Why do your kiddos need a winter busy bag? Brrr! It’s cold outside. And, your preschooler just announced that she’s ready for a day of outdoor snow-filled play. But, she’s still wearing her princess pj’s and is refusing to put on anything other than flip-flops. So, the day out in the freezing cold is canceled. Or, at least for now.
Why you need winter busy bag?
What now? A busy bag is the perfect solution to a day indoors. Your child doesn’t know what to do and needs something to keep her busy (that’s why it’s a “busy” bag). Take the winter theme and create your own bag that’s stocked with a snowman, snowflakes and more. And bonus, you can use this one over and over again!
How to make snowman busy bag?
Here’s what you’ll need to create your child’s winter busy bag:
- White craft felt cut into circles (find here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom)
- Blue craft felt along with a few other assorted colors – you can also reuse scraps from other projects
- Cotton balls
- Cotton swaps
- Fabric scraps (cut these into small-sized shapes)
As you’re prepping the busy bag, let your child get in on the action. There’s plenty of learning opportunities here. Start out by cutting the white felt into circles. Ask your child to help you find a circle shape somewhere in the house. You’ll use this as a stencil. Maybe she’ll spy a soup can (the bottom is a perfect circle) or the end of a paper towel tube. She can also create circles in different sizes.
Trace the circle. Rather, let your child trace it. She can use a marker to draw her design right onto the felt. After she’s drawn at least three circles, help her to cut them out.
Now you’re ready to start adding all of the wintry items to the busy bag. Fold a sheet of blue craft felt and pop it into the bag. Put in the felt circles, some other assorted felt shapes, the fabric scraps, the cotton balls and the cotton swabs.
What can your child do with winter activity bag?
Anything she wants! She can make her own DIY felt board by unfolding the blue craft felt sheet. Press the white felt circles onto it (they’ll stick) and dress the snowy friend up with more felt or fabric accents.
If she’s more into snowflakes, your child can build her own designs with the cotton swabs. Again, use the blue felt as a background. The swabs won’t exactly stick, but it will create a snow on the sky effect.
Don’t forget about those cotton balls. Your child can pull them apart to make it “snow” on the felt or stack them to make snow people. She can also add them to the white felt circles, making textured snowballs. Give her some school glue to make the activity into a more permanent piece of art!
When they had their fill of playing with winter busy bag, you can place all the pieces on blue felt sheet, fold it and put it inside a ziplock bag for safe keeping until they want to play again. Keep it under wraps until next winter, when they don’t play with something for a while, it’s like having a new toy!
What did your child make out of her winter busy bag? Share your kiddo’s creative idea in the comments section below!
Extend playtime with a book
Playful finger puppet book to add interaction and entice storytelling! Story is about the Snowman and the Snowdog! A boy built a Snowman and a Snowdog. That night, they came to life. The Snowdog runs, plays and flies into the air with Billy and the Snowman. Find the book here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom
A twist on a favorite nursery rhyme Itsy Bitsy Spider! Sing along as you read and make it a fun experience for toddlers. Little ones will love this fresh winter spin on a classic nursery rhyme, as one little snowman sleds through a winter wonderland. Find the book here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom
More winter fun to try!
- check and choose among 24 Winter Themed Busy Bags for Toddlers
- download and print Winter coloring pages for independent time
- pick few winter themed board books and read aloud in a cosy corner!
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