What things can 12 year olds do at my house?
827614
Just enough for acting!!!!  Ask them to bring their craziest, fanciest clothes (and for the girls, tons of makeup) and act out the snobbiest people you know.  You'll have great fun setting up the dressing room as well (try using bedsheets as curtains in a corner of your room or whatever).  One person can be the director, one the photographer, one the makeup artist, the rest can be actors.\nGood luck!!!!!
1121687
Have the kids pick up their own toys and put them away.  Make a game of it, set a timer, or sing songs while you do this.
630021
Cleaning the house or doing laundry.  Play games with my son or snuggling on the couch reading a book with him, watch movies or go and visit people, or see a matinee at the theater.
722513
Answer some questions.\nMake a sandwich.\nRead a book.\nWatch TV.\nCrossword puzzles.\nClean your room!\nDo the laundry, take out the trash, etc.\n\nHave fun :)
591782
I'm going to try to keep all my ideas low cost and easy...if you're a stay at home mom these might work better than if you're not.  Though you might be able to get your childcare provider to do these things as well.\n\n1. Check out your local library!  They often have great things going on for the summer.  My son now 12 is an avid reader particaly becasue he got interested in the summer reading programs at the libray.  They usually have a program where kids read books and get starts or stickers or something like that to put in a book.  Sometimes there are draws and prizes and parties involved.  I find these really help boys by getting the competitive juices going...who can read the most books by the end of the summer.  Don't worry if he gravitates to books that are too young for him...any reading he does is good, builds word recognition and speed and comprehension.  You may luck out and find a series he likes...look for "The Magic Tree House" books, they might be about his level.  Then they want to read them all as fast as they can.\n\n2.Grocery Shopping...you have to do it anyway so make it special.  Have him help you make the list...maybe he can even write it out!  When you're shopping let him help you find things. Pick 2 "special treats" from the bakery to have when you get home and the groceries are put away.  Make a big deal out of it...set the table, light a candle.  \nNow a word of warning.  Grocery shopping with kids can be rough as they want every unhealthy expensive thing they see.  But by allowing him to choose one special thing you make that a bit easier.  And all kids need to learn that they can't have everything.  Once they get use to it the tantrums over the jumbo box of oreos will stop.  UNLESS you give into them...then it gets worse since they see it works.\n\n3. Plan a picnic.  You can combine this with the grocery shopping too.  You can take a picnic to a park...or maybe meet up with Dad at work.  \n\n4. 2 words...water balloons...don't forget to participate fully yourself. Kids don't see mom having fun as often as they sould...mine included.\n\n5. This may cost a bit but maybe it will fit into the budget...visit some of your local tourist attactions...a historical home, a zoo, an art gallery.\n\n6. Plant a garden...you may already do that but maybe you can give him a little corner for himself or dig up a separate spot for him.  \n\n7. Are you religious? Christian? look for a "Vacation Bible School" in your area.\n\n8. Check out the website below.  They update it monthy with cool stuff to do with your pre-school/Elemantary and teenage kids.  In the upper right hand side of the page find the paper and pencil to subscribe to get updates mailed to you monthy!\n\nI'll edit this as I think of more.
1125789
Here's a few options..  \nplay card games, board games, video games, or whatever kind of games you would both enjoy.  \nWork on improving your house together (if you don't rent, or if you, redecorate!).\nListen to music, even better, dance to it!\nRead together.  \nCreate something together, if you're an artistic type.\nDo a puzzle together, or a crossword.\n\nHope some of these are helpful!
1185790
Just a few ideas... board games, make cookies or other simple baking and food, jewelry making with $5 worth of beads, roller blading, movies, the local swimming pool, bike riding, go for short walks if the parents allow it. \nA ten year old likes a friend, and will tell momma and daddy to hire back the one who plays best... \nThe dancing answer is good, so is dressing up, she might want to be a star!\nThe best move of all is to ASK HER! \nShe will let you know if something is dumb to her or fun for her. 10 year olds are good at that. \nMuch luck and blessings.
