Volunteer at a food bank or similar organization
Look at and organize old family photos
Cook, bake
Movies-matinees
Board Games
Card Games
Shopping trip to put together items to take to sibling in hospital
Crafts-make cards for sibling, parents

I hope all goes well with the surgery for your niece/nephew. I know the whole family appreciates you taking the other kids! My parents were a godsend when our 11 year old was hospitalized for 6 weeks.

This is a fun age to run around with the kids. Plan outings. Hikes, walks, movies, etc. Ask them what they want to do, then try to accommodate.

This week could create memories that last thier lifetime. Be adventurous. Pack a lunch and go!!!

Do you have friends or neighbors with kids the same age? They can be a good resource for what is in your area.
Can you do a day ski or ice skating trip?
I see you are planning to go to the library, sometimes they have things going on or can providd discount tickets to events in the area.
Is there a local Playhouse that might have things going on for kids?
A nature center?
Museum with in an hour away?
Everyone will be under such stress so what you are doing is a godsend. Hopefully it will be a bonding experience and maybe they just might want to make this a yearly visit!

Geocaching - hiking with a purpose! Have them bring a small item to trade once they find the treasure chest. Also, New Hampshire? - skiing, sledding, and snow tubing. In fact, a day of snow tubing would be awesome! You don't have to actually do it, you can just watch. Museums in the area? Good luck and I hope your nephew recovers quickly from surgery.

Here is a link that might be useful: Geocaching site

There's a lot of fun suggestions above : and the teens themselves might have more for you.

A week and more is a long period of time for you; I would request leniency from the parents as far as "screen" time goes, I know I do when I babysit my grandson for a few days.

Even with planned activities, there comes a time when knowing he's in front of an age appropriate fun movie is a godsend for me, I need some down time also.

I agree with all the suggestions above. My kids are similar ages, and they think going out to lunch at a diner is a real treat, hiking or just walking around new areas can be fun too.

If you are looking for something crafty, my kids love to do diorama type projects, and that could be something you work on little by little all week. It is fun to look around the house for things that can be used on a miniature scale, and trying all different kinds of craft materials can really make some neat additions to the scene.

My kids are also really into board games and legos too. They still enjoy a trip to the park. Puzzles can be fun if they enjoy that type of thing and you can chip away at those all week too when there is downtime.

A vacation week should include things you aren't usually allowed to do when school is in session. Let them stay up late to watch an age appropriate movie. The limited screen time rule should be relaxed for a vacation ... specially one that has an unplanned stress factor. Boys that age love to play Minecraft on the computer.

Other things:
- Bowling
- Laser Tag
- Movies (3D or IMAX)
- Snow tubing park
- Ice skating (indoor or outdoor)
- Rollerskating (indoor)

If I was asking someone to take my kids for a week, I'd say "feel free to let them watch TV all day." Seriously, it's a lot to ask to not allow screen time.

Anyway, I would also suggest sledding, maybe try x-country skiing?; movies; a trip to a craft store to buy supplies, followed by an afternoon of making stuff; bowling; a trip to the grocery store to buy ingredients for a simple meal ("make your own pizzas"?) and dessert, then make them together; teach them some card games, even poker! My 12 yo DD learned how to play recently (not from me, I don't even know how to play).

If you can get them outside doing something every day, even just walking through whatever your downtown area is, it will help the days go by more peacefully, especially for the 9 yo boy!

Our grands love to play Poker with us. We take them to the cabin where there is no radio, tv or cell service. Nights are filled with games and crafts.

If they aren't skiers, be sure to get a training session for them. After all, I'm sure you want to return them whole.

Movies are really fun at this age. Max wanted to work at our local movie theater when he was 9. And bowling sounds awesome!

I love this crowd.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Please don't worry--they'll both get some screen time. They just won't get all day in front of the screens. They will also not be eating *quite* as healthy as they do at home. There's some hot dogs and Kraft mac&cheese waiting for them. And Great-Grandma's candy bowl just got refilled--one piece each after lunch and dinner.

I'm used to taking care of them for a week at a time, but in their own house, with their own stuff all around them, and their own activities (swim team, Scouts, dance lessons) to help keep them occupied.

Thanks to your suggestions, I've pulled out the board games, reserved free passes for the Children's Museum from the library, and planned some baking--they can make cookies to send to their uncle in Afghanistan. Unfortunately, the local indoor swimming pool has weird free swim hours this week, so I'm not sure I can fit that in, which is a shame because they both love to swim. And a trip to the crafts store sounds like a good idea--it's actually my nephew who is really into crafts, but my niece can be persuaded to get involved most of the time.

I was just in a state of panic! The kids are coming! The kids are coming! I am not prepared for this! But I've calmed down a bit now. I can handle this.

And if you wouldn't mind--some prayers for my other nephew, who is having spinal surgery that is fairly risky, but absolutely necessary.

