My youngest is on the move big time these days, and I’ve found myself daydreaming about when I could sit for 15 minutes in the morning and enjoy my coffee hot or without being watered down with melted ice. I knew I needed to try some new activities to keep him entertained for a bit, and I decided to shop small and find some items on Etsy that will help entertain my youngest and give me a few minutes peace. Etsy has some super fun activity kits and busy boards that come themed or customized just for your little one. I always feel better when I can provide a learning/sensory activity versus some screen time. Not that screen time is always a bad thing, but I’m all about moderation and balance!
The biggest not-so-secret secret is to put away certain toys/activities when you don’t actively want your child playing with them. If left out, toys can lose their novelty and attraction and can become “boring.” It’s important to save your activity for only when you need those 15 minutes of quiet time-like morning coffee. I really like this busy board because I can store it away at the back of the closet and pull it out when needed. It’s folds down to a pretty slim profile, so it’s perfect for spaces with smaller storage.
This busy board cube will take up more space, but if you have the storage to hide it away, it has so many different sensory activities and will be sure to keep your little one entertained for a bit!
If you’re interested in more Montessori type activities, this sorting set with scoop is totally adorable (and perfect for Autumn vibes!) and is an excellent tool to learn colors, matching, and the fine motor skill of scooping.
Sensory bins and kits can be so engaging for the little ones, but it definitely requires some work and “leveling up” to able to reap the quiet reward of sipping your coffee while your toddler plays. Exposure to the different materials and setting boundaries about sensory play take time. If you don’t build a foundation about how to play with a rice sensory bin, you’ll always have rice flung everywhere and being eaten. So don’t brew your coffee yet, Mama. Start with a sensory bin when you have 15 minutes of brainspace that can be dedicated to building a solid foundation of sensory bin rules. Once that happens…you’re golden. Minimal mess, minimal effort. That cup of coffee will be hot and rice-free.
Sensory bins can have a base of all sorts of items-rice, oatmeal, beans, beads, playdough, kinetic sand and more. Busy Toddler has a great blog post about how to introduce your toddler to sensory bins and tips on setting boundaries so the first time isn’t a total disaster. I love this fall-themed sensory bin and ice cream set I found on Etsy, but I know I will have to teach my youngest how to play before the payout in the form of time can happen.
Let me know if you’ve used sensory bins or busy boards with your kiddos! I know my youngest has been really enjoying playing with his sensory bin in the mornings and I have loved the extra 15 minutes of time I have to either enjoy my coffee, send a few emails, or just enjoy watching him learn and play.
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