Keeping Parents Sane in Waiting Rooms Around the World
If you have children and you have ever left the house with them, chances are you’ve been stuck waiting somewhere with the challenge of keeping the little rugrats occupied. Whether it’s in a waiting room, a restaurant, the car or boring Aunt Millie’s house, Think-ets are a wonderful and inexpensive addition to your “bag of tricks.” Actually…they are the bag of tricks.
Think-Ets is a mesh bag (with only a piece of recyclable cardboard as excess packaging – woo hoo!) filled with trinkets designed to encourage imaginative play and critical thinking. The company suggests a variety of games for two or more people that can be played with nothing but this little bag of goodies, but there are really an endless variety of things you could do that aren’t suggested there. They’re designed for ages 8-108+, yet younger kids like them too. Keep in mind, though, that they’re a bag full of choking hazards that need to be kept away from kids 3 and under. And perhaps 95 and older if Grandma’s gotten to the stage of thinking everything’s candy.
Aside from the pure genius of the product and the eco-friendly packaging, there are still more things begging to be mentioned. The toys are assembled by individuals with disabilities being paid a fair wage, which I love. If I ever was industrious enough to start a business, I’d totally do that. For now, though, I’ll support other people who do. The pieces are all lead-tested and hand made by fairly paid artisans in Mexico, Germany and elsewhere.
Buy Think-ets from their online store for just $9.99. Or, buy five and get free shipping. They’d make great birthday gifts and stocking stuffers (no, it’s not too early!) and I recommend keeping one stashed in purses and vehicles for those rare frequent times when you just need something to keep the kids busy so they don’t drive you insane.
Win it! We’re giving away a Think-ets to one winner. To enter, leave a comment on this post before May 13/08 at noon MST. Tell us some of your ideas for keeping kids occupied when you’re out and about or in the car.
Additional entries are always available. See contest entry information and rules.
CONTEST CLOSED – Congrats Jill!
May 6th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
This sound great for my oldest son, especially waiting at restaurants.
May 7th, 2008 at 4:44 am
Lately we’ve been playing the alphabet game
May 7th, 2008 at 4:48 am
One way I keep my son busy, is to point things out and have him spell the words. He is just learning to read so spelling is huge with him. He simply loves this game and it can go on and on, he never gets bored (and he is becomng a great speller!).
May 7th, 2008 at 5:16 am
Looks fun! We usually resort to the portable DVD player for long car trips.
Katie’s last blog post..So worth the $2
May 7th, 2008 at 5:56 am
i bring old magazines and catalogs in the car on trips and have the kids take colored markers and search through the magazines for things … for example if we are travling through the country and we see a horse , we have them search through there magazines for horses, whether it is a toy one or a real one it counts….they love it. sometimes we even play colors… we hunt for all things red and they circle all the red things.
May 7th, 2008 at 6:12 am
In the car, it’s pretty easy. My kids (7 and 2) like to listen to their music, and are pretty good about taking turns picking the next song. My 7 year old likes to read in the car, and the 2 year old likes to look at books as well, or play with his Thomas the train pieces. Lately my daughter has been getting into tongue twisters, so we keep a list I printed out in the organizer between their seats, and she likes to read them aloud and try to trip me up . . .
In waiting rooms, books are always the big thing, but I think my kids would love this. I should note that my son (the 2 year old) has never, ever been one to put anything in his mouth. He’s just never done that at all. Lucky me! I still watch him, of course, but I don’t worry about it too much.
May 7th, 2008 at 6:44 am
my daughter and I take turns adding to a made-up story…the story becomes very interesting by the end!
May 7th, 2008 at 8:39 am
This is a great idea, Just what I need to keep the boys busy when riding in the car.
May 7th, 2008 at 9:42 am
Keeping my son occupied (he’s 1) means I always have a book, toy, and some cheerios in my bag!
Krista’s last blog post..Flabbergasted
May 7th, 2008 at 9:47 am
Duct tape…LOL, seriously though, we usually play “boxes” where you put dots all over and draw lines to make boxes. That works for a bit.
Jillybean’s last blog post..What Is Your Favorite Kitchen Accessory?
May 7th, 2008 at 10:21 am
We always play i spy in the car…hours of fun
May 7th, 2008 at 11:10 am
Well, my kids play their Nintendo’s or play I spy. Thanks for the great giveaway!
