Don’t you just hate all the little toys that your children collect! They are like bacteria, mulitplying and getting into every crevice of your home.
While cleaning the kids’ toy bin out the other day, I had an epiphany. I feel guilty throwing these toys away (guilty about the landfills, not guilty about the kids losing toys). I had the brilliant (I think) idea to separate the toys into activity bags that can be used for entertaining the kids at restaurants or church or long car rides.
Here’s what I did!
Materials: toys from fast food kid’s meals, stocking stuffer sized toys, mini books (coloring books, sticker books), flash cards, crayons, pencils, small non-perishable snacks, gallon size plastic zip close bags
I chose 5-7 things to put into each bag. I considered doing separate bags for Carson and Ella, but changed my mind when I realized that if they had their own bags, they’d just want what the other had. Potential disaster averted! I also was careful to choose quiet toys since I plan to take these bags along to church and restaurants and don’t want to get kicked out because of a battery powered, speaking monkey from Burger King.
None of these toys are prized possessions, if they get left behind…OH WELL! The kids may not play with them at home, but when they are in a SUPER SPECIAL SURPRISE bag, they’ll become super AND special.
(I’m sure someone else who’s naturally crafty has already come up with this idea, but I refuse to Google it because I’d like to believe I’m the VERY FIRST PERSON to come up with this.)
Rachel
March 21, 2010 at 7:09 pm
NOW you tell me! I just threw away nineteen tons of plastic crap like this! *sigh*
Awesome idea!
Rachel´s last blog ..The Collector Part 2 or I Am ThisClose To Calling A & E
Amanda
March 21, 2010 at 7:38 pm
This is a huge win.
PS – I’m from Birmingham, AL and (grrr) relocated to Montgomery, AL 3 years ago (and I’m still counting the seconds). It was a huge change even for me! The Deep South, the church invites (check out my post called Church Of Amanda here: http://www.hushamanda.com/imported-20100304201122/2009/6/24/church-of-amanda.html ), and the insanity these people call “socializing”.
Send. Help.
Amanda´s last blog ..The Chastity Robe
Heather ~ Acting Balanced Mom
March 22, 2010 at 6:58 am
great ideas! found your blog through In the trenches.. and glad I stopped by!
Heather ~ Acting Balanced Mom´s last blog ..MMMMonday – a yummy twist on a classic!
WarsawMommy
March 22, 2010 at 7:57 am
Great idea – you’ve just saved all of Max’s crappy and annoying little platci ‘knick knack’ toys. I am pretty sick of stepping on them whilst crossing the living room floor. The damn things hurt!
WarsawMommy´s last blog ..BREAKING NEWS!
Lisa @ Boondock Ramblings
March 22, 2010 at 2:28 pm
But here is my problem. My problem is that my child would find the bags before we need them for such an occasion and then he would spread them out at home. Still, I’m willing to try it! Great idea.
Lisa @ Boondock Ramblings´s last blog ..Dude, pot heads are awesome blog fodder
Molly
March 22, 2010 at 2:53 pm
Great idea! There is a funk restaurant near our house that has bunches of these that they bring to the table for kids when they are eating there. I love it because we’re not wasting tons of single use crayons. And the kids love it because it’s different.
Molly´s last blog ..Child Hunger Ends Here – What Am I Going To Do About It?
Mary
March 22, 2010 at 3:36 pm
Hi Jennifer,
That is a great idea- I am stealing it!
Mar
chesley
March 22, 2010 at 10:02 pm
i have a whole bin full of this crap! i definitely need to do this!
Colleen
March 22, 2010 at 11:17 pm
That really is a fabulous idea.
We were at a restaurant once on a vacation… I think down the shore. Instead of the normal crayons and placemat they give to kids they gave a small bin full of these types of toys. Just all junky little plastic toys. Zoe was THRILLED. She was busy the whole meal. I thought it was the most brilliant idea I had ever seen.
Colleen´s last blog ..Yicky
mom, again
March 23, 2010 at 3:17 am
a totally good idea
baby play yards
March 24, 2010 at 10:47 am
Haha, whatta great idea incorporated with funny and witty writing manner. By the way, I have to agree with you about children’s toys multiplying like bacteria when they take those toys out and then leave them behind after they thought like they’re not happy with those anymore. And your idea of putting them together in bags is great. I think, I’ve to do that as well since the materials used were kinda easy to find. yeah, I gotta start doing this now.. lol.
baby play yards´s last blog ..Little Playzone with Sounds and Lights Review
Lisa
March 27, 2010 at 5:36 pm
What a great idea!
I do something similar with my bag I take to restaurants… a new toy rotation in a place where they would otherwise be bored out of their mind is great!
I found you through Julia at Work, Wife, Mom… Life!
Lisa´s last blog ..Just like her Daddy
size reduction crusher
March 31, 2010 at 11:47 am
I just found your blog following a link, it’s nice, but I hope you can update it more often, hehe, because the information that you have here is quite interesting. Keep going!
Debbie @ Happy Maker
April 1, 2010 at 6:33 pm
Great idea, grandma’s can do that too Thanks
Debbie
Debbie @ Happy Maker´s last blog ..Staying Positive Brings Happiness Within
themsrevolution
April 8, 2010 at 5:13 pm
i love this idea. love it, love it. thanks so much! keep ‘em coming.
themsrevolution´s last blog ..smelly, furry, matted joy!
jaime
April 9, 2010 at 12:29 pm
I’m visiting from Hollywood Housewife, and this is fantastic! Previously, I had been putting all the junky toys into a single Car Toy Box. But this is ten times better, because then they can be separated and stored in different places.
On a different note, your caption under your profile picture made me spit out my Coke Zero. THAT is funny. So glad to have found your site!