Our Christmas quiet time bags were such a hit (seriously, every time I try to pack them up they get them back out), that I thought I’d make a couple Easter/spring ones to put in our quiet time bag rotation.
It was easy to recreate some of the original ideas from the Christmas bags into Easter themed items. In our Christmas quiet time bags we had felt trees to decorate. I used the same idea and made a couple felt Easter eggs with a variety of wiggly lines and polka dots that can be used to decorate the eggs. They fit nicely in a sandwich bag, and could always be tossed into a purse or diaper bag to be used as a busy bag at a doctor’s office, etc.
Another thing we had in our Christmas bags that I decided to bring back was number cards. In the Christmas bag we had colorful packages with numbers just waiting to be put in the correct order. For the Easter quiet time boxes the kids helped decorate eggs out of card stock, which I later numbered 1-15.
I made a small matching game using card stock and a package of Easter stickers. (For easy directions click here.)
To work on those fine motor skills I picked out some flower and egg-shaped beads I had to thread on a pipe cleaner. (Do NOT give small children beads unattended!)
Then I added an old board book and a wind up egg that was in one of their Easter baskets several years ago and has somehow survived.
Because I hate to spend money if I don’t have to, I packed it all in an empty Pop-tart box, which I decorated with pictures they had colored in a bunny coloring book.
For our second box I started with something I added later to the Christmas bags: a little clothespin letter-matching activity. I recreated it this time with Easter/springtime words.
I used card stock to write the words in lower case letters, making sure to space them out enough that the kids could the clip the corresponding capital letter clothespin to it. I put a different word on the backs of each of them, giving them a total of 8 words to work with.
Wanting to put something in each box that had to do with numbers, I made a simple felt game with little Easter baskets, each with a number on it. I then cut out some small felt eggs so they could put the right number eggs in each basket. Again, it all fit nicely into a sandwich baggie and can be taken out as a busy bag if needed.
Instead of the Christmas tree lacing card, I made an Easter egg version, using cardboard from an old cereal box and punching holes along the outside of it. Ii added a piece of yarn tied to the top hole and it was ready to lace.
To finish the second box I also added a little chick “view finder” that one of the kids got in their Easter basket last year and a small pinball game I got this year at the dollar store.
This time it was all packed in an empty instant oatmeal box, again decorated with pages from the coloring book.
There you have it, 2 very easy to make Easter quiet time boxes, just waiting to be played with!
Have an idea of something I could add to them? Leave me a comment!
Katie @ Gift of Curiosity says
Love you quiet time bags! You have got some really great activities to keep your kids entertained!
OneMommy says
Thanks; yesterday was their first day with the Easter ones…. They were both anxious to check out the second box today!
Dawn says
I can’t think of anything to add to it, but this is a great idea for them to learn while having fun!
And you can even hang up some of these for homemade decorations too 🙂 My youngest is always making homemade holiday decorations for us to hang up around the house.
OneMommy says
So true! My daughter didn’t want to take her beads off the pipe cleaner… Maybe we can form it into something to hang up.
Malika Bourne says
I get so excited over this kid of activiteis. The clothes pens of course are are great matching and small motor.
Good for you re-purposing that pop tart box. (I make puzzles out of cereral boxes.) I have yarn for lacing cards. thanks for the reminder.
I miss teaching pre-school. Maybe it is because of the learning activies to dream up. So, thanks for filling my bucket.
I do get my 2 year old granddaughter twice a week to play activies with.
OneMommy says
I think I miss teaching … which is why I do so many things with my kids.
I’m sure your granddaughter will love some of these! 🙂
Donna DM Yates says
Just too cute. Your daughter’s going to get bored when she goes off to school and the teachers aren’t as much fun as you.
OneMommy says
That’s actually something my husband and I’ve talked about… She already knows most of what they teach in kindergarten… I’m hoping the social aspect keeps her motivated!
Ginny Marie says
Quiet time bags! What a great idea! I love all your activities!
OneMommy says
Thank you! When my oldest gave up naps early and then her brother followed suit, I just had to find something to give them a little down time and me a break as well.
Chris Carter says
I just love LOVE this idea of a quiet time box, and I remember your Christmas one!! So perfect for moms with little ones!! Or home schooling moms… or moms with big ones… basically ANY mom!!! lol
OneMommy says
I was so glad when I found the idea of quiet time boxes…. Both of mine gave up naps early, but they still need that “down time” where they have some time alone. And so does Mommy!
Sugar Aunts says
These are great ideas! I love the felt math game. I would love to invite you to link up at our Share It Saturday linky party. We have lots of creative ideas submitted each week and you would fit right in! http://www.sugaraunts.com/2013/03/share-it-saturday-9-and-our-week-in.html
Hope to see you there!
Colleen at Sugar Aunts
OneMommy says
Thank you; we’ve had fun with them so far!
I would love to come link up this week! 🙂 Thanks for the invite!
Angie says
I just saw your idea at Somewhat Simple. I love it. Thanks for sharing!
OneMommy says
Thank you for stopping in; so far the Easter box has been quite a hit around here.
Julia Forshee says
I LOVE, LOVE this idea!! I love quiet boxes and this one is great. We like to have some available at church, and I can’t wait to use these!! We are starting a link up party on Thursdays (today:), and we would love for you to join us with this post and/or any others you would like to include. We are at allthingswithpurpose.com. Hope to see you there!!
OneMommy says
I love that you have quiet time boxes available at church. Brilliant!
Thanks so much for the invite to link up; looking forward to it!
Courtney@BooksnBoys says
I love the lacing cards the best! Finger puppets would be a fun addition too! Since you have felt you could always use hot glue and do a bunny or chick or butterfly even.
OneMommy says
Oh, I like that idea! Hot glue is my friend lately… Never really used it until I started crafting with the kids; it just makes things so much faster!