How to Create Busy Boxes for Kids

Spring is here! Well, kind of. I live in the Pacific Northwest currently and some days still feel pretty close to winter!

During Spring Break when the kids are home, I have to keep them busy! If I don’t offer fun activities for them to work on, then I hear the usual

“Mom, I’m bored!”

Thankfully, with busy boxes around the house, they aren’t bored anymore. It took a while for me to understand the importance of having activities organized for them so that they could express their creativity during spring break (and the upcoming summer break).

If you are in need of a way to keep the kids entertained during the spring break or summer break, try creating busy boxes for each child that will be staying home during the break. Busy boxes are a great way to keep kids actively engaged as they provide a way for children to stay creative during the long break. It’s super easy to create busy boxes. Just follow the steps below to create your busy boxes and your children will be entertained!

Related: 15+ Educational Websites for Kids – Great activities for spring break and summer months, too!

Keep in mind that you do not need to spend too much money creating your busy boxes. You may have some of these contents around the house. If not, head to your local Dollar Tree to find affordable items to add to your busy boxes. You’ll also want to make sure each box is age appropriate for your child.

How to Create Busy Boxes for Kids

First, find a box or storage bin for your busy box. You can choose the size based on how many items you’ll use to fill the box. Then, start collecting items such as the items listed below to place in your child’s busy box.

• Crayons
• Markers
• Highlighters
• Colored Pencils
• Pencils
• Erasers
• Safety Scissors
• Glue Sticks
• Play-doh
• Moon dough
• Modeling Clay
• Ink Stamps
• Ink Pads
• Skinny Chalk
• Sidewalk Chalk
• Glitter
• Stickers
• Foam Stickers
• Journal
• Diary
• Spiral Notebook
• Notebook Paper
• Writing Pad
• Drawing Pad
• Coloring Books
• Children’s Books
• Puzzles
• Construction Paper
• Small Dry Erase Board
• Dry Erase Markers
• Envelopes
• Stationary
• Colored Feathers
• Pipe Cleaners
• Crafting Pom Poms
• Googly Eyes
• Popsicle Sticks
• Tissue Paper
• Beads
• String
• Yarn
• Paint
• Paint Brushes
• Finger Paint
• Ruler
• Clipboard
• Note Cards
• Flashcards

There are many more items you can add to your busy boxes depending on the ages of your children.

Get creative and fill your boxes with enough to get through spring break or the long summer months. You can always add to the boxes as you run out.

I recommend keeping the busy boxes stored away, only pulling them out during days when they need re-direction as well as cool-off time indoors if they’ve been out all day.

It’s a bit of a “surprise factor” when they aren’t aware of what’s in the box. Children tend to get excited to work on items that they don’t usually have access to all of the time.  

Busy boxes are also great to have on hand during rainy days!

What other items would you add to busy boxes?

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