[deejie]

It's the school holidays and I have been helping to look after a friend's children (one aged 7 and one aged 10 months) while she works (her 10 month old doesn't start his child care place until February but she was forced back a bit earlier than planned). Added to that, I have my own two, DS1 aged 3 and DS2 aged 13 months.

Tomorrow I also (crazily?) volunteered to help out a good friend who has a work training day and couldn't get the extra child care day (unless someone in the room is sick) for her two children aged 3 and 4.

So I will have-
A seven year old
A four year old
Two 3 year olds
A 13 month old
A ten month old

I will have all six between 830am until approximately 2pm, when the 3 and 4 year olds are picked up. I have a big house, a court yard (no back yard), but access to a big stretch of public park right at my front door. Not fenced, but on a very quiet cul de sac.

I am starting to get nervous though. What was I thinking? My friends are packing their lunch and snacks, so I don't have to worry about that... and they are both so grateful they have both said they don't care if they watch TV all day but what do I do with that many children..... help me EB!

This post has been edited by deejie: 15/01/2013, 07:29 PM

[Jemstar]

Water play in the courtyard? A few buckets and containers of water, squirty toys if you have some.

Drawing,, make a big batch of play dough, let them draw on the path outside with chalk, make cornflour goop (outside!). A play in the park.

Blocks and toys that you have will probably keep them amused too. I would definitely be utilising the TV, a movie for a 'rest' in the afternoon would be a great idea. Also, ask the 7 year old to help you with the littler ones, they should be quite capable of organising an imaginary game for the 3 and 4 year olds.

You will probably be surprised at how smoothly it will go.

[KT1978]

Maybe ask the friends to do a plate of finger foods fruits and sandwiches rather than individual lunches so you can jus let them help themselves outside. Have plastic cups and a jug of drink ready too so you don't need to get kids drinks.

Make the seven year old play teachers with the littler ones.

Chalk and outside toys sound good too.

[Bacongirl]

Jesmstar has beaten me to some ideas.

But personally I'd leave the park for another day. That many littlies in an unfenced area (even if quiet) would freak me out!

Definitely get the 7 year old to assist. Especially when you are distracted with a nappy change or feeod prep.

Some other ideas.

Get some paint brushes and have them 'paint' the outside of the house or fence with water.
Craft ideas? Have them make things for their parents?

[katiebear26]

would it be possible to run a hose and sprinkler into the park right at your house? maybe borrow a neighbour's sprinkler? if it's hot running through it (even in own clothes - they dry off!) is heaps of fun for littlies.

make musical instruments out of plastic bottles and pasta?

other than that, plenty of colouring in, maybe acting out one of their books or a fairy tale, dress ups etc. Ask the parents to send along stuff that will help you - books, dvd, dress up clothes etc.

[Dinosaurus]

Sms me and ask me to come over to help

I just have T tomorrow so can come over for a few hours if you like.

With the little ones naps and the amount of food that many kids will want to eat it will go quickly, the 7yo will love having little kids to boss around and visa versa

[Mose]

You glory in the admiration of the EB community! Not sure how that will help with the kids but!

PPs have offered some great suggestions, and having found myself in similar positions in the past, I can say for you it will go quickly. Between nappy changes, toilet trips and snacks...you will be run off your feet, but the time will go quickly.

My one piece of advice is to have them in one area of the house that has plenty of things to do (toys/books accessible) so when you are occupied with say a nappy change, you don't spend the next 5 minutes finding 5 other kids all over the house and what they have been up to! Obviously the better child proofed this space is, the less opportunities for destructive behaviour (intentional or otherwise).

And don't be too disappointed in yourself if the TV option ends up being the go!

Good luck!

[niggles]

That's a pretty normal number of kids in my family - though two babies will certainly add an extra layer of 'fun'.

My strategy is to have the house organised with stations of things for them to do in various places. A basket of baby toys on the mat, older kids toys and lego set out in the bedroom. Crafts laid out on the dining table (with a packet of wipes nearby for the inevitable messes) with puzzles and games in a stack at one end for a change of scene.

I try to engage the older kids in something soon after they arrive so I can leave them to it for a while. Then check on the littlies and get started on a snack. Bring them together for that to kill some time - picnic blanket outside if weather permits makes clean up easier.

Pop on a movie in the heat of the day or while you need some quiet to get babies off to sleep. Alternatively get the older kids to play 'schools' with the younger ones in a bedroom, so they can read stories 'quietly' together.

The park is good to blow off some steam later in the day after babies wake up. Though sometimes it's more trouble than it's worth because of the inevitable "I need to go to the toilet' that comes with that many kids in one place.

Good luck to you. The first time is always the hardest and then you realise that 5 is a critical mass and any more than that makes no big difference.

[JRA]

Easy - RUN AWAY

[gizboo]

I had 7 under 6 today (4 are mine ), they pretty much occupied themselves in the morning running amok, we had fruit & pikelets for morning tea which they helped me mix up. They ALL had to help me clean up the toys before we had lunch.
We had a picnic lunch on the picnic rug in the loungeroom and then watched a movie during quiet time while the two little ones had nap. The day flew by, you can do it!