Wednesday, November 9, 2011

MORE Busy Bag Ideas

I really hope you need more busy bag ideas because I’ve rounded up a few more of my kids’ favorites to show you. 

{If you missed the first busy bag post, click here}

And there might be one more post of busy bags coming up… maybe.  Do you need more?  Cause I’ve got ‘em!  Remember, I came home with a whopping 47 bags last week.  To be honest, we haven’t even opened some of them (like the colored pasta or rice – I’m saving those for a project with the girls ;))

But let’s take a look at some of the busy bags that we have played with and loved. 

First up, I’ll show you the two I made.  I’m maybe a little bit ashamed to admit it because mine were soooo inexpensive to make and I know that some people had to have spent quite a bit of money on theirs.  I know I came away with a TON more than I contributed.  But hey, that’s the way it goes.  I couldn’t have done it at all if I didn’t have cheap ones. 

Anyway, back at the ranch….

Popsicle Match 

busy bag 12

Cut felt in a variety of colors for ‘popsicles’… 2 per color.  Hot glue, or sew the two pieces of the same color together being careful not to close the bottom.  Write the name of the color of each ‘popsicle’ on the end of a large craft stick (tongue depressor) in black (for beginning readers), and on the other side, write the name of the ‘popsicles’ in the actual color of each popsicle itself (for preschoolers).  Do NOT attach the popsicles.  They are meant to be slid on and off the sticks for matching the colors and/or color names.

Worm Pick-up

busy bag 8

You just need a bird (clothespin), a piece of ‘grass’ (paper) and some worms (pipe cleaners).  Cut the worms up and shape them.  Have the bird pick up the worms from the floor or table and put them on the ‘grass’.  {Lots more great ideas for fine motor skills here!}  C likes this one.  He had a hard time with the ‘bird’ at first but he’s got the hang of it now.

Rocks in a Bottle

busy bag 11I know this seems silly but I’m telling you the kids love this! Take an empty water bottle and fill it with those decorative pebbles.  You don’t need the bottle to be full.  My kids (especially C and B) like this a lot.  They dump them out and then they stay busy putting them all back in.  And then they dump them out and put them back in again.  It’s a vicious cycle! 

Actually, they really like it when I let them have an egg carton, too.  They like separating all the rocks into the different egg compartments.  H likes to separate the different colors of rocks this way, too.

Hot Glue Designs

busy bag 13

A and H really like this one a lot.  They are already contemplating what other kinds of shapes and designs they could make.

Just take your hot glue gun and make a design on some cardboard (squiggles, shapes, smiley faces, stripes, etc – hey those all start with S… weird!).  Once it’s completely cooled and dried, you can set a piece of paper over the design and rub it with the side of a crayon (remove crayon wrapper first).

Sponge Blocks

busy bag 10

C and B have already had a ton of fun with this one!  Just cut some sponges into strips.  It doesn’t get any easier than that, right?  My kids play with them slightly wet to help them stay.  Plus, C likes to squeeze the water out of them (over the cookie sheet, of course ;)).  This keeps my kids entertained for quite a while sometimes.  And sometimes not, you know how kids are…

Wooden Disc Memory Game

busy bag 18

I’m sure that’s not the technical name but it’s late and I don’t want to find that particular bag (among the 47!) just to find out.  We’ll have to live with Wooden Disc Memory Game for now.

This is one of MY favorites!  I don’t know why.  It’s just so darn cute!  It’s pretty self explanatory.  Just cut shapes out of felt to fit the discs and glue them on.  Have your child turn 2 over at a time to see if they match.  Match by color and/or shape. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

And now for a VERY serious question… is anyone else weirded out by the fact that Christmas is NEXT MONTH?!  Hey hey hey, some of these might make great gift ideas, no?  I think so…

 

14 comments:

julianne said...

This is such a great idea! I love the disc memory game and the Hot glue designs! I'm a new follower i'd love if you followed back!

Julianne
www.sewfantastic.blogspot.com

Kristin said...

I love that we have the same activities and I'm glad you find as much joy in them as I do! (Yes, I play with them by myself. ;)

{Junk in their Trunk} said...

These are such great ideas!! I would love for you to come share this at our link party...junkintheirtrunk.blogspot.com/2011/11/link-it-up-wednesday_08.html

Jaimee said...

LOVE these ideas!! I've shared this on my crafty facebook page : )
Jaimee @ craft-interrupted.blogspot.com

Vanilla Bean Crafts said...

loved the hot glue design idea! Awesome! Thanks so much for linking up again!

Ellie

Bre said...

Love these ideas! My 15 month year old daughter are attending our first Busy Bag Exchange in a few weeks. I am so excited to see what other ideas moms have! Thanks for sharing! :)

Brooke said...

I bet you'll come home with a lot of fun activities. My kids are still having a blast with all of ours. Have a great time!

Laura @ Laura's Crafty Life said...

Great ideas! I am always looking for easy and inexpensive ideas for ways to entertain the kids! :)

Dixie said...

Love these ideas. Are the little wooden circles readily available at craft stores?

Brooke said...

Yes! I believe they are. Thanks for your comment.

Grattage | chdecole said...

[...]    [...]

Busy Bags – What is a "Busy Bag?" said...

[...] builder as little ones will love using the “birdie” to get the “worms.” Babblin’ Brooke – Worms in the Grass   7.  Flippin’ Cookies - Younger toddlers can have fun just flippin’ cookies while [...]

Shape Lacing Cards to Teach Shapes - Moms Have Questions Too said...

[...] to have a shape themed busy bag. I found some great ideas like this felt shape matching game, these hot glue crayon rubbing designs (4th one down), or this clothespin and popsicle stick shape matching game (9th one [...]

Busy Bags – Inspiration and Resources said...

[...] Babblin Brooke – Popsicle Match [...]