LIFE

Advance planning is key, and lucky for you, we've got tips on how to make your next big sitting job great!

Make a plan
If you're sitting for more than a couple kids, it's imperative to have a game plan, especially if there's a wide age range in the group your sitting for. If you're splitting up the job with a friend, talk beforehand about what responsibilities you're each going to tackle. For example, one of you gets dinner ready while the other keeps an eye on the kids.

Keep it together
If you've got a big group, it might be best to keep all the kids in one place so you and the other sitter can keep an eye on everyone. That way, if one of you has to deal with an emergency or step in to help a kid's conflict, the other will be around to make sure nothing goes wrong with the rest of the kids.

Have fun
Sure, having fun seems like an easy task. But when you’ve got a big split or you’re dealing with finicky boys and girlie girls, getting everyone to play together is a challenge. Things like board games and movies can amuse just about everyone, but here are two more activity ideas to get ya started:

Art projects
Art projects can be a fun and easy activity with a larger group because you can modify the activity for kids of different ages. Even just letting kids color can keep them entertained for a while. If you've planned ahead, you can get or have the kids' parents get supplies for a craft project. Just remember that you're on the hook for cleaning up any particularly messy projects.

Get outside
If the weather's nice and you're allowed to take the kids out, go in the backyard or a nearby park. Most kids love playing outside, so this can be fun for everyone.

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