House Full of Kids for One Day

Hi Jess-

Kids...and water...are always a fun mix!! A simple water slide...a small kiddie pool...I even just got a cute little sponge bob sprinkler mat that you 'step' on and it makes the spray go higher...($10 @ walgreens)

Set up a shady spot for you and the 8 month old...get a whistle...lol...LOTS of sunscreen...and have fun!

Water balloons are fun for the 'olders'...as well as 'super' soakers...

Cooking in the afternoon when really hot out...

Have fun!!
Michele/cat

Don't structure too much... let them find what they like to do. Exploring could be good. Or... do you have any sidewalk chalk? Crayons and big paper? Refrigerator boxes (or can you get one)? Kids can do amazing things with boxes. Let them use their imaginations with all these things. Set some basic rules for the older ones (no fighting, no biting, nothing blood-producing, older ones keep an eye on younger ones). Schedule snacks between meals. After lunch, try to get everybody to rest (if not sleep); read to them as a "quiet time" activity. It might be good if a grownup friend can be around to help... just in case. Two adult hands don't quite equal 8-10 kid hands. I hope all of you have a WONDERFUL time!

One thing that I know most kids like to do is paint and water. I would get the old round coffee pot filters and have the kids color with markers, then get a water bottle that lightly mists the colored filters. It turns into a tie dye type creation. Kiddos would love it. As a time filler. Some like to paint with shaving cream on the table. Just put a dab on the table and have them draw letters, numbers, shapes again a time filler.

Cup cakes are always fun to decorate.

If you have digital camera maybe take some pictures of the kiddos doing some fun stuff through the morning, print while kiddos nap on plain paper then create a collage on a small poster board. Mom might enjoy seeing what they were doing in the day time while she was away from them.

Have fun...and have tons of patients this day!!!

I like one of the other M.'s idea's. Kids love card board boxes! No matter what the age. So hold them back for when the melt downs start. LOL

Don't even try to entertain, you'll drive yourself nuts! They'll play and fight together; I'd stay out of it as much as possible, just feed the masses when they're hungry ;) I LOVE LOVE LOVE a housefull of kids, I'm just speaking from experience. The only one who will need your undivided attention is the baby. ENJOY! :)

Well that is a house full! I agree with Rachel to a degree...I wouldn't make your schedule so rigid that you'll be upset if there are things you don't get done, but I like the idea of having a list of possible activities!

For lunch what about making their own pizzas? It would be fun, take up a bit of time and they're more likely to eat what they make themselves. I do like baking with kids too so yes, making or icing cookies would be a good idea. If you want them to be part of both, I'd spread the two activities out as far as possible.

You could also do a movie time for them and have them bring down pillows, sleeping bags, make popcorn, whatever.

As far as outside...do you have a sprinkler or a small pool?? I'd have them bring their suits and maybe play outside in the water. There are lots of sales on pool stuff right now so you could get water squirters or beach balls for cheap. You could also do a scavenger hunt and give each kid a bag and try to find something natural that is in every color of the rainbow. This way it's broader than a bug hunt but still sort of "natural"!

Have fun and good luck!

Shaving cream is a blast. If you have a old table you dont care much for ( eventually it washes off)...add drops of food color to extend the play. Also having things to play with IN it (again, to extend the play...add them later not at first)...little match box cars are great as they can drive them around, make "snowpiles" and bust thru them, etc.

I do home daycare and this is normal day for me, altho my crew is generally all little ones (Today I had a 4 mos old, 13 mos old, 24 mos old, 3 year old and 3.5 year old. It was an "easy day" as the other 12 mos old was home sick!)

English muffin pizzas are fun too...everyone gets their own (or a few?)...spaghetti sause...toppings...mozz cheese or cheese mixture...cook on a foil wrapped cookie sheet (easier clean up). Legos are great and you can offer mild suggestions to extend the play as well (My kids use duplo size as they are young...but I suggest making cameras alot..they love that...then alot of posing and pictures..or use them for an exploration of the playroom...or with all of the train duplos we have they build Zoo trains and the zoo and all the animals cage/habitat areas, etc. Sometimes little suggestions get them on a roll and busy for a really really long time!)