May 7th, 2008 at 11:17 am
What a great idea. I currently rotate my 13 month olds toys – hoping that something new while waiting at restaurants and doctors office will keep him engaged!
May 7th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Food…ok, only sometimes. Otherwise I have them tell me what they see out their windows. They always find interesting things!
May 7th, 2008 at 11:29 am
I keep a notepad and a couple of crayons in my purse at all times!
Mama Zen’s last blog post..Review : Were You Raised By Wolves
May 7th, 2008 at 11:39 am
we play I Spy alot and sing to the ipod
May 7th, 2008 at 11:44 am
Cool! I certainly need these! I need a new bag of tricks!
Gina’s last blog post..Giveaway Time!!
May 7th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Snacks work really good (most of the time!
) for keeping them occupied for a little bit.
Andrea’s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday – Best Buddies!
May 7th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
This game sounds really great. Thanks for offering this giveaway. A way that I keep my kids busy on long rides, is to play license plate tic tac toe. Who ever get’s the first 3 out of state license plates that match, wins. Please enter me and thanks again.
May 7th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
This would be great for trips that require alot of waitinf, doctor, reasturant etc.
Right now we keep a small tote w/ crayons, coloring books etc. in the car. That way I never have to remember to grab things to keep them occupied.
mcginnisfamily5(at)gmail(dot)com
May 7th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Right now my 2 year old daughter likes being quizzed with colors and sign language signs.
May 7th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
I love this idea. It is hard to find small items that you can get a lot of mileage out of when it comes to keeping things interesting. I sometimes tuck a small container of Play-Doh into my bag to keep my kids busy when we go into restaurants.
May 7th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
I like to hand them a coloring book and crayons at restaurants.
May 7th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
We tell cooperative stories–ie, once upon a time there was a little girl named… (what was her name, Anna?)…. and she had a… (did she have a kitten or a puppy, Sophie?)… and she went to the… (where did she go, Emmie?) etc, etc, until I run out of invention. Rather tedious for the mommy, but endlessly fun for the girls! And that’s the point, right? : )
May 7th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
this would be perfect to occupy my son. coloring books and I Spy only last so long.
May 7th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
wow it sonds like fun i would love to try to win this
jennifer bowen’s last blog post..some more info on my children
May 7th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
My 3-year-old daughter and I like to sing songs and talk about the alphabet. I quiz her on the sound that each letter makes. For younger kids, you can ask them what noises animals make or point out different colors along the road.
May 7th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
We normally entertain our daughter with crayons and paper or a few books. But, this sounds great!
Modern Mami’s last blog post..Calling all (Work or Stay) at Home Moms
May 7th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Always bring something to color in …
May 7th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
In the car I’m equipped with my son’s favorite children’s cd’s, mostly Baby Einstein and some Disney soundtracks. He also has a magna doodle and a few board books he looks at.. it works for most of the trip but I’m looking for more ideas!
Kristinia’s last blog post..Mother’s Day for Me
May 7th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Wow, this would be so awesome. My bag is usually shoved full of toys and things to keep my son busy at restaurants and doctors offices. Last week a doctor keep us waiting for almost 2 HOURS.
May 7th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
I have a little bead puzzle that suctions to the table….when we are out at restaurants, other parents eye us with jealousy over it. It keeps him occupied until the food comes.
May 7th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
This looks great! To keep our little one entertained while we are out and about, we have a special bag and a small box in our car at all times. We have an index card box holder full of small cars for car seat rides. We have a special bag for restaurants, which has pens, paper, book, and stickers in it. Our little one gets excited when he sees the box or bag because he knows what is happening. Thanks!
May 7th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
snacks. lots of them. there’s also books and stickers.
May 7th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
You can’t beat singing to cheerful tunes on the CD player!
May 7th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
bring it on
May 7th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
We play “I see a …” games.
May 7th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
If you google “101 Things to Do When There’s Nothing to Do,” you will get a great list of things from About.com: Parenting Special Needs. It’s great for all kids, not just kids with special needs, and I have printed this list out and keep it in my bag. When everyone is getting antsy, I just whip out the list and start naming ideas. It doesn’t take long for my daughter to choose something on the list, and the boredom disappears. On the list, of course, is one of my all-time favorites, Simon Says. Kids love this game, and you can play it almost anywhere.
