Very long story short, my aunt is in the hospital and isn't doing well. She was battling leukemia, had a bone marrow transplant, and recovered pretty well. A couple years later, things went down hill. Her new bone marrow wasn't producing white blood cells and she had to have blood transfusions twice a week. She recently went through another bone marrow transplant. Things started off well, but quickly headed south. She has so many different problems and the doctors aren't quite sure what to do to help. They promised my grandma (My aunt's mom) that they would tell her when they got worried. Well, they called a couple of days ago. They're worried.
My grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles are going to the hospital this Saturday to have a prayer service for my aunt. My aunt does not want any of the kids there, especially her daughter. So my fiance and I volunteered for kid duty!
On Friday the 3 girls are gonna spend the night at our apartment, then on Saturday we are taking them to the mall while everybody else is at the hospital. How do we entertain them in our tiny apartment?
So far we are planning on ordering pizza, makin' some popcorn, and watching Disney movies a majority of the night. We are gonna put some sleeping cots in our son's room for the girls and our son is going to sleep in bed with us (Which he has been doing anyway ( :( ) so it won't be a change for him). On Saturday we were thinking about a pancake or french toast type breakfast before heading to the mall. What else can we do for entertainment?
The girls are 6, 10, and 12. The 10 and 12 year old get along really well and the 6 year old is usually left out of a majority of their playtime. The 6 and 12 year old are sisters. They live about 6 hours away from us and we only get together about 3 times a year, so the 10 and 12 year olds really try to make the most of their time together. The 10 year old is the daughter of the aunt in the hospital.
I forgot to mention... I am not a girly girl. I've never had my finger nails painted and having my hair done means brushing it and throwing it in a pony tail (maybe straightening it for special events). So I have no idea how to even do manis/pedis. Plus, I'm not sure if the 6 and 12 year old would be able to join in with anything involving make up and such. Their parent's are petty strict on stuff like that.
Oh and for the person who mentioned concern about what is going to happen to my little cousin if my aunt passes away... Her parent's are married, so she will stay with her dad.
I agree. Get stuff so they can do make overs.. also they have little beads and cheap kits so they can make their own bracelets and things. Or baking and letting them deco their own cupckaes/cookies/etc.
i would let them pick a couple movies or a movie and a game. the food you have planned sounds good. If the 10 year old is the daughter of the sick person then she may want to talk so let her talk as much as possible. I would stick with a regular routine which means bedtime around 9 or 10. then when they get up have breakfast. don't try to "entertain" them down to the last second. let them guide how it goes.
Baking cookies is always a hit.
Good luck, and I'm so sorry about your aunt.
Dawn
buy some cheap nail polish and let the girls do each others nails. buy some facial masks/scrubs and let them have a spa hour or so!!
Making a pizza from quasi scratch is alot of fun. They have the pizza dough kits at the supermarket or get a plain frozen cheese pizza and then buy toppings to put on it. Cake baking, or cookie making is also tons of fun and eats up a tremendous amount ot time.
Painting nails is great but also doing some kind of crafts would be fun. Get some inexpensive canvas bags from the craft shop, fabric markers, fancy trims and fabrics with some needles and thread can help each girl make her bag truly her own.
Disney movies are great. I just spent some time watching some of the classic Disney movies like 101 Dalmations and Sleeping Beauty. Other great Disney movies your group of girls may like are The Parent Trap, Swiss Family Robinson.
In my home board games rule. We have many that can be adapted to even include the 6 year old.
You don't need to fill every waking hour with activities. Give them some time and opportunity to talk. Especially the 10 year old will need to talk about what is going on with her mom. This is not the time to fall silent and let her fears and anxieties take over but keep her age appropriately informed.
A side note: Please be certain her mother has in writting her intentions for her child if in the event she doesn't pull through. Nothing is worse for a child that instability in the face of grief.
sounds like you are an awesome aunt!
I'm so sorry about your aunt. How kind of you to watch the kids.
-rent some movies (cartoon one for the 6 yr old, teen movies (rated PG)
for the teens
-make smoothies or milkshakes
-buy cheap nail polish & let the older ones paint their toes. I know you
said you're not a girly girl but you don't have to be. Just paint the little
ones toes. They don't have to be perfect.
-make mini cupcakes
-have some chips
-have some toys, dolls, plastic dishes, pots for 6 yr old to play kitchen or
restaurant
-have some craft supplies
-let the little one finger paint
-get some girly teen magazines for the teens, maybe a coloring book for
the little one
Hair, make-up, manicures, pedicures - all girly girls love doing that! They can do that while they are watching the movie and eating popcorn. If the 10 and 12 year olds team up to do each other, you team up with the 6 year old. And let her do you also. It will be soooooo much fun!
They could also bake and frost cupcakes or other goodies. In fact, maybe they can make some sort of dessert or snack for those who are at the hospital to enjoy when they return.
Have a good time. It sounds like so much fun. I think I'm going to call my granddaughters (4 of them ages 5 - 13) and see if we can get a make-up party going!
Target sells kits where they can decorate a purse or bag. Girls love crafty stuff that they can do together. This will probably do the 10 year old a lot of good. Give her an opportunity to just breathe.
Buy a bunch of teen and fashion magazines and look through them!
I am sure the 10 and 12 year old will entertain themselves so you just have to entertain the 6 year old. I think pizza, popcorn and movies will be just fine. I would also have them bring a toy or something from home to play with.
You could always pick up a couple of board games or cards (like Uno).
I think you should get some cheep make up and fingernail polish and some hair stuff and just have a girl make over time.
Just like you would entertain adult girly girls. Mmnny's, peddy's, and dress up!
Just don't suggest it, just do it.
I remember a couple things from when I was younger and there was a bunch of girls needing to be entertained. A scavenger hunt was always fun. It could be as small or as big as you would like to make it (clues inside, outside, even at some neighbors house if you know them well enough.) The prize at the end could just be a movie basket with fun movie treats (popcorn, candy, and such.)
The other thing that is fun is any game using a blindfold. Some examples are:
-drawing pictures blindfolded and then everyone else guesses what it is
-obstacle course with one person telling the blindfolded person which way to step (use ropes or plastic cups to set it up.)
-using a spoon and bowl, try to spoon up all the cottonballs into the bowl
-guess what different objects are by just feeling them
I hope you all have fun.
I love you for what you are doing. I also pray for your family.
I am unsure what your budget is --but you did say you are going to the mall so---
Girl each child $20 (cheaper than a mall trip). Let them know that you are are thrift store savenger shopping. Go to the best thrift shops in a small radius, have them look around all of the shops, then go back to purchase their best finds.
For girly girls. Nail polish. Paint nails and toes.
You may want to consider...
a craft project
a board or card game, UNO works
put on some music and dance
bake brownies or cup cakes