351383
Well, number one, don't watch T.V.! That is a bad thing to do when you babysit them. It makes them think it is okay to be a couch potato and then you become lazy, as well. Make your money worth it. Do something fun and creative with them. \nIf they have board games at their house try some easy ones. Like chutes and laders or something of the sort. \nOr make up a story. You start with something like "once upon a time there was a boy named.." then they have to finish the story and you take turns. \nMake up games that teach them life-long leasons! \nHope I gave you some idea starters. \nWishing you well (because I totaly understand what you are going through!) \n-PolarGirl8\nP.S. I am babysitting some boys tomorrow, and they are 3 and 5 as well! Ha,ha.\nP.P. S. If it is nice outside try playing a game similar to "duck duck goose" except it is called "drip drip drop". You use was bucket of water and drop water on their head and then drop the whole bucket of water on them. It is very fun!
969477
If you sew (you could learn to hand sew quickly) you could make little handbags. It's also fun to make your own hand/body lotion, bath salts, bath bombs(fizzy). You could also make candy kits for them to enjoy.  Go to the library and check out the books for cheap and easy gifts in minutes.  Have fun.
1011902
Its to bad your 12 cause you could get him some cigars or a pipe.  Maybe you can have your mom get him that.
685156
Clean the house and cook dinner.  Trust me, that goes a lot further than flowers
835437
i am one year year younger then you but i will still give you my suggestion. help your parents at home or go and do some sports. or you can just go have a ball (have a lot of fun) with your friends.
61644
You can do simple things like potato sack races, pin the tail on the donkey, bingo, stuff like that.  Since the kids are so young, they don't need a lot to be entertained and you want to do something that doesn't require a lot of rules/directions.  Besides, you also want stuff they can't cheat easily with!
454206
you could bring rented movies over to the house, find a book that you are really in to, play a cool game with the kids (depending on their age), pretty much anything that you would normally do at home as long as you don't tune the children out.
722019
Well, are we talking about girls or boys here?  Not to be sexist here, but twelve-year-old girls frequently enjoy baby-sitting or "mother's helper" work (i.e., watching a child while the mother is still in the house). My daughter certainly has, at least.\n\nGuys or girls may be willing to do yard work, or run errands for old folks, or help care for other peoples' pets.  \n\nIf the child has a particular interest or aptitude, look into finding an apprenticeship of some sort - but be sure to check about child labor laws and how they might apply.\n\nIf the child is both smart and patient, look into the possibility of tutoring a younger child.\n\nOf course, I'm assuming that by "job" you mean something that pays - if you just mean something to *do*, there are all sorts of volunteer possibilities, such as at your local library, that can teach useful job skills that could turn into employment later.
640177
Here are some inventions invented by kids 12 years and younger. The source has more invention listed so you may want to check on those and see what your 12 year old may be able to learn from these inventions - and how he/she can invent something as well\n\nThe Battie Caddy\nInvented at age: 9\nProduct Description: A bike accessory that can fit on any bicycle handlebar to  hold a baseball Glove, bat and ball securely.\n\nThe Crayon Holder \nInventor: Cassidy \nInvented at age: 11\nProduct Description: A device that holds any size crayon (broken or whole) \n\nRocketz Removable Backpack Wheels\nInventor: Rikio \nInvented at age: 11\nProduct Description: Removable Wheels to attach to the bottom of a backpack\n\nThe Burn Free Oven Mitt \nInventor: Nicholas\nInvented at age: 8\nProduct Description: An oven mitt with tongs to keep users from being splattered with grease.
554693
write a book, clean hard to reak areas in the bathroom. check out myspace.com and my yearbook.com. Offer to babysit a relative. keep a journal. teach yourself to cook. make an inspirational collage to remind you of your life goals. Make a video of yourself doing something crazy. Paint a masterpiece. learn to knit or sew. make sock puppets and put on a play. embellish some clothes with beads and glitter. count the raindrops on the window. Write a song about your best friend and sing it to them on the phone. answer Q's online with a humorous note. Cook a meal for your family with their help. make a paper mache piniata. search in the couch for money. the options are endless!