{Springtime} Busy Bag Ideas

Here are a few GREAT ideas to keep your kiddos entertained and learning while they play! Each month I suggest a new theme to the moms in the group I swap with to help spur their creativity and also to help avoid getting the same activities every time. It has been a long winter and I am super anxious for warmer weather -- so this month's theme was {Springtime}.

 

If you haven't heard of a {Busy Bag} here is what they are in a nut shell... busy bags are reusable activities for kids that are fun & entertaining yet educational at the same time! Meant assist with independent quiet play and are perfect for the toddler or preschool who is just giving up naptime or for any mom who could use a few minutes of peace during her crazy day.

 

{Egg Shakers}
Babies 6-12 months old

 

Supplies
Regular sized Easter Eggs
Lentils, popping corn, or other small bean
Hot Glue

Directions
Fill each egg with 1 tsp of beans/corn. Place a very small dot of hot glue on the inside edge of the egg (where the two halves snap together) at several different places. Close the egg and allow the glue to cool and harden before scratching off any excess that is on the outside of the egg. Allow your baby to shake the eggs as you listen to music.

{Pretend Flower Pot}
Toddlers 1-3 years old

Supplies
Small flower pot or tin can
Fabric flowers
Wire cutters
Brown playdough (I used "Heidi's Chocolate Playdough" recipe found below)

Directions
Trim the stems of the flowers to the desired length. (OPTIONAL: You may wish to cover any sharp ends with floral tape, and glue the leafs and flowers into place on the stem so that your child cannot remove them as easily.) Show your child how to mash and mold the playdough into the bottom of the flower pot, then how to poke the flowers into the dough to make them stand up. (NOTE: If your child still puts everything into their mouth, you may want to provide an edible alternative to playdough such as the second recipe below.)

TODDLER FRIENDLY CRAFT OPTION: Make your own flowers using pipe cleaners and foam. Glue multi-colored petals onto a two-inch circle of foam. Glue foam leafs to a pipe cleaner, then glue the stem to the back of the foam flower.

{Fruits & Veggies - Where Do I Grow?}
Preschool 3-5 years old

 

 Supplies:
1/3 yd (45" wide) of blue, green & brown flannel per 2 children
20 x 12 inch piece of firm sew-in (non-fusible) interfacing (aka "Pellon") per 2 children
Hot glue
Images of fruits & veggies to trace (optional)
Fine-tip Sharpie
1 box washable markers per child

Directions:
THE BACKGROUND (sky, dirt, tree & bush):
Cut a 12 x 12 inch square of blue flannel to serve as the background for your activity. Cut a 4 x 12 inch strip of brown flannel for the "dirt" or garden area in your activity. Cut out the leafs for a tree, and a bush from the green flannel. Also, cut a tree trunk from the brown flannel and attach it to the tree leaves with hot glue. You may wish to sew the dirt, tree and bush to the background, but I left mine free so that my preschooler could place them where he wanted. *If you do sew the dirt onto the background, leave the top open (like a pocket) so that they can place veggies like carrots, potatoes, or onions "underground".

THE FRUITS & VEGGIES:
With a fine-tipped Sharpie, sketch or trace fruits and veggies onto the smooth side of the Pellon (the fuzzy side will adhere better to the flannel). Allow your child to color the fruits and veggies with their markers, then help them cut them out. Teach your child where things grow --- on a tree, under ground/on top of the ground, or on a bush as they play!

{Playdough Recipes}

 

{Heidi's Chocolate Playdough}
2 1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 cup salt
1/2 cup cocoa powder
2 Tbsp cream of tarter
3 Tbsp oil
3 cups water

In a large pots, sift together dry ingredients. Add oil and water. Stir frequently over medium heat until a firm dough ball forms. Knead on a flat surface, adding flour as necessary until cool and no longer sticky. Store in an airtight container. Makes 5 cups or ten 1/2 cup portions.

{Edible Playdough}
1 box white cake mix
1/2 cup cocoa powder (or 3 oz packet of jello or scent/flavor)
1/4 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup (1 stick) salted butter, softened
3 tsp water

Combine ingredients, kneading well and adding water a teaspoon at a time until desired consistency is reached. Store in an air tight container in the refrigerator. Bring dough to room temperature before using.

{Eric Carle Busy Bag Swap} Photo Gallery

Eric Carle Busy Bag Swap, a set on Flickr.

Eric Carle Animal Homes Flip Book {PreK Busy Bag}

This is a fun activity for your preschooler to do to learn about animal homes that goes along with Eric Carle's book, Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See? The animal names are printed on the top in the same color as the animal then down below is their home. You child will have fun flipping through the sections to mix and match the pages. Don't forget to laugh with them when the show you the will blue sheep that likes in the tree. Because they laugh, they know something isn't right and they think it's silly -- learning can be fun! :)

Eric Carle Puzzle Blocks {PreK Busy Bag}

These Eric Carle themed puzzle blocks are fun for your preschooler to play with --- my 4 year old was quietly entertained for at least 30 minutes yesterday! Simply purchase wooden blocks from the craft store and print animal photos onto sticker paper. (I used 1" cubes, but they had several sizes to choose from) Trim and apply to the sides of the blocks. For more of a challenge try a 9 block square or smaller blocks. :)

Heart Themed Number Matching Busy Bag

I made these for my son's Preschool class this Valentine's Day! I know the kids will love having something to play with when they get home, and the parents will be relieved its not more candy! I love this PreK busy bag because it covers a wide range of ages and skill levels. If your child is just learning colors you can igore the numbers and just match colors. If they are onto counting and number recognition, match the number on the clothes pin to the correct number of dots (colors match). If they are learning to read, have them match the number to the correct number word and then check if they are right by counting the dots on the back --- they match. FUN!! To make it more Valentine's Themed I punched the numbers out with a heart shaped punch.

~ HERE'S HOW TO DO IT ~

 

Supplies: (Make 15 Busy Bags/Valentine's)

2 sheets each of 5 colors of 8.5x11 cardstock - 10 sheets total for all 15 bags!!!

150 clothespins (10/bag)

Heart shaped paper punch

Hot glue

Marker

 

Instructions:

 

1. Cut out 2 inch squares from each of the colors to make 10 per child.

2. Punch out 10 hearts per child, write the numbers 1-10 on them and glue to the pinching tip of the clothes pin.

 

 

3. Write the words 'one' through 'ten' on the square cards. Then on the reverse, draw the corresponding number of dots. *NOTE: When I used a sharpie it bled through, so I would suggest raiding your child's washables. ;)

 

4. Place everything in a ziplock baggie along with your valentine or printed note.

 

January Busy Bag Swap Activities

Cheyenne Busy Bag Swap, a set on Flickr.