The more regularly you babysit, the harder it can get to come up with creative entertainment ideas for the kids. Even hide and seek, Twister, painting, and watching videos can get boring for both the kids and the babysitter.

To be the kids' favourite babysitter, you need to have a few tricks up your sleeve for both rainy days and warm summer days when going outside is an option.

Presents for Mum and Dad

All kids can be creative if given the opportunity and the materials. You don't need to spend much money on props for this type of activity. Chances are the kids will already have most of what is needed at home. If not, just pop into your local stationery or arts and crafts store to purchase some basics: craft glue, coloured paper, stickers, glitter etc.

What really motivates kids to get creative is if you aim to please mum and dad when they get home. Impromptu gifts are a lovely surprise, and will also give you babysitter brownie points.

Easy projects include photo collages, paintings, cards, paper mache and dried pasta art.

New Skills

All of us boast a talent of some sort whether it's an obvious one like singing or acting, or a more hidden one like writing poetry or gardening. Use your talent to entertain the kids.

If you're a keen musician, either perform for the kids or learn some songs together. You could also create your own band. Build instruments out of household items such as bins, pots, brooms and alike. You can present the end result to mum and dad when they get home.

Gardening is a great thing to get the kids involved with, weather and parents permitting. Ask whether it would be ok to pot around with the kids, teaching them a bit about how to do weeding and how regularly to water the plants.

Science Experiments

Every child loves a bit of experimenting. It's a great way to get them more interested in how the world works, as well as studying harder for the science-based subjects at school.

Science experiments don't have to be complicated, and certainly don't have to be dangerous. In some cases, all you need is a few common household items to demonstrate such phenomena as gravity, magnetism and more.

For example, a popular experiment is to create a fruit battery. This does, however, require a few extra bits and bobs, but if you can get your hands on them, the kids will have a great time, and will learn about electricity.