Welcome to Play Plans: Activities That Make Childhood Magical
If you’ve ever stared at a room full of toys while hearing, “I’m bored!” for the tenth time that morning, you’re in the right place.
Welcome to Play Plans—a place created for babysitters, nannies, parents, grandparents, and anyone who loves making childhood fun.
I’m so glad you’re here.
I started Play Plans because I know firsthand how much planning it takes to keep kids entertained. Whether you’re watching one child for an afternoon or a group of energetic siblings all summer, coming up with new ideas every day can feel overwhelming.
That’s where this blog comes in.
Here you’ll find easy activities that are fun for kids and simple for adults to set up. Most of the ideas use supplies you probably already have around the house, and they’re designed to encourage creativity, learning, movement, and plenty of laughter.
On Play Plans, you can expect to find:
- Indoor activities for rainy days
- Outdoor games and adventures
- Crafts for every season
- Sensory play ideas
- STEM experiments kids will love
- Printable scavenger hunts and worksheets
- Holiday and seasonal fun
- Weekly play plans for babysitters and nannies
- Budget-friendly activities
- Ideas for toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary-aged kids
My goal is simple: to make planning your day easier so you can spend less time searching Pinterest and more time making memories.
I truly believe the best childhood memories aren’t always expensive vacations or elaborate toys. They’re often built from blanket forts in the living room, sidewalk chalk masterpieces, messy science experiments, backyard treasure hunts, and afternoons filled with imagination.
Those are the moments I hope to help create.
Whether you’re looking for a quick 15-minute activity or planning an entire week of fun, I hope Play Plans becomes your go-to resource.
Thank you for stopping by. I’m excited to share new ideas every week, and I can’t wait to help you create magical days with the kids in your life.
Let’s play!
Babysitting Activities to Start With
If you only have a few minutes before the kids arrive, start here. These are the activities I come back to most often, sorted by the situation you are actually in.
When you need something right now
No prep, no supplies, no trip to the store. Call one out and you are playing within thirty seconds.
- 50 Indoor Games for Kids — the everyday list, good for mixed ages
- 100 Indoor Games for Kids Ages 8–10 — for older kids who say they are too old for games
- 100 Fun Riddles for Kids — perfect for the car, the dinner table, or a waiting room
Riddles in particular are worth keeping in your back pocket. They work anywhere, they need nothing, and they buy you ten quiet minutes when you need them most.
When you can get outside
Fresh air solves a surprising number of behaviour problems. These work in a backyard, a park, or a quiet street.
- 50 Outdoor Summer Games for Kids — water games, races, and classics
- Free Fall Scavenger Hunt for Babysitters — a printable made specifically for sitters
- Free Fall Bucket List for Kids — good for a whole season, not just one afternoon
When you want something to print ahead
Print these before your next job and keep them in your bag. A printable buys you a calm twenty minutes and gives the kids something to take home.
- Make Your Own Word Search Printable — kids write the words, so it never gets old
- Free Fingerprint Detective Printable — a detective activity that turns into an hour
- 100 Would You Rather Questions — no printing required if you are in a hurry
When it is a birthday or a group
Bigger groups need structure, or it dissolves. A game with clear rules and a winner keeps everyone in it.
- The Great Starbucks Birthday Mystery — a right-left passing game that works with any group size
How to Plan a Babysitting Afternoon
After enough afternoons, a rhythm emerges. Something active first, while the energy is high. Something quiet in the middle, usually with a printable or a snack. Then something creative to finish, so there is a thing to show a parent at pickup.
Plan three activities and expect to use two. Kids stretch the ones they love far past the time you allotted, and that is the afternoon going well, not badly. The extra idea is insurance, not a schedule.
Play Planners 
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