You can get simple items at a dollar store, such as crayons, stickers, coloring books and colored paper. If you pack scissors for any crafts, make sure that they are kid-friendly pairs. You may want to get a couple of different crayon sizes. For example, toddlers like play dough, playing with water, and drawing with large crayons. Preschoolers enjoy coloring, puzzles, and blowing bubbles. Grade school age children enjoy games, crafts, and many of the things younger kids like as well. " Pack a box or gift bag of small toys. This can be used as rewards for good behavior. Depending on the age of the kids you're babysitting, you can include play money as "reward bucks." The kids can spend it to play with an item from the box. Infants won't understand the concept of rewarding good behavior, but you can still include items for them to play with. They like bright-colored toys they can hold and make noise with, and soft items to feel such as plush toys. They also like to be read to from books with colorful images. Many kids like movies, so it's good to include a couple of kid-friendly flicks in your bag. Just make sure to get permission from the parents first before putting on the TV or popping a movie in. Hand puppets can be great entertainment for kids of all ages. Furthermore, since you will have a flashlight in your bag, you can put on a show with real and shadow puppets. Kids' card games are ideal because they don't take up much room in your bag, and they can be fun for many ages. You can also pack puzzles with large pieces. Make and bring a list of game ideas that can be played with little or no props, such as picture charades.
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One-sentence summary -- Pack craft items. Create a "treasure chest. Pack DVDs. Consider bringing a couple of puppets. Bring games.

For everyday use, opt for a sturdy, washable fabric like a cotton-polyester blend. Canvas, while difficult to sew, will also last a long time. If you're a sewing novice, choose a solid-colored fabric so you don't have to worry about matching up the print when you sew the pieces together. On average, you'll need 3-4 yards of fabric to cover an armchair. Lay a piece of tracing paper, newspaper, or muslin over the largest section of the chair and trace the shape and size. Repeat for each section, working from the largest to the smallest areas. Feel free to maneuver the chair as needed if you want to lay it flat on the paper to get more precise patterns. Be sure to account for all parts of the chair, including the front, back, seat, and arms. Alternatively, you could measure each section of the chair and use the measurements to make your pattern. Label each piece of the pattern so you don't get confused later on. This is to account for the seam allowance and hems. Trace a new line around each piece of the pattern to include these increased measurements. Then, cut out each piece of the pattern. You only need to add a few pins to each piece to ensure the pattern doesn't move. Use tailor's chalk to trace the pattern onto the "wrong" side of the fabric. Press down the edges of the pattern with your fingers as you trace around it. Use the edge of a ruler as a guide when drawing straight lines. If you're using printed fabric, make sure the pattern matches up in a way you like. Stay as close to the lines as you possibly can. If you are having a hard time cutting the fabric, opt to cut outside the lines instead of inside the lines to ensure there's enough fabric to cover the chair. Wipe away the tailor's chalk with a cloth when you are done. Refer to the newspaper templates if you need help determining which piece is which. Insert the pins in the same direction as the edge of the fabric. Join the back pieces first, then add the front pieces and finish with the arms. Before you start sewing, carefully put the slipcover over the chair to ensure it fits. Make any necessary adjustments by removing the pins and realigning (or replacing) the necessary sections. the pieces together and hem the edges. Use a sewing machine to sew the pieces together. Sew them in the same order that you pinned them to make things a little easier. Then, hem the bottom portions for a finished look. Use 1412 inch (0.641.27cm) hem allowance. Once you're done sewing, all that's left is to put the slipcover on and enjoy your reupholstered chair.
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One-sentence summary -- Select a durable fabric that complements your existing decor. Create a paper pattern for the chair. Add 12in (1.3cm) to each measurement and cut out the pattern pieces. Pin the pattern to the fabric, then trace each piece. Use fabric scissors to cut along the chalk lines. Pin the pieces of the pattern together. Check the fit. Sew Put the slipcover on the chair.

Slowly inhale and exhale to signal your body to relax, and to restore equilibrium if you are feeling out of sorts and tense. This also gives you a few extra moments to evaluate the situation and how you will choose to respond. Practice regular meditation to learn how to control your emotions and calm yourself down when you need to. Try inhaling for 5 seconds, holding it for 5 seconds, and then exhaling over 5 seconds. This is a general standard rhythm, but experiment to see what timing works best for you. Taking a step away from the situation allows you to remove yourself from the situation if you are worried that your immediate reaction won't be one of patience. This will help you to feel more level-headed to face the next few moments. When you step away, try slowly counting to 10 or taking deep breaths to help you to be able to return more quickly. You could also try yelling your frustrations into a pillow when you have stepped away. Maintain supervision of the children even when you need to step away. Use a baby monitor or ask another adult to look over them. Singing can make losing your patience or temper much more difficult, as it can easily diffuse the situation into laughter instead. You can still say what you need to, however it will be much better received, and you won't feel as though you have lost your patience as much. The singing may come as a surprise to the kids, which will make them more likely to pay attention to what you are saying. Try to keep having a connection and understanding at the forefront of your mind. Avoid lecturing them, and be reflective rather than reactive. Listen to the children before you speak, and talk with them rather than at them. Simply saying "kids, I'm losing my patience," can also help, as it openly communicates with the kids how you are feeling and lets them respond to it. The cycling nature of mantras is soothing and serene, which can definitely help in situations where you feel that you might lose your patience. Mantras can also help for you to put the situation in perspective. For a patience boost, try "This too will pass, and I can stand it." To add perspective, try "I love my kids more than I love my . . ." and include whatever the situation is about such as plates, a wall, or the garden. Take a moment to evaluate the situation from the child's point of view. This will help you to work out what their intentions are, and how to react in a way that they will understand. The more you practice this, the easier it will become to understand the child's perspective in the future. This means that you will lose your patience less in future situations.
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One-sentence summary --
Take a few deep breaths. Step away for a moment if possible. Sing what you want to say. Talk it out with the kids. Repeat a mantra. Put yourself in the kid's shoes.