CM Club - Ideas needed to amuse a boisterous 4 year old for 10 hours!!!!!

[becksmummy]

Hi, I know I'm posting this a bit late but hope someone will have some ideas for me,

I have only recently started minding this boy (although 4 classed as 5 as at full time school) so normally only have before and after school but as its half term its the first time I will mind him all day (8am until 6pm)

He is very boisterous and although we always visit the park after school he still has so much energy when we get home he wants everything out and doesnt sit still for 2 minutes!!

I am really stuck on enough ideas to amuse him for such a long time??

Oh can completely sympathise. I've got two 4 year old mindees in the afternoons. I just get out as much as possible. I'm lucky that one of them loves making stuff so we are currently making a police car out of a massive cardboard box. I've got some indoor skittles which keep the other on occupied for at least 5 minutes. Don't feel guilty sticking the TV on for a bit. I have mine on for perhaps 2 x 20 min sessions a day and I really don't see the harm. I also take a ball or two to the park so they can run around and burn off some steam.

Other than that I'll look forward to other people's suggestions!

Thanks SM, I have been collecting a lot of boxes etc so we can make things but he doesnt concentrate for very long! Might try a larger scale like your idea of making police car as he loves fire engines so could maybe make one?

Will definately go out for part of the day to burn some energy but I also have his sister (11mths) my dd (16 mths) and for 3 hours I also have another mindee (12 mths) so not easy getting out and about!

Why not make and explode a volcano, or make slime together for him to play with.

How do I make and explode a volcano??? Or make slime???

Ooh yes do tell!

I know you can make rockets with film canisters. Place a teaspoon of bicarb in the lid and some vinegar in the canister. Put the lid on (quickly!) and place on the floor upside-down.

NOTE: PLEASE DO THIS OUTSIDE AND STAND WELL BACK!

To make a volcanoe - just make papermache and construct a volcano shape around a pot like a plastic yoghurt pot etc - leave to dry, then paint it red, brown etc, leave to dry and then add a teaspoon of bicarb and some vinegar into the plastic pot - add a little red food colouring and watch it explode.

Here's a link for slime

chemistry.about.com/cs/howtos/ht/slime.htm