I’d love to win a Think-Ets!
May 7th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
We bring crayons to the doctors office and they color on the table paper while they wait!
May 7th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Im a subscriber!
May 7th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
I’ve got your button!
May 7th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
While not very original, we play I spy with our 8 year old. It’s fun to see what he comes up with, plus it sharpens his senses.
Sky’s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday ~ Preschool Grad of ‘05
May 7th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
I usually bring along snacks and juice, and a few toys, if all else fails, we can clap and sing. Great giveaway, thanks!
Mary @ Adventures in Mommyland’s last blog post..Win a Copy of Refuge
May 7th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
We play “I Spy” in the car , Also magan doodles. This would be great for us.
May 7th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
We always bring a deck of cards and come up with new games to play!
May 7th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
Hi, I always have cheerios in a container. Also, the little fish crackers are great! Having safe, utensils they can play with helps us a lot. Theses toys are a wonderful idea. Please enter me in your drawing. Thanks very much!
Cindi
May 7th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Depending on age:
For my 5mo daughter, songs and clapping (especially itsy bitsy) work wonders while elaborating on his imagination works wonders for my little brother
May 7th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
These look like a terrific idea for keeping kids sane during long waits. For long trips I usually pack a bag with various everyday items in it such as: pipe cleaners, magnets, small squishy balls (tactile stimulation), paper (for making planes or just drawing), dinky cars, finger puppets. In addition to this I will take a pill dispenser ( the ones with the 7 days of the week) and put treats inside. My son was fascinated with opening each compartment and finding out what was inside ( raisens, bunny crackers, dried berries, and usually a chocolate chip or two to add a little incentive), stickers to stick on to paper…this helps to work on fine motor skills as I had him remove and place stickers. If I was really desperate I wrapped some of the items to help pass a little more time.
I would love to be entered.
owatz (AT) telus (DOT) net
May 7th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
We let our kids bring a favorite (small) toy with them in the car. Once my husband and I were flying with our daughter who was a toddler at the time. We had run out of amusements for her but another passenger saved the day by pulling a palm sized Gumby toy out of his pocket (he was a prepared traveler & an experienced dad). He totally saved the plane ride!
May 7th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
we play “I spy” a lot, and in the car while driving we play the alphabet game with the road signs.
May 7th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
I keep my Flickr “Moo” cards box in my purse; the kids like to look through them when we’re waiting at the doc.
Megret’s last blog post..WDWFM – What DOESN?T Work for Me Wednesday!
May 7th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Keep tapes of stories and music along to listen to.
May 7th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
As I don’t have kids yet, I can’t give a tip, but I do know that my parents always bought a new (tape) set to listen to on car trips – Adventures in Odyssey were always the favorite
Amy’s last blog post..Calm Before The Storm
May 7th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
In the car we keep my sons occupied by singing songs and making up stories. My daughter (17 months) is more difficult to entertain so I usually bring a little bag of stuff and then she spends time taking the stuff out of the bag and throwing it on the floor!
Tara’s last blog post..CFBA Book Review
May 7th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
These are really cute!
This is what I do with my kids. We sing, quiety of course. We look at magazines and play the “Where is… ” Game.
We wave at other people waiting, I read to them, I make things out of tore up napkins, we go for a walk.. around the area.
These are some of the things I do with them.
Suzanne Bastien’s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday
May 7th, 2008 at 11:25 pm
My kids love playing their handheld LEAPSTER games!!! Fun and educational!!!
May 8th, 2008 at 2:52 am
We sing silly songs
May 8th, 2008 at 3:47 am
we play road trip games… like the alhabet game… i spy… etc… or corny as it sound, we sing … still works like a charm..
May 8th, 2008 at 4:25 am
We always used the “I Spy” game to distract the kids when they got antsy.
May 8th, 2008 at 4:44 am
This is an awesome idea. It would keep my whole family entertained. When the kids were young, I packed along loads of Dr. Seuss books for waiting rooms and such. Crayons and coloring books were a staple as well.
May 8th, 2008 at 4:51 am
Keep kids busy with video games like DS
May 8th, 2008 at 5:58 am
We like to play word games like 20 questions. We also play a game that includes counting certain colored cars, or out of state licence plates. This sounds like a great product and company!
