Return of the Toddler Busy Bags

Eight months ago I wrote a post on toddler busy bags, which are little self-contained packs of activities to keep toddlers entertained.  Jack was a mere 13 months old when I wrote the post, and he wasn’t really old enough to appreciate and enjoy the busy bags that we had created.

But now, at the ripe old age of 21 months, things have changed.  He is very interested in counting, colors and manipulating small objects, and I want to create some new busy bags that will take advantage of these new interests.

Pipe Cleaner Tube.  One idea that I’ve seen a lot of uses brightly colored pipe cleaners and a container with holes punched into it that the child can slide the pipe cleaners into.  This site has a wonderful description of the toy.  Jack loves to take straws and slip them in and out of drink tops, and I think that the pipe cleaner toy will be a much less messy substitute.  Plus, it is a toy that can grow with him:  as he learns his colors he can match the colored pipe cleaner to the colored hole.

Dress the Bear.  When I was little I had a handmade doll with a dress which had buttons, snaps, velcro, hooks-and-eyes, zippers, and ties on it.  I used to love playing with all of the different fasteners, and it helped me learn how to manipulate the different items.  While I haven’t seen a commercial version of the toy, I’m sure I can improvise by securely sewing different types of fasteners onto some doll clothes and dressing up one of Jack’s bears.  He’s at the age where he is fascinated by the laces in his shoes, so I think that this is a good age to introduce this toy.

Sorting Boxes.  Chasing Cheerios has a great idea on this busy bag page – sectioned boxes for toddlers to sort items into.  One thing that will keep Jack occupied for a good hour is his Matchbox car carrier:  he’ll take each car out and put it back into its slot again and again.  While cars are definitely a favorite, I think he’d enjoy sorting rocks or beans or small toys.

That’s a good start.  Still looking for more?  Here are some links with some amazing inspirations for toddler busy bags.

My Delicious Ambiguity, as always, has a great roundup of busy bag toys, including an egg carton color scavenger hunt, finger puppets, a collage bag and more.

Passionate Homemaking has a novel take on the busy bag:  a busy box filled with 25 different activities.

Money Saving Mom has some reallycre ative ideas on busy bags for slightly older children.

This one is totally my favorite:  The I Spy Bottle by I Can Teach My Child.  Fill an empty plastic water bottle with sand, some glitter, and little objects so your little one can play a game of “I Spy.”  Very creative!

Have you made any toddler busy bags for the little ones in your lives?  Which ones have they loved?