You've gotten some really good suggestions already. If I were in NH with my kids (ages 8, 10, 12 and 13), one thing I'd definitely look for is a place that had snow tubing. They love that and it's something they can do at their ages that doesn't require adult participation (though I love tubing so I'd go with them). If you don't like to ski, it would be more difficult to adequately supervise them). Baking is something all my kids like to do and can fill a whole afternoon.

We just saw a hilarious movie yesterday that appealed to our entire family (and my 13 y/o actually wanted to go with us - usually she prefers to go with friends!). It's called Parental Guidance. It's rated PG but very clean - no cursing, no violence, no sex. Billy Crystal and Bette Midler are in it. My 8 y/o was sitting next to me and was LOL quite a bit, as well as my husband and I! My 13 y/o really enjoyed it too.

If you don't have any kid games, I can recommend several that are good for those ages. I'd ask the parents if they have any favorites and if so, to bring them so you don't have to buy them. Cards are also a favorite here - my kids all love War, Hearts and Go Fish, among others.

If you google your area and "kids activities" you could probably find somethings in your general area to do that you might not be aware of already. I've found several things to do in my own area for my kids that I had no idea existed.

My daughter and her friends seem to enjoy hands on meals at our house.. Fondue night, tacos night, ake your own pizza/toppings night.. Things that are a together activity to prep and also an activity to eat. We also plan internationally themed dinners, the kids help me pick the menu items. Last week was Ireland so we made shepherds pie, listened to U2 while cooking and then Celtic music during dinner.

Ask them to bring something they like to do, to show you. I know you want to minimize screens, but my 9 year old was hugely excited to teach me minecraft.

Legos! Legos! Legos!

Also, keep the music on. Seems like twirling, singing and talking about music is an activity at that age. Listen to some of yours then some of theirs.

Ice skating/rollerskating?

Amazon has some science kits that are pretty good and include most of the items necessary. Alternatively, you can look at some science experiment books at the library and choose which ones you think look fun or that meet your tolerance level.

Another idea would be sets of knitting needles for each kid and some yarn. Good luck!

I would caution against mine craft if he hasn't already played it and if his parents limit screen time. I know several boys who play and it can be very addicting. My sister has had huge battles with my nephew over it because it's all he wants to do. If his parents already allow him to play, then I'd make sure to ask about their rules governing screen time.

Good thoughts go to you for your other nephew's surgery,
do keep us posted.

The kids are here. Guess what they did? They made a daily schedule--time to read, time to go outside and exercise (walk around the block, really), time to do activities, time to watch tv or play on the computer, time to do their homework. It's all written out, with the times they have to do everything. They came up with this all on their own and I think it's cute. They are being little angels. I know what they are capable of, and they are really trying to be good kids. Seriously, they've been so good they are scaring me.

Their older brother had the surgery--took twice as long as the doctor had predicted--10 hours in the OR. But the doctor is pleased with how things went. We just have to wait and see how things go as Nephew recovers. He had a spinal decompression and fusion and rods put in his back. He was actually pretty excited about the surgery, because he won't have to wear a back brace anymore.

what good news, a very serious surgery indeed !

Wishing your nephew a speedy and successful recovery!

Sounds like scoliosis?

My boys are 10. This may sound lame...but we just finished "Shiloh". I read it to my boys. 4 chapters at a time and we watched the movie last night. It was so good! My boys still enjoy listening to me read believe it or not.

The 12 year old probably wouldn't enjoy it, but the 9 yr old might.

Glad the surgery went well.

You might want to see if there are any longer-term school projects that they need to work on--since they're on vacation, you have the time to make it fun!

I second the knitting. You could also see if your local craft stores are running any free workshops. Home Depot and Lowe's also do free workshops for kids.

Oh! I forgot! Building bento lunches! There are some really interesting websites out there where people build some way-out lunchboxes!

Here is a link that might be useful: Bento lunch box ideas

Those kids sound awesome, and glad the surgery is over. Praying for your nephew's quick and complete recovery!

I just thought I'd post an update.

My nephew and niece have headed back home with my brother, their dad. My poor SIL is at Children's Hospital with Oldest Nephew.

Guess what my brother says the kids enjoyed the most? Would you believe 1) looking at baby pictures of themselves, 2) making cards and art for their brother to hang on the walls of his room and 3) a mini-tour where I showed them where their dad used to live, and their grandparents used to live, and their dad went to school, etc. So much for all my planning.

They'd hoped Oldest Nephew would be released yesterday, but he's had some breathing issues and a lot of pain and it looks as though he'll be in the hospital until Saturday. He's had a few complications, but they have all been complications that kids normally have with this surgery, so while he's being closely monitored, no one is super concerned.

About his surgery--he was born with a defect in his spine, that caused partial paralysis from the waist down. The doctors have been treating this with back braces and therapy, to prevent things from getting any worse. What happened was that one of his vertebra collapsed and caused all sorts of problems. They've fixed that and put in rods that have straightened his spine for the first time ever. He even looks taller! And he won't need his back brace anymore, which has made him very happy.

I just wish he wasn't in such pain. I've been down to the hospital twice to give SIL a bit of a break and he's just not himself at all.