How to Make Activity Boxes for Kids
The most effective way to keep kids engaged. The ease and simplicity in creating these make them a must have for every parent.
What is an activity box?
What is an activity box? Simply put this is a container of strategically selected items to keep kids entertained. Activity boxes are perfect for any time of day. They come in especially handy during restaurant outings, travel, and when going to friends or families’ homes that are not especially kid friendly.
These will greatly depend on your child’s age, and I am continuously adjusting the items I circulate through my activity boxes based on what works and what doesn’t. Even though it’s a constant rotation and the items I use change frequently, most of the best items I have found come from the dollar store or dollar section of my favorite stores. This means you are not going to have to spend much money and you will still find success with the items you use and have plenty of items to rotate for your kiddos.
How do activity boxes work?
Activity boxes can work for any time kids need to be entertained, distracted, or mom just needs a few minutes to pee in peace. They are most successful when they are used for only a limited number of times. For example, if they are only used for outings, or at very rare and special times at home. This is an important part of activity box success as it increases the time your kids will spend utilizing them. Kids get bored with toys they see all the time and the key here is maximizing the amount of time a child with spend playing with each item.
Let’s Get Started
First start with the container
Start with any container you like, and it will work. I used 3 pencil cases from the dollar store for mine. Another great option is to wait until all the back-to-school supplies go on sale and get the ones you want at that time. I chose 3 different colored hard plastic containers for our activity boxes. I looked for ones that were durable and selected various colors to make the activity box recognizable for my kids.
It is an added bonus if your container can also be used as a toy play area or place to put stickers for decorations!
Fill the activity box with fun!
Next fill the box with fun. Here are some great items to put in an activity box. All of which have been tried and tested.
Poppers
Matchbox Car
Stacking Cups
Mini Slinkys
Fidget Tubes
Keep Activity Boxes Interesting by Adjusting Items every Outing
Each time one is used after you return home, cycle out what is in it. This makes sure kiddos do not know what to expect so they don’t get bored with toys. This also doubles as a surprise for them when they get to see a toy they had not seen in a few weeks.
Additional Ideas/ Options
Busy books like the one linked here are also great to keep kids’ attention depending on their ages. Mine like to play with them, however I think around 2-4 they will be utilized more due to the level of activities.
Examples of Finished Activity Boxes
They don’t have to be fancy they just have to be fun!
Conclusion
From travel to restaurant outing, or for any time-of-day activity boxes are the perfect way to keep your littles entertained. This simple container filled with specific items tailored to your kids’ interests will quickly become your favorite go to when leaving the house.
Let us know what your kids find the most entertaining and what items you found helpful to put in your activity boxes. Share a picture of your creations below for more inspiration!
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