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entertaining boys

6 replies

Lowfat · 18/06/2008 18:01

My best friend has a party to go to on Saturday night and has to take her DH to to a conference and bring him home again on Sunday (3 hour drive each way from us as well as the conference.)

I have offered to have her two DS's age 7 and 6 on Saturday night and want to offer to have them on Sunday as well, because I think it will be nice for the boys not to be stuck in the car for 6 hours and easier for her not to worry about them being entertained etc.

I have known the boys since they were born so am happy to look after them and know their likes and dislikes etc Also my DD is 4 and plays with the really well and DS is 18mn, and they are great with him too.

But I am a bit stuck for entertainment for all the children if I do have them all day. DH has suggested bringing their bikes and he will take the older ones for abike ride and football in the park for a while, while my DS stays with me.

And my friend has said the boys will just play on their Nintendo DS etc. But then DD gets really upset and frustrated that they wont play with her.

If it doesnt rain they can go in the garden to play, but if it does rain I can just see a house full of stir crazy people.

Any non-expensive ideas on what I can do to entertain a group like this for a day? Going out in the car is not an option as we dont have a big enough car, unless we spilt the group, which means DH and 3 children (not ideal - but I dont drive) and me at home with DS.

Thanks in advance

OP posts:
ladybouf · 18/06/2008 20:21

My best friend has boys similar in age and they are older than my own children so I can kind of relate. When we all get together I try to keep it as simple as possible - ie the garden/bikes/footie option sound great if it's fine and if it isn't I would stick to toys, books and maybe a few movies! It is a special occasion after all. If you are worried about the Nintendos causing problems (which I would be) ask your friend if they could leave them at home and explain that it upsets your DD. It is the least she can do after you are so generously looking after them.

Chandon · 24/06/2008 20:29

get loads of coloured paper, cardboard, scissors, cellotape, glue, pens and set out making (or drawing) Speedracer or Ben10 ! Or stick big papers together, and let them draw a race course, then play on it with little cars.

Thats´what my DS (6) likes to do on a rainy day, or when indoors.

I have just spent 2 hours with DS trying to recreate Ben 10´s Grandpa´s camper van ....

ladymariner · 24/06/2008 20:40

Bake cakes!!! Little sponge cakes and chocolate crispy cakes and get chocolate buttons, dolly mixtures etc etc to stick on the top of them! Keeps them quiet for ages!

lilyloo · 24/06/2008 20:44

DS 6 would like baking
get some boxes, blankets build a den
get a dvd but make it like cinema with popcorn etc.
top trumps keep him entertained for ages

Bronze · 24/06/2008 20:48

Experiments. Food colouring in water and mixing together. Add some vinegar and then some bicarb.

BasementBear · 30/06/2008 21:00

My boys LOVE experiments! Get sticks of celery and put them in glasses of water with different coloured food dye in, overnight the celery will change colour as it sucks up the food dye.

If you don't fancy baking, angel delight is easy and you can decorate with strawberries, jelly diamonds etc. I kid myself its good for them cos it's made from milk!

Make your own playdough with flour, water and salt, add food colouring and flavouring to make it look nice and smell different ie vanilla, lemon essence etc

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