Toddler Busy Bags

I have been making these for my daughter for quite a while so here's the scoop on some of my favorites.

1. Brightly colored pieces of felt cut in various shapes
 I always cut a pair so that she can match them, but there are lots of things she can do with these. 

2. Plastic beads and pipe cleaners
The pipe cleaner is much easier for my little one to string the beads on than a shoelace so she doesn't get frustrated but still works those fine motor skills.

3. Nuts and bolts
Yep, that's it just some nuts and bolts.  Zoe will turn and twist four or five nuts onto one bolt.  I love the concentration she will put into this.

4. Craft pom poms and big tweezers
The open and close motion she has to do with the tweezers is great.

5. Texture balloons
One is filled with flour, one with sugar, and one with couscous.  Zoe likes to squeeze, stretch, and poke the balloons as she explores the different textures within.

6. Bugs

This has been Zoe's all time favorite.  She will line her bugs up, play hide-n-go-seek with her bugs, tell me the color of her bugs, practice bug sounds, sort her bugs by species, and put her bugs down for a nap.  She loves to play with these guys wherever we are.

7. Buttons
Another favorite, we started with just one color but have since added a second.  These are great for sorting.  She will pick out the biggest ones, smallest ones, and smooth ones.  Some days she stacks them in piles other days she lines them up on the floor.

8. Chain links
Yes, Zoe's are shaped like flowers and hearts but the concept is still there.  Link them together and make a chain.

9. Rose Petals and Ribbon
This is the same concept as stringing beads but with petals and ribbon to mix things up just a bit.

10. Animal Cards
This is just a pack of flash cards I picked up at the dollar store but Z likes having it in one of her bags so she can play with it all by herself.

There you have it.  Hope this helps and you come up with some great busy bags of your own.  Really, anything that your child can sit quietly and do by themselves is a win in my book.  It is great for giving me a few minutes to make lunch, sweep the floor, or get dinner started.  There are many times I sit down and do these with Zoe but having things she can do on her own is what our busy bags are all about.