Tiny Tot Thursday: Busy Bags

I've had a list of different busy bags to make and all of the supplies bought for the last month, but haven't seemed to find the time to put everything together. So that became Spring Break Mission #1. Especially, since we would be in the car for a 4-5 hour road trip, I knew I needed different things to keep Audrey occupied. I leave this backpack full of busy bags in my car so that I can quickly grab it for restaurants, doctors offices, etc. There are a million and one ideas for busy bags floating around Pinterest, but I put together a few things I knew Audrey would like the most. Feel free to use any of my ideas to make or revamp your own! 

Audrey made this bag during our Christmas time stay at Great Wolf Lodge. It's perfect for holding busy bags because I can quickly pull it shut and throw it over my shoulder! 

There are 12 activities total. Mini box #1 on the left holds small linking shapes and mini box #2 on the right holds small Legos. 

The two long tubes on the right are spice jars with pipe cleaners. This proves to be a favorite so far!

Bag #1 holds two activities: sticker books and a small coloring book with Crayons. 

Bag #2 holds fuzzy Pom Pom balls, mini plastic containers and a plastic spoon. Audrey loves to scoop the Pom Poms into the bowls. 

Bag #3 holds mini tubs of play dough, and a plastic spoon and fork for making "cakes". 

Bag #4 holds mini pegs and blocks. 

Bag #5 holds interlocking foam pieces great for making figures or towers. 

Bag #6 holds magnetic letters and numbers. Use these with a metal pie pan. 

Bag #7 holds foam sheets for lacing. Simply punch a couple of holes around the edge of a foam sheet and use shoe strings to lace through. 

Bag #8 holds color matching clothes pin. Grab 2 of each paint swatch from the painting department. Punch or cut out a small piece from one swatch, glue on a clothes pin and match to other paint swatch. I used a hot glue gun to secure the stars to the clothes pin because all of my paint swatches we're laminated. {Teaching 101: Everything is better when it's laminated!}

All of my supplies were purchased at either Hobby Lobby, Michaels or Dollar Tree. I spent between $25-30 to make these bags, but since I created 12 activities that only averages to about $2.50 per bag. You can't beat hands on learning for less than $3! I have about half of everything left over that I have a special plan for a special someone soon, but you could very easily split all of these supplies to make two sets of busy bags for two different children. 

So grab a friend, get crafty and get busy!