Does anyone use busy bags/boxes? Any tried and tested ideas?

[Sausageheadset]

Thinking of having these for rainy days!

Gutted that you haven't had any responses yet! I'm really keen on using busy bags with my DS when he's older but he's a bit too young at the moment (4mo) so will be watching your thread eagerly :)

Do you mean hiding some crap in a bag? I keep some bits in a shoulder bag, usually for church or something where we will have to sit and wait quietly. I keep raisins, some books (a That's Not My... and a couple of mini board books), a pencil, one of those Galt water magic books, some teeny Thomas trains and some chewable Nuby keys. That tends to pass most time well enough (3 & 1).

TONNES on Pinterest. We use ours mostly when travelling or eating out.

My dds favourites have been play doh with some laminated sheets ( like a face and she adds a hairstyle/accessories etc) which helps keep the surface she’s playing on clean. I think there used to be a plastic knife in the pack too but usually just used her hands.

Jigsaws made from photos/cereal boxes/birthday cards/boxes her toys came in/ a colouring page glued to light card. If a piece gets lost it’s no big deal- rest is pitvin recycling and we cut up something else ( whereas a piece of a shop bought puzzle going missing would be annoying!)

Printable board game, laminated. A few game pieces ( usually came from kinder surprise eggs) and a dice in a small clear Tupperware pot ( store dice and pieces in the pot when not in use, and keep the dice in the closed pot to roll /shake. Harder to lose than a dice) Admittedly that’s not great if you are looking the kid to play independently.

Stickers /few twistables and pieces of paper.

If at home my go to is dumping some rice on a deep tray and she pours/measures with it and draws shapes. This morning she filled silicone cupcake cases with calpol syringes for candles ( she’s 4 now) and it entertained her for 45 mins.