Quiet Time Bags

Zeke has finally reached the age where he doesn't take an actual nap every day.  He still lays down in his bed during nap time but he doesn't always sleep.  And two hours can be a long time to just lay there since that is how long Janessa and Kenzie usually sleep for.  So it was time to finally make some Quiet Time Bins.

I first read about this idea from Money Saving Mom and the post she wrote on Quiet Time Bins here.

I thought it was a great idea and finally when Pinterest came along and I joined I kept the idea tucked away in the section for my kiddos knowing I'd need the idea soon.

And 'soon' is now!

The one thing I didn't care for about this idea was the bins.  Bins are large and bulky and take up quite a bit of space so I knew I wanted something different for us.  My first thought was a bag and thankfully Old Navy came through on providing the perfect size bags at a steal-of-a-deal price.  We're talking only 1 dollar a piece!  I couldn't pass that up!

So I got 5 bags, one bag for Monday through Friday and then I came home and started going through all the craft items and books that I already had on hand.  It's a start.  There are a few things that I would like to add, especially a photo album with pictures of family members.  And I am sure they will change and evolve over time, but I think that's the beauty of this idea. 

My choices in what went in the bags were geared towards learning and not just playing.  I want the items to make him think a little and learn while he's playing or looking through books. 

There's lots of great ideas out there for what to put in your bins but look through what you already have around your house and I'm sure you'll be off to a great start!

Here's our Quiet Time Bags:

Here are all the items I found that we already had around the house.

The ABC book has magnetic letters that you find and match up, the other book deals with colors and then a game of tic tac toe but he can use that however he wants.  Each bag also has a Bible story to read.

Tracing cards are a great fine motor skill to work on.  The ball is actually balls inside of balls, and only certain ones match up, you have to find the right sizes to fit together.  There are also alphabet cards to look at.

Lacing shapes a Bible story book and an ABC activity book.

I had a puzzle map of the United States and an etch-a-sketch is always fun and a great way to be creative.  The book has simple sight words and even though he's not reading yet, his brain is still getting familiar with them.

The 'builder's tool kit' is a book puzzle that talks about all different kinds of tools which is very prevalent to our current living situation, another set of lacing cards and pipe cleaners can be hours of fun for kids.  Seriously!

Here's my $1.00 bags from Old Navy.

Once again I broke out my label maker to mark each bag for a specific day of the week.  You could easily get way more creative and fun for this part but I didn't have any other supplies on hand and the label maker worked just fine for me.

And then I labeled each bag with a day of the week.

Then put the items in each bag.

I found this basket at Goodwill for a great price and I must admit whenever I see a good deal on a basket I usually pick it up.  I am a basket lover and use them for so many purposes around the house.

I put all the bags into the basket, it sits on the shelf in my hall closet close to Zeke's room where I can simply pull out the bog for the day when it's nap time and he can keep himself entertained during quiet time for him and hopefully learn a thing or two during the process.

I am a firm believer in having everyone take a quiet time every day during the week.  We all need a break, a rest.  And even if a child is past the age of sleeping they can easily learn to play quietly and alone for a period of time each day.  There are many benefits to that.  And incorporating quiet time bins or bags is a great way to keep them interested in the items they get each day because they are kept up and away and only for the special time of quiet time.  And they only see each item from the bags once a week, so when it comes around to that day again, it's still like new.

Do you have a quiet time with your kids during the day?  Why or why not?  If you do, what are some of your ideas for the kiddos who are past napping age?