{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/98\/Babysit-when-You-Hate-Kids-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Babysit-when-You-Hate-Kids-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/98\/Babysit-when-You-Hate-Kids-Step-1.jpg\/aid8609285-v4-728px-Babysit-when-You-Hate-Kids-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>

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<\/p><\/div>"} 1 Set them up with some colouring. Put on that encouraging voice - "Why don't you draw something for me?" and give them paper and pencils. They should be able to do this without too much assistance needed on your part, so you can while away a bit of time on your phone or reading until they tire of this. Pick the supplies carefully. It is probably best to avoid giving them glitter or paint, unless you want a massive tidy-up on your hands. Put on that encouraging voice - "Why don't you draw something for me?" and give them paper and pencils. They should be able to do this without too much assistance needed on your part, so you can while away a bit of time on your phone or reading until they tire of this.

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/0d\/Babysit-when-You-Hate-Kids-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Babysit-when-You-Hate-Kids-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/0d\/Babysit-when-You-Hate-Kids-Step-2.jpg\/aid8609285-v4-728px-Babysit-when-You-Hate-Kids-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>

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<\/p><\/div>"} 2 Get out the LEGO or dolls or toy cars - whatever takes their fancy. You do not need to join in with them if you think that this will be too tedious. "I bet you can't build a tower as big as me with LEGO," you could say with a smile. If there is more than one kid, you could challenge them to a race or competition, something that will allow them to compete with each other and leave you be.

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/c4\/Babysit-when-You-Hate-Kids-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Babysit-when-You-Hate-Kids-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/c4\/Babysit-when-You-Hate-Kids-Step-3.jpg\/aid8609285-v4-728px-Babysit-when-You-Hate-Kids-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>

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<\/p><\/div>"} 3 Ask them about films and books. If they are interested, you could put on a film, assuming the parents of the children allow this. Alternatively, you could settle them down for quiet reading before bed, or if you can cope, offer to read them a short story. You could even make one up, if you have the patience to do so.

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b5\/Babysit-when-You-Hate-Kids-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Babysit-when-You-Hate-Kids-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b5\/Babysit-when-You-Hate-Kids-Step-4.jpg\/aid8609285-v4-728px-Babysit-when-You-Hate-Kids-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>

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<\/p><\/div>"} 4 Bake with them. This step is for if you really want to go the extra mile. If you enjoy baking in your spare time, then this might be something you can tolerate doing with the kids, and they will love you because they get to eat it afterwards.

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/79\/Babysit-when-You-Hate-Kids-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Babysit-when-You-Hate-Kids-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/79\/Babysit-when-You-Hate-Kids-Step-5.jpg\/aid8609285-v4-728px-Babysit-when-You-Hate-Kids-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>

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<\/p><\/div>"} 5 Play dress-up. Kids often love playing dress-up, and because their clothes are tiny, you already have an excuse out of joining in. Let them parade in princess or pirate costumes, take photos, do their makeup for them. This will likely buy you popularity points with them, but you don't have to do a thing!

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/25\/Babysit-when-You-Hate-Kids-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Babysit-when-You-Hate-Kids-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/25\/Babysit-when-You-Hate-Kids-Step-6.jpg\/aid8609285-v4-728px-Babysit-when-You-Hate-Kids-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>

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<\/p><\/div>"} 6 Help them with their homework. You might hate school as much as they do, but their work will be easy compared to yours, so your mind won't be all that strained, but for them a large part of their evening is gone, which means that bedtime will come sooner. There's no downside.