Use what you have to create simple busy boxes for home or travel.
When quiet time is needed with independently, with siblings, or with a parent, busy boxes are a god choice to have on hand. Our busy boxes are designed around the interests of my 5-year-old son. Feel free to build these busy boxes to suit your kids interest and their ages! These busy boxes are a great place to start for ideas.
I will provide Amazon affiliate links throughout and below so you can see descriptions of items.
Although I have put together 25 busy boxes, I only have 5 out at a time. We only have . What do I do with the rest of the items? I store the materials for the other 20 busy boxes in gallon size zip lock bags. Use a large storage bin to store the bags. Or you can just fill your busy boxes 5 at a time. Whatever you choose these busy boxes will keep everyone busy!
25 Simple, Low Prep Busy Boxes and Ideas
{We always have scissors, glue, more paper and crayons, markers or pens available for him.}
Keep in mind that are busy boxes are used in several ways. We use some of these busy boxes for independent play, travel, family time, and quiet time. You can fill busy boxes to suit your needs. Maybe you need all your busy boxes to be independent play so strive for activities you know your child will be successful with by themselves.
1. Nuts and bolts and locks and keys {fine motor}.
2. and objects that corresponds with each letter {matching}.
3. Playing cards and clothespins. Put clothespins on cards to match number on card, sort cards by color or suit, put in numerical order, play a more or less game or even build structures!
4. Paper bag puppets or simple art with paper bags, stickers and markers.
We love Lego so naturally we have Lego busy boxes in our mix.
5. are great mini builds with 3 variations. My son can follow the directions on his own.
6. Lego Storytelling with lots of mini figures, accessories and base plates. He can make up his own stories or we can all do it together. It’s fun in a restaurant.
7. Lego free play build. Just a . I used command strips to attach some plates to the lid. Now it’s very portable and great for taking just about anywhere.
8. Lego Skittles game.
9. Play dough play. I kept it simple and added mini cans of , , a and rocks. There are so many neat variations like adding or other , , figurines, gems, etc. The possibilities are endless.
10. Super hero books and super hero action figures. We have quite a few duplicates from all our sets. I added those plus a set of or books for inspiration. he loves to act out the stories and look through them.
11. Mystery bag idea. This busy box is fun to take out when we travel. Can you guess what each item is by just feeling it.
12. Family photos. My son loves to sit and look through a stack of family photos or photos of himself doing different things. Many times, he will come over and want to know more about the picture or to tell him a story about that particular day.
13. Scissor skills box. This one is always popular. My son likes to practice scissor skills when he has fun textures and items to chop up. Ribbon, straws, bows, old cards, pool noodles and streamers are fun choices. We have too.
14. Environmental print puzzles. Cut up cardboard food or toy boxes and have your child make them into puzzles. You can also use postcards and junk mail items.
15. Measuring box. I added my son’s favorite measuring tape, a small ruler, pencil, paper, and various sized pieces of “wood” for him to measure and record. He can find all sorts of ways to measure these things. Usually he will end up measuring things around the house too which keeps him extra busy.
16. Paper and a roll of painters tape. I folded up and extra big piece of paper and added a roll of painter’s tape. He can tear off pieces of tape and make a picture of his choosing.
17. Pool noodle pieces and toothpicks. Build sculpture with pool noodle pieces and toothpicks. It’s easy and cheap to cut up a dollar store pool noodle and they work so well with toothpicks for building.
18. and a mini air pump. It’s quite a bit of work to pump up these but they are so cool when you let them go. The fly everywhere and do make quite a loud noise. Despite the noise, he keeps himself quite busy with these.
19. . I picked up a couple of these sets at the dollar store. Engineer a new drinking straw and see if it works! This looks great too.
20. Constellations. My son is really into constellations and stars. I took a package of and paired it with these easy to print constellation cards from . He can lay out the to match the cards. This one we will often do together.
21. and scraps of paper. I honestly didn’t think paper punching was exciting until I watch my son do it for 20 minutes counting all the punched out shapes as he went along. I gathered our and scraps of scrap booking paper and he is all set. Every now and then he will grab a glue stick and make a collage.
22. Dollar store science: We have plenty of dollar store science activities left over from our . I will add-on activity to a box and switch it out when it is completed. These are .
23. Sensory box or fidget box. This is a random collection of sensory friendly toys. It also makes a great calm down box. I always leave this one available. It has a , a , a pin wheel, a bendy rabbit, wind up toys, a stretchy key chain and whatever else he is currently enjoying.
24. Small sized or travel games. This is definitely a 2 or more player busy box but easy to grab when we are traveling for fun little games on the go.and are fun.
25. Geometric shapes and popsicle sticks. This activity was originally a post for our this winter. He can do whatever he likes with the shapes such as make patterns, pictures, collages, etc. He can also build shapes with the popsicle sticks. The will give you some ideas.
*BONUS BUSY BOX* Not pictured in a box is our homemade slime. It fits wonderfully in one of these boxes and will last a week before you will want to change it out for a new one! We always have some theme made. Check out this super simple to make yours. We have below.
Fun Single Player Games Are Great for Quiet Time Play
My son enjoys these single player games or puzzle challenges. You may need to start your child off with the instructions and a few rounds of play. We were able to back off and let him solve the challenges. We still help out once awhile. {Amazon affiliate links}
Amazon Affiliate Disclosure: I receive compensation for any items sold through this site. Our ideas are always free to enjoy and try at school or home.
