Busy Box Ideas for Babies

The information about building busy boxes is from http://blog.melissaanddoug.com/2014/04/09/busy-boxes/

5 simple Tips for Successful Busy Boxes for babies

1. Keep it simple: Limit each basket to 5-10 items. Babies can get easily overwhelmed and clean up will be kept at a minimum for later. One of my daughter’s favorite busy box is match and build soft blocks. She can stack, shake, and bang as she investigates her busy box.

2. Keep it Safe: When choosing your items for your baby’s busy boxes, keep in mind simple safety guidelines. Most babies still put everything in their mouths, so you will want to make sure each item is safe and large enough that it isn’t a danger. For example, in your busy box of balls you would want to use baby-safe balls that are larger than the opening in a toilet paper tube. No marble.

3. Switch It Up: I have found that a successful busy box system is a rotating one. Switching out the toys frequently will allow your baby to work on new skills, learn new vocabulary, and will keep your baby engaged longer (which mean more time for you to cook that dinner).

4. Model Play: Babies at this age are still learning ever day. They do not automatically know how to play with each busy box. Each time you introduce a new toy or a new box, it is helpful to spend one on one time teaching your baby how to play. This might mean playing a game of hide and go seek with the counting crocodile under the fabric scraps. Or it might mean playing a game of “Shake Shake Shake” with child-safe musical instruments.

5. Encourage Sibling Play: I can not count the number of times one of my boys (ages 6 & 8) have entertained their sister while I work with the other one. Not only does it buy me some time, it encourages my boys to be independence and teach their sister skills. Since all of the toys in the busy bin are simple, it gives the older children some authority and allows them to take pride in helping out.

http://squigglesandbubbles.blogspot.com/2014/05/five-fun-busy-boxes-for-baby.html gives us 5 ideas to draw from as you start your little one with busy boxes with things around your house.

Today's theme is Baby Activities and I've decided to share five fun busy boxes with you. When I talk about 'busy boxes' I'm simply talking about a simple discovery box which will keep babies (and toddlers!) busy for a couple of minutes. 

Busy Boxes don't have to be complex or expensive, they can simply be made up of whatever you have on hand.

Here's five simple ideas to get you started:

Tupperware Busy Box
To make this box up I simply raided my plastics cupboard-I chose an array of containers with different closures-twisting lids, snap on lids and easy to remove lids. I then placed some containers inside bigger ones and in others I placed random jar and bottle top lids.

A very simple set up but it's a favourite with both Squiggles and  Bubbles and keeps them busy for at least 15minutes.

Teapot Busy Box
This busy box was inspired by Squiggles as she discovered my old teapot  a few weeks ago and has since been obsessed with taking the lid off and putting it back on again. Seeing as she's so taken with the teapot I decided to extend the way she plays with it by placing it in a box along with a silicone muffin tin and a dozen plastic balls

Squiggles had great fun trying to stuff the balls into the teapot and balancing them delicately in the muffin tin, it not only kept her occupied for half an hour the first time I gave it to her, it's still keeping her busy three weeks later.

Duplo Busy Box
Got Duplo (or building blocks)? Got jars? Then you have all you  need for this  activity!

All I did for this box was give Squiggles a couple of glass jars with a box of duplo, she had so much fun filling the jars up with duplo and then dumping them out on the ground again. She was also quite interested in putting the lid on and off of  the duplo box again.

Basket of Balls 
Ok, so not technically a busy 'box' but this is one of my favourite busy activities. Simply grab a picnic basket with a lid and fill it with balls, oranges or anything else you have on hand!

This activity keeps both Squiggles and Bubbles busy for ages-Squiggles loves taking the balls out of one lid and then placing them back in through the other lid.

Cedar Ring Busy Box
Another basket but you could also pop these things in a box.

For this box I simply placed a large and small cardboard tube in a basket along with a jar full of cedar rings.

Squiggles had lots of fun placing the cedar rings into the big tube and then eventually decided to wear the tube as a very large bracelet.