25 July 2012

Help!! - babysitting. need ideas

| joingler
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Okay so I (stupidly) agreed to babysit a friend’s kids for free. She has a 12 year old daughter and a 5 year old son. I have them all day saturday. Neither have been to Canberra. What is something that I can do with them to keep them occupied all day? I am reliant on public transport. Their mother is paying for all activities (including my admission to things) so cost is no big deal.

At the moment I am thinking movies, questacon, zoo and maybe go to a local NEAFL game (they are from Vic and both love their footy). IS there anything else in town that would possibly interest them both? I have them from 9am til 5.15pm. I need to be in Woden around lunchtime as mum wants to at least have lunch with them.

Please no one say national museum. That place is not for kids (except for the tiny 10minute sections downstairs).

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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.

pink little birdie3:42 pm 25 Jul 12

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.

patrick_keogh3:01 pm 25 Jul 12

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.

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.

VYBerlinaV8_is_back2:45 pm 25 Jul 12

G-Fresh said :

Hire a Nanny.

There’s profit in this idea!

KB1971 said :

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

Mummy’s friend’s ‘special cordial’ in the morning (vodka with oj) would still work with the 5 year old, but not the 12 year old….Problem.

Seriously, the zoo is the only thing I can think of. The 12 year old will think you’re a tremendous dag though. Mum should spring for the taxi fare, too, unless it’s a one bus journey.

You are either an angel or an idiot. Or both.

Questacon in the morning, lunch with mum, movie in the afternoon.

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

Hire a Nanny.

pink little birdie12:27 pm 25 Jul 12

Questacon and reconcilitation park should do for the whole day.
Questacon opens at 10am. By the time you have the kids ready to go you will get there at say 9:45. They look at the things outside until it opens or a bit after. Then get the tickets, let them stop and look at everything they want on the way to the exhibits. You will be spending all your time chasing the 5 year old and pointing things out to him. Let the 12 year old wander in each room and move on when she is ready.
See the shows at questacon. They will both like them. Have your mum come to questacon for lunch (break in the middle of the day). The food is ordinary but conveient. Then go back to the galleries. The 5 year old will want to spend hours in mini q (book a timeslot) that’s fine.
Finish questacon include icecream and toy from the shop. Then go play in reconilliation park and by the lake this will take 40 minutes or so however by this stage you will have a tired little 5 year old.
Take them home, stick a movie on tv (monsters inc, the incredibles etc) and have popcorn and drinks and wait.
Questacon is a big enough day for the 5 year old and can most likely won’t want to do anything else. don’t try to cram too much in (cos it won’t work).

colourful sydney racing identity12:13 pm 25 Jul 12

Relying on public transport on a Saturday *and* having to be in Woden at lunchtime is going to limit your options…

Ice skating at Phillip in the morning, lunch at Woden and then Questacon in the afternoon would be my move.

MiniQ at Questacon would be good for the 5 year old. Let the 12 year old play on an iphone or something for an hour or two while you are there. That in the morning and a movie in the afternoon (or the other way-round) and you have probably filled a day once you include lunch and travel time.

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