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I have a 12 year old who gets here 2 hours earlier than the other elementary kids in the afternoon. Child or parents have no interest in her staying home alone yet, I can keep her until her 13th birthday. What do I do with her in the afternoon? I only have 2 others that are here all day, they are both infants. She has no interest in helping me with the other kids, so that option is out. Of course she doesn't want to do her homework, she just got home from school. I have other things I am running around doing since she comes in the middle of naptime, I just feel like she is bored to death, she may be happy just to sit and relax, but I feel like I should be doing more.....
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How come you even have her? I mean I get that the parents don't want her to stay home alone but what in the world made you decide to take her on when you don't have other school agers? Just curious.
As far as what she can do to keep her occupied, why not ask her if she is bored and what things she may be interested in doing? Does she have a cell phone or a Gameboy she could play to pass the time? -
I kinda feel she's old enough to bring something with her to do if she's not happy with what's offered.Comment
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My oldest day care kid is 12 and I love her so much. I tend her other 5 siblings (and her stepmom is pregnant again
).. But she loves hanging out here. She loves puzzles, so we have some "older kid" puzzles. She loves arts and crafts, so I just let her lose in the craft closet if she wants. She loves to read and likes to read to the younger kids, which is actually a great help for us! If kids are napping, she watches a movie or just hangs out and tells me all about her friends and school. She gets very little attention at home with all the little ones, and a disinterested step mother...so she likes having someone to just talk to. here are some things 12 year olds like to do.
Puzzles
crafts (Oriental Trading has dirt cheap craft kits your DCG might like)
Reading
Painting (paint by number kits are fun for that age)
Sewing (I taught my DCG some basic X-stitch)
Cooking (if you have time to help her at nap time)
Creative writing (give her a subject and have her write a short story)
Have her help you if she wants. My DCG likes to help cut out things I need for projects with my little ones. (and we get to talk while we do it)Comment
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I'd just have her read, or bring something from home to do if she's bored. If she's pestering you about her boredom, I think homework is a great option.Comment
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I have had her since elementary school, for the past 4 years.....obviously I wasn't going to tell her parents I couldn't keep her for one more year just because no one else here was going to middle school. She does have an ipod which she brings sometimes, but I just feel as if I need to be doing something with her since they are paying me to watch her.... I would feel terrible if she didn't like coming here because of boredom. When the older kids come she does things with them, but the 2 hours in the afternoon she is here without them seems like forever.....like I said, she is not into the infants/toddlers, she would rather them just leave her alone.
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Gottcha
I would probably have kept her too.
I am sure the parents aren't expecting you to occupy her. I would think they are simply glad you are willing to be there for her.
I would definitely talk with her though and see if she is bored or if she is simply ok with just hanging until she is picked up. I would continue to invite her to do things but I would try not to take it personally if she declines.
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She will most likely have days when she is acts like a child. On those days she might enjoy blocks, lincon logs and even little people.
She will also have days where she is acting more like ateenager. For those days you just need to offer things for her to do and she will most liekly stare
at you like you are crazy. After all, all teenagers think all adults are alwyas wrong ans allways crazy.Comment
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