10 Things to Put in your Busy Bag Today

What Is a Busy Bag?

Simply put, a busy bag is a bag filled with activities to keep your children entertained during the long wait between finishing the free bread or chips and when the actual food arrives at a restaurant. But busy bags aren't just for restaurants! They're perfect for car rides, church, waiting rooms, coffee shops, the park, and even during unexpected situations like a car breakdown. Basically, anywhere your child has to wait or could get cranky, bored, or hungry—a busy bag can come to the rescue.

What’s in Your Busy Bag?

While ours is ever-changing, here’s what we usually keep in it:

• Pens, pencils, markers, and/or colored pencils
  (Tip: I avoid crayons since they can melt if the bag is left in the car on a hot day.)
• Paper, coloring books, activity books, Mad Libs, Sudoku
• A pair of scissors
• Tape, glue stick, mini bottle of glue, or a mini stapler
• Stickers
• Old kids' magazines
• Stick-on googly eyes
• A pack of cards
• Fidget toys
• Conversation cards

Bonus:
Include those kids' meal toys or random little plastic toys from gift bags or treasure chests that seem to always end up on the floor. Now you have a designated place for them!

Other necessities: 

Disinfectant wipes

Hand wipes

Hand sanitizer

Lip balm

Lotion

Handkerchiefs or tissues

Age Recommendations

A busy bag should be tailored to your child's interests and needs, but ours manages to entertain all our kids, from age 2 to 12! The key is customizing it based on what keeps your child happy.

Notes on the Bag

I use an old purse or diaper bag I no longer carry. Pick one that’s still functional but not something you mind getting scuffed up. Ideally, it should have a zipper closure so you can toss it in the car without worrying about everything spilling out. Just don’t forget to zip it!

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What Will You Put in YOUR Busy Bags?

Let me know in the comments!

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