As a babysitter, you want to keep young kids engaged while teaching them valuable skills like muscle coordination, spatial awareness, and patience. When kids are toddlers, they learn best through games and fun, so learning a few educational games will help their growth and development. Below are several games that teach important skills for toddlers.

What Games Can a Babysitter Play With Toddlers?

1. The Hokey Pokey

The Hokey Pokey is a dance that helps children learn the names of their different body parts, as well as distinguish their right from their left. It also gets them moving to improve muscle coordination and awareness of their body, and they’ll have a blast dancing. 

While the traditional song includes the hands and feet, you can change the words as it progresses to include other parts, like legs, arms, shoulders, head, and fingers. 

2. I Spy

I Spy is the perfect game for car rides, or if you’re trying to get them to wind down, as they can play while sitting or laying down. It can help them practice colors, the names for common items, and critical thinking. 

A similar game would be asking them to bring you items with a specific quality—such as something blue, something they wear, or something cold—which can help them add to their vocabulary.

3. Hot & Cold

Hot & Cold is the game where you hide something in the house and ask the child to find it. As they walk around, tell them if they’re getting warmer (closer to the object) or colder (further away from it). This will help boost their critical thinking skills, as they’ll have to analyze potential hiding places for the object as they get closer to it and eliminate possibilities by exploring. 

It keeps them active and entertained while also encouraging them to practice patience and determination. 

4. Hide-And-Seek

Playing hide-and-seek requires critical thinking, spatial awareness, and restraint. When it’s their turn to hide, they’ll have to calculate the best hiding spot where they can fit and will stay hidden the longest, and if you get close to them, they’ll have to hold back giggles or movements. 

If it’s their turn to find you, they have to think of places you could be and methodically search through them. This also teaches patience, as they may be hiding or seeking for a while before being found or finding you. 

If you love being a babysitter, consider working with Aunt Ann’s In-House Staffing. Based in Atherton, CA, they connect quality babysitter and nanny candidates with families throughout the peninsula area. For over 60 years, they’ve been a trusted agency for families and professionals alike, providing personal, attentive services. Learn more about their hiring process and application online, and call (415) 749-3650 with any questions.