May 8th, 2008 at 5:59 am
Activity books!
My kids like books and activity books.
May 8th, 2008 at 6:05 am
I always I have a small note book or note pad along with a small box of crayons in my bag.
May 8th, 2008 at 6:07 am
In the car we like to play the alphabet game. Find an A anywhere outside of the car and go all the way down the alphabet and whoever gets to Z first wins.
May 8th, 2008 at 6:23 am
I always bring extra things to do while out and about, a notepad and a crayon, or some coloring books. Even flashcards have been a life saver at times!
SJ’s last blog post..Well. OK Then.
May 8th, 2008 at 6:33 am
With 3 boys, one of those kits could become a lifesaver!! To combat the boys going psycho in a doctor’s office or other waiting area, I always bring fruit snacks or some other kind of treat, I probably shouldn’t, but it works:)
May 8th, 2008 at 6:37 am
oh my – an alternative to constantly feeding my toddler all through hockey games and waiting rooms…what a great concept!
May 8th, 2008 at 6:55 am
We sing songs, practice math and spelling and do license plate bingo.
May 8th, 2008 at 7:18 am
This is a very unique idea – I would love to win! Normally I bring along a matchbox car or two and hope that does the trick LOL I’d love to have something better in my “bag of tricks”
Alexia’s last blog post..I’m a Typing Fool
May 8th, 2008 at 7:18 am
We play lots of “I spy,” and sing songs and do finger games, make up stories together. I always keep a stash of books and travel-size magna-doodles in the car, too. In emergencies, I pull out lollipops.
May 8th, 2008 at 7:36 am
This sounds like a great product to have on hand! I keep a small bottle of bubbles in my purse for Kayla…as well as some crayons, wonder color markers, and paper.
Michelle’s last blog post..What Do You Think?
May 8th, 2008 at 8:15 am
I love color with water books/papers. They are easy to carry and reusable!!
May 8th, 2008 at 8:22 am
We can always use some more games. The kids are so addicted to electronics.
May 8th, 2008 at 8:38 am
My daughter just turned a year old, so she’s still easily distracted by Cheerios. If only things could always be so simple!
May 8th, 2008 at 8:56 am
My son just turned 2 and is obsessed with playing “I spy” in the car. It is great whenever we are someplace and he’s getting bored. Plus it’s just really cute to hear a 2 year old try to say, “I spy with my little eye…”
May 8th, 2008 at 8:57 am
My son has recently gotten into knock knock jokes, so I usually spend a few minutes on the net each day trying to find a few new jokes to share with him.
May 8th, 2008 at 9:37 am
I always keep a book an a snack,a drink, in my bag an some sort of toy or small item to play with,never would I go anywhere without any of these items!please count me in too,thanks
May 8th, 2008 at 9:39 am
This would be great, currently we try to keep them occupied with our cell phones lol. This would be a much BETTER and SAFER option for us.
Gina’s last blog post..Day Planners just for Mom’s
May 8th, 2008 at 9:40 am
I have found that Tom Chapin CD’s work very well. He writes funny songs that the kids like to listen to and sing along.
May 8th, 2008 at 9:48 am
We play bug, slug bug! We love that game.
May 8th, 2008 at 10:14 am
count me in
May 8th, 2008 at 10:31 am
Lots of “I Spy,” “Guess the Animal,” and other word games.
May 8th, 2008 at 10:35 am
Nintendo DS
May 8th, 2008 at 10:47 am
Lift-the-flap books were my best friend on several long international flights.
CanCan’s last blog post..Beach Trip!
May 8th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
ideas for keeping kids occupied in the car – I spy usually works for a while
May 8th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
honestly, at this point my only solution is a DVD player-isn’t that awful!?!
Beth’s last blog post..It’s not all in my head
May 8th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
We play the abc game or sing songs or talking about what we did/are going to do that day.
May 8th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
we also play I spy. Plus books, crayons and coloring books are good
May 8th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Our daughter is occupied by her dolls and bears.
May 8th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
I choose a color and have my kids look for things in that color. I try to choose colors that they will have to look for awhile like orange, pink, purple, and the rule is they can’t use the same object more than once, if we see an orange flag, flags are out for the rest of the trip.
