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Bust babysitting boredom

You’ve watched SpongeBob so many times you are starting to feel like you are living underwater? Try these games. It’s a guaranteed great time for everyone!

PUPPET BABIES (ages 2 to 4)
C’mon, who doesn’t love puppets? Kids go crazy for them. Snag some old socks from your drawer, then decorate them with fabric markers and googly eyes. Ask the kids to help you put on a show.

CHALK FULL O’FUN (ages 4 to 6)
Hopscotch is a total classic. Bring along some colorful sidewalk chalk, then head outside with the kids to hold your own tourney. The parents will love seeing the artwork when they return, and it washes away with rain or a hose.

DO-IT-YOURSELF (ages 4 to 6)
Art class is a fave for many kids, so why not bring the crafts to them? Do simple stuff like Popsicle-stick frames, or help them make Mother’s or Father’s Day cards that will knock the parents over with glee. Older kids always dig this and can help the little ones with glue and scissors.

HOUSE HUNTING (ages 7 to 10)
Need a way to keep been-there/done-that kids out of trouble and away from the TV trance? Organize a scavenger hunt! Have the kids sit in the living room, while you scope out unique stuff in different rooms. Divide the kids into teams and have them search for items using cryptic clues. Give them a time limit (about a half-hour should do it) to find the goods—and whoever discovers the most wins a prize!