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busy bags for kids!

Busy Bags for Kids On-The-Go... / Oh Joy!

Busy Bags for Kids On-The-Go... / Oh Joy!

If you've got kids (or take care of kids), you know it can be a challenge to keep them entertained when out at places like a restaurant. If you're trying to avoid giving kids an iPad to keep them occupied while waiting for a meal, we're fans of making and bringing a busy bag for them. So today, we're showing you how to make a busy bags for kids! They're filled with a few favorite things to keep little hands and minds busy while you're out and about. Here are two options that we love for a both baby and a toddler. We even have a simple DIY to make the bag extra colorful and fun. Check it out… 

Busy Bags for Kids On-The-Go... / Oh Joy!

You'll need…
clear pouch (the clear pouch makes it easy to see what's inside)
vinyl adhesive
– scissors

Busy Bags for Kids On-The-Go... / Oh Joy!

Here's how…
1. Cut uneven strips of the vinyl.
2. Peel and stick the vinyl to the front of the pouch.

Busy Bags for Kids On-The-Go... / Oh Joy!

For a Baby (3 months to 1 year) — We filled this busy bag with a few toys and a book to keep little ones busy while out and aboutAt this age, they stick anything and everything in their mouths, so we added a variety of teething toys with different shapes and textures to keep them occupied. We also included some rings because they're a great way to attach toys to a highchair or stroller so things don't fall on the floor, get filthy, or get lost under another table. The book we have here is a favorite because it's INDESTRUCTIBLE. Seriously. You can even wash it, and it won't rip!

Busy Bags for Kids On-The-Go... / Oh Joy!

For A Toddler (ages 2-5) — If your child is a little older, here's a busy bag for toddlers! Because they're learning more and more each day, we like to include a wider variety of things for them to play with. These little animals are puzzle erasers and can keep kiddos busy for HOURS. You can take them apart, put them back together, even mix-and-match. If your kid loves crafting, these child-friendly scissors are great to have on hand so kids can make their own creations anywhere, anytime. These scissors ONLY cut paper, so you don't have to worry about any boo-boos (they won't even cut hair!). Dimensional puzzle pieces make building fun and great for siblings to play with together. We also threw in some stamps with black and white ink so kids can create their own pictures and then color them in. Lastly, we love including an educational piece, so we added these fun flash cards that have different numbers, shapes, and colors on them.

Busy Bags for Kids On-The-Go... / Oh Joy!

As your kids get older, you can change and evolve your busy bag for them based on their age and interests. Do YOU have a busy bag that you keep for your kid to take with you on-the-go? Comment below and tell me what you include in yours! 

{Photos by Lily Glass. Styling by Julia Wester, styling assistance and crafting by Jess Hong.}

13 comments

  1. This is such a great post. We live and die by busy bags. They are great to distract our kids from asking to play on our phones. We keep a lot of the same items you listed: crayons, stickers, paper. And we keep magnetic blocks/toys.

  2. hi joy! thanks for a great post. do you have a link for the puzzle erasers? thank you always for being inspiring for us moms 🙂

  3. Hi, I saw those puzzle erasers in the target dollar spot! Daiso (a Japanese dollar store) also has a ton of cute ones.

  4. Awesome and easy idea! My daughter is 3.5 and it’s getting a bit harder to entertain her while we’re out so this is just what I’v been looking for. Thanks for the inspiration!

  5. I love this idea! I have never thought of doing this but definitely will give it a try. Thank you for sharing.❤️

  6. Busy bags are nice add-on. We usually keep stickers and few small toys for our kid. But, careful not to keep too small items so they can’t swallow it.

  7. Yes. I always have it in my car’s trunk in case. A lifesaver! Major wins for me are: Magna-tiles to build with and colouring pencils+book. I dont let them play with the magnet tiles any other time, so it is a treat for them when it comes out. My kids are 3 and 6.

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