May 8th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
One of my favorite ideas for keeping my little girls occupied when we are in the car is to have them bring along their own tote bag. Inside both of their tote bags is a hard cover binder. The binder cover is smooth so it is a surface for drawing. Inside their binders I put a zippered bag for pencils and washable crayons. I usually print out activity sheets appropriate for the season, of places we are visiting or of their favorite characters.
Thanks!
May 8th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
This sounds like a great way to keep my boys entertained. We usually play yellow car or boat games.
May 8th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
In the car we sing – my 3yo loves it when I make “mistakes” in the lyrics so she can enlighten me about the correct way to sing her favourites.
May 8th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
This is a great idea. My son takes a back pack with him and I rotate the toys that I put in it so he has something different to play with every few days.
Colleen’s last blog post..Girl Talk: Perk Me Up
May 8th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
We play “I spy” to pass the time.
May 8th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
My granddaughter does a lot of traveling, with her other grandparents living up in the mountains and her favorite aunt 280 miles away so I made her a plastic canvas boy and girl doll set in a case, when opened the case becomes the kids bedroom on one side and a barn on the other will lots of different outfits to change into, she gets lots of fun while whoever is at the wheel keeps their eyes and attention on the road
May 8th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
we make up silly words, songs and stories
Noreen’s last blog post..Perfect Father’s Day gift for my husband.
May 9th, 2008 at 6:16 am
Making sure they have a backpack full of travel toys/books
May 9th, 2008 at 7:58 am
I love the magnadoodle to keep my daughter occupied!
May 9th, 2008 at 8:27 am
We taught our daughter all the states and their capitals on a 2,000 mile roadtrip to grandma’s
May 9th, 2008 at 9:47 am
I spy with my little eye is always a good way to stay occupied.
May 9th, 2008 at 10:21 am
We do the alphabet game with license plates and/or signs. We sing. We talk. Sometimes it is the gameboy if it is a LONG trip. And my daughter has brain quest to get us thinking.
May 9th, 2008 at 11:29 am
We always played the alphabet game…find the letter somewhere, say it aloud only counts for the 1st person to say it. First to z gets a prize – usually picking where we get to eat.
May 9th, 2008 at 11:46 am
We play a lot of I-Spy while we are waiting places. lol
May 9th, 2008 at 11:49 am
my kids will sit still for candy!
May 9th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Audiobooks are always a big hit.
May 9th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
We used to play the alphabet game–looking for letters on signs. That wouldn’t work on road trips around here. We have NOTHING for miles once you leave town.
Julie’s last blog post..When I *knew* I was mom…
May 9th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
great
May 9th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
I cycle through all the ringtones in my cell phone while letting her watch the screen and listen to the music. She is fascinated by my phone and this can keep her busy for an hour in the car.
Kisha Geijer’s last blog post..yet still more with the random notes from a random girl.
May 9th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
We pick a letter and try to find things that begin with that letter. When in the car, my older daughter likes to see how many different state license plates she can find.
May 9th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
We play I-Spy and the alphabet game. My daughter is learning to count so she likes for me to count with her to 20. My youngest is satisfied if I sing Old McDonald to her. And if we have a total meltdown or a really long trip, I flip down the DVD player
May 10th, 2008 at 7:45 am
wow that would be fabulous for resteruant meltdowns!
I blogged your contest on Prize-A-Tron
http://www.prizeatron.com
Angela’s last blog post..Saying goodbye to Roo…
May 10th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
always bring a deck of cards
May 10th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
I usually have things set aside for that time that they don’t play with at any other times so the novelty doesn’t wear off. One thing they really like is when I give them sheets of stickers and brightly colored cardstock and then they stick stickers on there any way they like. It keeps them quiet and occupied.
May 10th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
enter me
May 10th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
In the car we sing. In waiting rooms we play “where is the color…..?”
May 10th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
We play “I spy” with colors and letters. I’m amazed at how long my little 2 yr old will look for letters:)
Kelly B’s last blog post..We should go on the road…. well maybe not yet:)
May 10th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
Great!
Music and singing usually!
Thanks for the giveaway
May 11th, 2008 at 5:02 am
I keep simple workbooks in the car for him to work on. We also play I spy or count the trucks.
May 11th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
really cute idea
May 11th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
My son loves cars, so we look for cool cars.
