Original Busy Bags

All over the internet, busy bag ideas abound. Every blogger has their top twelve list of creative busy bags. But if you check them out, they're the same twelve ideas, over and over again. My little Monkey has quit napping. She needs a quiet time after lunch in her room so I can spend time with the baby. I don't think I'm asking for much. Just 30-45 minutes of Monkey-free time. Or at least 30-45 minutes of quiet time.

So we've started MonkeyTime. The rules are simple:

1. Stay in your room.
2. Don't play in your closet.
3. Stay in your room.
4. Put everything away when you're done.
5. Stay in your room.

We are having trouble with rules 1, 3, 4, and 5. It'll get better as we settle in to this new routine, I know.

I give her a MonkeyBox full of busy bag activities for her to do during MonkeyTime. These are things she only gets to do by herself in her room during MonkeyTime. It's so hard to come up with ideas to keep her engaged! She's too big to be happy stringing straws/beads on string/shoelaces/pipe cleaners. She's too little to be trusted with play dough/crayons/pencils/scissors by herself. She's too big to care about discovery bottles but too little to do any clothes pin or counting activities. So what's a mom of a too big to be a toddler but too little to be a preschooler to do?

Here are some ideas!

1. She does enjoy the Lego Duplo Letter Mats from 123Homeschool4Me.
2. Practice cutting veggies from Melissa and Doug.
3. Small crocheted swatch with a loose long end and a crochet hook.
4. Any workbook page that can be completed with stickers alone.
5. Bowl, spoon, measuring cups.
6. Wipes box with a few baby wash clothes for folding and stuffing.
7. She likes lacing cards with shoelaces, just not often.

Oh, how I wish I had more ideas! If you have any original busy bag or quiet box ideas, please share!