Ideas for kids activity box

[Mumblepot26]

I am due to have DC3 in a couple of weeks and could do with some ideas for a kids activity box to keep DD1 and DD2 occupied, as I am keen not to rely too much on telly. They are 6yrs and 3yrs and both love arts and crafts.....ideas so far are; mini paint box's, Hama beads, play dough, junk modelling ......any other ideas for low maintenance fun would be much appreciated...

[imip]

Mugs as presents for Christmas, I mean!

[SpaghettiMeatballs]

I was going to suggest Toucan Boxes too. Pricy but very nice.

[BluePop]

I second that, imip Tiger are amazing - the entire contents of my DDs Xmas stocking is coming from there!

[imip]

Are you near a Tiger store? I've just bought my craft-mad dds 7,6,4,2 some a5 magnetic sheets and they have made their own magnets (ideas on the pack). They also have v cheap art canvases. Also ceramic paint. I paid a fortune for these, much cheaper in tiger. You could paint some mugs, perhaps even start them as presents for the kids.

And mine love paper mâché balloons! Search Hama on pin interest, lots of alternative uses!

Buy a stock of colouring books, mine love these too.

I perhaps may be into these too!

Might be helpful to search some old threads in larger families to find some more helpful hints non-craft related!

[BluePop]

The other way you can use catalogues, like the Argos one, is to draw a big house, like the back of a doll's house, and they can cut out furniture etc?

Don't know if you want to send a little bit of money but my DD is 5 and I had a baby in June, just in time for the holidays!

I signed up to Toucan Box, which are craft projects sent by mail order, and she spends quite a bit of time playing with those when they arrive? You can tailor them to ages and interests so they could have one each.

[Mumblepot26]

Ah lovely ideas ladies....thank you for your input xx

[iamusuallybeingunreasonable]

Pasta tubes etc, string, paints - jewellery

An old shoe box each and get them to make a memory box for all their creations

[Bluestocking]

Do you have any clothing catalogues and magazines you can sacrifice? You can give each DC a "suitcase" drawn on a big piece of paper and ask them to cut out what they want to pack, and stick it in with a pritt stick.

[iamusuallybeingunreasonable]

Get a plastic tub and fill it full of cut up squares etc of paper, tissue paper, foils anything really, do old sweet wrappers, catalogues, anything shiny or sparkly... Give them a glue stick and some paper and collages... My daughter adores doing these on a rainy day

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Congratulations on your imminent arrival

How about some outdoor chalk?