May 11th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Those look great!! In restaurants and such I generally make sure I have some paper & crayons so my kids can either draw or we can play games together (they’re learning to read so I’ll write words for them to sound out & such).
Sweetpeas’s last blog post..Friday Feast
May 11th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
We’re working on letter and sound recognition and try to have our son “read” signs we see while driving.
May 11th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
My children have always enjoyed singing songs so that’s the easiest way for us to pass the time when traveling in the car. I also give them lots of books to read and the Travel AquaDoodle so their hands can stay busy. We also play “I Spy”. When in the waiting room, I always have a paper pad handy so they can draw whatever they’d like.
Jawan’s last blog post..More free ice cream
May 12th, 2008 at 5:08 am
I always have a bag of Crayola “magic” markers and paper (the kind of markers that only show up on the special paper) handy. The kids love them, and it’s nice not to worry about something staining the car/furniture.
May 12th, 2008 at 5:27 am
They take there coloring books and crayons everywhere!
May 12th, 2008 at 8:03 am
To keep kids busy I do a silly story in the round. I Start a story and each child in turn continues the story.
May 12th, 2008 at 8:41 am
Travel games are superb and there are books with suggestions for all kinds of games and all ages at the local library!
May 12th, 2008 at 9:25 am
Having to keep my toddler happy durin our many bus trip we often play a couple of games. In the first I name a body part and she points to it. We also play a version of I Spy where I name a color and she points out something that is that color. Using both of these fun games she is learning all about the names of the different body parts and how to distinguise the various colors.
May 12th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Singing to “Annie” or “The Sound of Music” or reading, if we are in a quiet mood.
May 12th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
We talk about some of the things that we are passing. We count things and talk about what letter it starts with.
May 12th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
We bring a baggie of small toys with us, and also a snack always. Keeps them occupied and okay for those car rides.
May 12th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
I would love to win
May 12th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
We play the license plate game….we take the first 3 letters to form a sentence…
Example…if the first three letters are SHO…the sentence might be: She Hates Onions!
The kids love it and sometimes we get some good laughs !
May 12th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
I recommend developing a repertoire of songs and rhymes to sing and chant…and, in quieter places, bringing some books! Thanks!
May 12th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
Books, coloring books, workbooks, puzzles.
May 12th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
We give our daughter healthy snacks to keep her occupied.
May 12th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
MagnaDoodle keeps kids busy for a while, as do coloring books and crayons, workbooks, board books, digital picture keychains and a favorite stuffed animal.
May 13th, 2008 at 1:02 am
a DVD player keeps the kids quiet
May 13th, 2008 at 3:12 am
I care for my Grandsons until their parents’ get out of work during the week. i always know what they are studying at school. when we go to the mall or anywhere I have them watch for things they might be learning about. especially math in the grocery stores. Also, i read Ann Babenco’s idea and that is a good idea for the little one. Thanks
May 13th, 2008 at 3:39 am
We like to get a notepad and paper and see how many different states we can find on license plates going down the highway!
May 13th, 2008 at 5:31 am
Love the sign language cards and many thanks. Bet of luck to those who enter.
May 13th, 2008 at 6:14 am
This sound great.
May 13th, 2008 at 6:14 am
books, coloring books and crayons, stuffed animals, playing games such as I Spy and playing songs and music
May 13th, 2008 at 6:41 am
For the baby – snacks and and car garbage as toys. For the teenager – the ipod. For the kid – the baby, telling jokes, or a pen and paper.
May 13th, 2008 at 7:53 am
Sing alongs!
May 13th, 2008 at 8:02 am
I try to wrap a long trip around nap time, but if that’s not the case, we set all my daughter’s car toys w/in reach and bring a few of her kid’s cds to play in the car as well.
May 13th, 2008 at 8:10 am
Ipods and Leap Pads are great!
May 13th, 2008 at 10:00 am
we bring coloring books and crayons and Color Wonder
May 13th, 2008 at 10:08 am
Magna, Doodle Books, Portable DVD Player
May 13th, 2008 at 10:27 am
word games,color games, etc.
May 13th, 2008 at 11:46 am
I bring crayons and a coloring book.
May 13th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
We play ‘I say…’ while waiting all the time. It can be simple for a 2 year old or more difficult for an older child.
May 13th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
Sing or play I spy