I like the idea below of having them bring a bag of things they like to do...) and new activities, it's amazing how much fun they can have.
Uno is fun for the older ones, they could cut pictures out of magazines and glue them on paper, a treasure hunt would be fun for a walk
Enlist the older ones to play with the younger ones doing fun things. Older kids love feeling like they are valued and good helpers.
I think it will go better than you are imagining :) Good Luck~
