photos via MADE and the rigneys |
The popularity of our current giveaway for a 6 month kid craft club subscription tells me that you guys are hungry for some quick and easy kid activities to fill up your winter months. So today we’re gonna talk about a magical little wonder know as “the busy bag”. If you’re not familiar with the concept then it’s your lucky day – this post may just change your world.
The definition of a busy bag varies somewhat based on who you talk to. For me, any small bag containing re-usable materials for an entertaining kid activity constitutes a busy bag. They can be as simple as a few lacing cards and string in a zip lock or as extravagant as a hand sewn tote stuffed with theme-related books, activity pages and figurines. Either way, they’re worth their weight in gold when you have a whiny, cooped-up toddler on your hands.
photo via the rigneys |
Here’s my idea, use Christmas as an excuse to make as many busy bags as possible. Whip up a few as stocking stuffers, put a dozen or so into a plastic bin and wrap it as present for under the tree, or (if you’re REALLY feeling brave) frantically throw together 24 of them tonight and open one each day as an Advent calendar. It may mean putting in a little more effort than a trip to the toy store but, trust me, this will be as much of a gift to you as to your kids.
On board with the plan? Good, here’s how I’m gonna help. First go here and here to check out my two favorite sources of inspiration for busy bags. Then go here, where I’ve put together another continually evolving pinterest board for you (yay!) all about busy bags.
Two helpful hints before I wrap up:
- Busy bag swap parties are a great way of easily growing your collection. Pick one or two busy bags you feel you can easily make, ask a few friends to do the same, make several copies of your bags, then meet up and have a swap.
- Many of these busy bags contain small paper parts, which I would suggest laminating for long term durability. I’m gifting myself this Scotch Thermal Laminator as an early Christmas present this year. You might want to consider doing the same!
P.S. If you’re really looking to have the holidays in the bag this year, we’ve got two ways to help. First get the holiday shopping out of the way with all 10 of our 2013 Gift Guides here…
Second, check out our new eBook, Hands-On Holidays, packed with low-prep and low-stress ideas for make memories crafting, cooking, reading and adventuring with the kids!
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