You can do it!

Good luck!

Do a scavenger hunt in your back yard...that would be fun! You can have them find coins or other little things you have lying around. Make them a map and give clues :) Making food is always fun too although some kids are not so into that. Give plenty of snacks too.

I think you should do some hunting by yourself first if you can. Seems unlikely to me that ants is all you can find. I am constantly amazed at the huge amount of wildlife we get our hands on. In just the last few weeks we've had an explosion of walking sticks, inch worms, caterpillars, butterflies, those mean leaf bugs that yell if you pick them up, grasshoppers, and those are only the ones we know of oh and praying mantis's.

I just wanted to make the suggestion that you don't make it harder than your day needs to be. the kids will play and be fine. if your friend suggested hot dogs its because she knows her children will eat them. so go with that. if your hoping for a naptime put a big blanket on the floor in the living room and turn a movie on down low and give them all pillows. I would suggest a nice long disney type nothing that is only 23 minutes long. and tell the older kids they don't have to sleep they just have to rest till the younger ones fall asleep.

Make your own pizza
Make a fort with sheets, etc
Shaving cream
Home made play dough
Cookie decorating
Scavenger hunt

You are a good friend to do this for your friend, best wishes!

i had my neighbors kids come over the other day when I had purchased some pizza crusts. Then each kid got a bowl and I put in all the toppings they wanted on their section of the pizzas. (I quarterered the pizza so each kid got 2 pieces). The kids had a blast making it and then sat in front of the oven and watched it baked and everyone at all their pizza's. It was great!

Have fun!

You got some great ideas. The only thing i could add is to make sure you keep them on a schedule and let them know what is coming up next...like school. Say things like "after you play outside we are going to wash up and have lunch" or something like that. That way you won't get so many questions and they'll know what they can do at any certain time and what they can't.

As for outside stuff, kids love yard art. Have them find whatever rocks, sticks, leaves, sweet gum balls - anything they can find - and have them make little pictures or pattern on the grass. Its great to see what kids can come up w/.

gl!

If you have a nearby playground to walk to, take them to play for a couple of hours. Or a big field where you can take a soccer ball. I would take the kids out for the morning, (it theres something walkable) then come back, have an easy lunch (like chicken nuggets. or mac and cheese or hot dogs) then make cookies with them for dessert. Then let all the big kids (of course not the baby) relax in your bed and watch a movie they'll all like (Disney/Pixar there are tons).
This way at least half your day is gone, and you can have them play with toys etc later.

When you need some quiet time, print off some coloring sheets, or make your own playdough, that is a science experiment and art class in one!

Everything you planned seems wonderful. Take them out side bug exploring and fossil hunting in the morning before it gets too hot. Give them each a little bucket or bag to put things they find interesting in (flowers, rocks, etc). Bring a snack and some water and have a little snack break outside.

Come back to the house and cool off - rest a little. Watch TV for @ 30 minutes.

Eat lunch and decorate cookies for dessert.

Afternoon - paint with water - get cheap foam brushes and water and let the kids make pictures with water on the sidewalk or side of your house. Also, sidewalk chalk. OR wash toys - get a bucket of soapy water and sponges and let the kids wash toys outside. Its messy and fun. Finally - play in the sprinkler or get out the kiddie pool.

Inside craft - glue pictures. Get dried beans, rice, pasta, ripped up pieces of paper, etc and give kids glue and coloring book pictures. They can either outline the picture with glue and beans, or fill in the inside and glue different items on.

Watch some more tv. Be careful planning too many activities that require you to direct the kids and them to all do the exact same thing at the same time.
Have fun!

Have them bring their gameboys or toys that they like.