Help!! - babysitting. need ideas

never been to canberra before? well, the museum of democracy at old parliament house should be a wonderful entree to a tour of the big parliament house, including past the copy of the magna carta australia owns. that could be all day, but if you need to be in woden for lunch, this could work. after lunch, a stroll through commonwealth park to the carillon and past the heritage cottage of blundell, pointing out the vistas as you go. pity it is saturday and you can’t get inside on of the public service departmental offices for a tour. nor will parliament be sitting. can’t imagine anything more gripping for a five year old…

The Merry-go-round in Civic is cool – $3 a kid per ride for lots of smiles

I’d suggest getting the 12-year-old to invite a friend along. That way the older kid won’t get bored, and you can concentrate on the littlie.

Skip lunch with mum – what a hassle.

Since mum’s shouting, I’d fuel them up with a nice breakfast in a booth at Tilleys or at the Pancake Parlour then head for the National Aquarium. Remember to feed them again before they get tetchy!

You should have picked up a treat for afternoon tea, a DVD and the newspaper in Civic, plus got the kids to buy mum a little pressy, and after the Aquarium simply head home to the kids’ place – the five-year-old will crash out and you can have a conversation with the 12-year-old(s).

I recommend only doing ONE touristy fun thing in a day with a five-year-old you don’t know well, unless they’re pretty exceptional.

Ice skating? Is the open air one still open in civic? Otherwise, there’s the rink in Phillip.

It might be a bit difficult for the 5 year old, but kids that age can skate.

Ice Age 4 and Brave are both on at the movies right now. Took the 6 year old to both in the holidays. Few scary bits in Brave with big bears but just ask the 5 year old beforehand if he likes bears. Bloody good movie for all to see. Ice age 4 is basically the same as the other 3 , but still entertaining for kids.

War memorial is cool for everyone (and free) but as others have said, relying on buses AND having to be in Woden at lunch really limits you a lot.

What suburb are you starting from? You really don’t want to be doing more than 2 bus rides for the day otherwise the kids will get bored and you’ll be travelling half the day.

NoImRight said :

KB1971 said :

Feed them chocholate, lollies & red cordial, especially in the afternoon when they are a bit tired, it will pep them up… 😉

Follow this up with a trip to the RSPCA to get them a puppy each.

Only one?

My 6 year old LOVES the War Memorial

KB1971 said :

Feed them chocholate, lollies & red cordial, especially in the afternoon when they are a bit tired, it will pep them up… 😉

Follow this up with a trip to the RSPCA to get them a puppy each.

Rusalka said :

pink little birdie said :

Questacon opens at 10am.

After working at Q for many years, I can guarantee it opens at 9am. I would say that half a day there would be enough too, better to leave before the kids are bored than after.

Luckily, the kids are at the age that they will get things out of all the main galleries (5yr old may be a bit old for MiniQ depending on the kid). But I agree on the shows, see as many as you can while you are there. The Excited Particles are one of the best things about the place.

Happy to be corrected. Last time I took a 5 year old there it took all day. picked him up at 9, went to questacon (9:30 ish)speant the morning in the first couple of galleries, got lunch, saw a show there, looked at rest of galleries, got toy and ice cream, returned him to his aunt at around 4:30.

What a hero! Minding two children for a WHOLE DAY?

Here’s a suggestion… ask the 12yo. Suggest some possibilities. Explain the constraints and that it has to suit the 5yo as well.