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.)
What a GREAT idea!
.-= michelle from 6 in the city´s last blog ..i’ve included a handy visual in case you don’t understand. you’re welcome. =-.
I can, in all honesty, say I’ve never thought/heard of that but it is INDEED BRILLIANT!!!
Only problem is I, uh, already threw out 90% of their toys like that.
.-= Moriah @ Please Pass the Salt´s last blog ..le bebe fille =-.
fantastic idea! I just acquired 2 star wars r2d2′s and an iCarly doll yesterday for my bags!
.-= designHer Momma´s last blog ..Papa Loved Cake =-.
GENIUS! I’ve never heard of this, so you may just be a pioneer!
.-= Jen´s last blog ..well, hello there! =-.
We have a large sandbox so the hard plastic toys end up in the sandbox. I hide them in the sand and my little on digs to find them.
ooh! That’s a great idea!
Oh, you are so much more patient and wise than me. I take a garbage bag into the playroom (when the boyz aren’t around, of course) and fill it, and then THROW IT OUT.
.-= Sarahviz´s last blog ..Notsomuch a 24-Hour Virus =-.
That’s been my approach, too. But I like this idea, and it’s definitely new to me.
They may have thought of it, but you actually implemented it. Brilliance in my book!
What a great idea! I may steal it for my two!
.-= Marylin´s last blog ..As requested… =-.
Great idea! I carry around miniature tea sets and bowling sets in my purse. Nothing can ruin a dinner out than children who are bored! Love the idea of rehabbing the old stuff though- never thought of it other than “throwaway” items.
Brilliant! But where will you keep these bags so the kids don’t see them?
I’m stealing this idea even if I have to keep them in the truck of the car to ‘hide’ the toys.
.-= Kara´s last blog ..Slow cooker meatball soup =-.
I have a giant pantry, so I have them hidden in there. I was thinking, though, that I might put them in a box in my SUV because I’ll forget them in the pantry!
Everyone is right…you are brilliant.
I learned quickly when we lived in a small 2 bedroom apartment with 2 boys that I needed to weed out toys often. So I got in the habit of doing a twice yearly clean out of the bigger toys. We then take them to Goodwill. My little one always asks why we are giving the toys to Will since they do in fact have a friend named Will.
Unfortunately the little toys do wind up getting thrown out. But, maybe I’ll steal your idea instead.
.-= Shannon @ Shany’s Point´s last blog ..A Passover Miracle… =-.
You are a genius.
I’m pretty sure you’re a freakin’ genius. LOVE this idea!!!
.-= Colleen – Mommy Always Wins´s last blog ..My Lappy’s back and there’s gonna be trouble… =-.
Brilliant!! Always knew you were!
Brilliant! Know what else works? Any kind of small pad of paper (I am forever getting these as “gifts” and have no other use for a million cutesy notepads) and the random crayons I find laying around the house with no other home.
I think it’s very clever! We also round up bags of these things every once in awhile and send them off to my aunt. She is a teacher of kids w/ special needs and these go into her rewards box.
Brilliant! Now if you could come up with a “SUPER SPECIAL SURPRISE BAG” to entertain my husband at church/grocery store/family events
This is fantastic. I’ll add it to my panic bag, er… diaper bag!
.-= guarros´s last blog ..Insult to Injury =-.
“panic bag!” Exactly. That’s what I should have called these!
This is a graet idea!… ours usually end up in either the trash or in the “free” box at our garage sale.
.-= Marie Green´s last blog ..Amiright? =-.
Brilliant.
And?
I never heard of it before.
For reals.
Love it.
.-= Loralee´s last blog ..I’m going to Oklahoma to kick it with The Pioneer Woman at her ranch. (Squee!) =-.
This is brilliant!! Thank you!!!
.-= Heather @ Not a DIY Life´s last blog ..Mamavation Week #11 =-.
This is a great idea!
You’re a genius! I don’t have any kids…but think I might make some activity bags for myself. My activity bags may or may not include iCarly dolls…
.-= Kelli´s last blog ..And then there were cats… =-.
This is brilliant! I have not ever heard it before and will totally always think of you as the inventor. I have SO SO SO much of this exact stuff that is just crap really, but if I hide it away awhile and pull it out at the Dr’s office it will be a gold mind! Plus I am sick of this stuff clogging up the space for “good” toys. LOL Thank you!
You are clearly a genius.
.-= Shelly´s last blog ..Dinner for Five – The TV Edition =-.
I am a crafty-wannabe, I have NOT heard this idea and I think it’s brilliant! I’m doing it. Let you know how the kids like their “new toys”.
.-= dusty earth mother´s last blog ..Sometimes it takes chocolate vomit to know who your true friends are =-.
Yes, I do agree that is a a brilliant idea! My son is 11 and I think even he could benefit from this. He is always bugging to use my phone when we have to wait somewhere, but he sucks up all my battery time and leaves the keys all sticky. He might not like this as much, but it’s a win for me!
You are too, too brilliant. Brilliant!
.-= patois´s last blog ..I Should Go into the Recommendation Letter Writing Business =-.
This is way better than my current system of a entire purse full of this crap that has been in there so long that my kids are so bored it and they don’t want it when I pull it out to try to entertain them. Love the rotation/surprise element of it!
.-= E…´s last blog ..Tips from the Small World =-.
This is brilliant! My son gets something EVERY Friday from the “treasure box” at school. When I found that out I was like “just shoot me.” I will be preparing bags for our next long road trip. Thanks!!
.-= Elaine´s last blog ..You Capture – Reaching =-.
Awesome idea!! Too bad I didn’t think of it when my kids were younger!
.-= Suzy Voices´s last blog ..Work In Progress: Part 1 – Exercise =-.
That is SUCH a fabulous idea!
.-= liz´s last blog ..Take-A-Tour Thursday, Stops 1-5 =-.
I just found your site today, and I have to say this is a very good idea! So I have an extention to this idea for you, if by Halloween you haven’t opened any of the bags, throw them into a basket and offer them up as halloween ‘presents’ to trick or treaters instead of candy. Giving toys away to kids on Halloween is my favorite way to rid my house of small toys that seem to procreate during the night!
.-= cecedon´s last blog ..backordered? =-.
That is a great idea!
*GASP* (While gently slapping the side of my head) This is a GREAT idea! (I’m trying to do the whole ‘look surprised’ part…jk.) I really do think this is a great idea. I also cannot stand the piles of ‘little peopley things’ that collect in my girls’ rooms. My girls are older, so it’s a little different, but I could certainly modify this idea for their ages. Thanks!
.-= Janine´s last blog ..Egg Recipe~Ultimate Recipe Swap @ Lifeasmom.com =-.
This is a great idea! I always end up donating this kind of stuff to my son’s school. They use them during Math and Science Game Day as prizes and “sell” them in the Reading Rewards Store. What kills me is when my son brings home something that I have donated. Last year I donated two apple boxes full of Beanie Babies and at least 5 have made their way back home.
I love it — what a great idea!! When I was a nanny and the kids didn’t know any better, I used to take the happy meal toys and hide them in the diaper bag until I was desperate for something to entertain them and then I would pull it out. You way is better for sure – I never paid attention to what would make noise until AFTER I was somewhere that was supposed to be quiet and whipped out a toy that was NOT quiet…
Genius, genius, genius! We are so in need of such activity bags. Our “church backpack” is full of stuff they could care less about and I never change things up. I think to add to the drama and excitement of the activity bags, I will put some stickers on the outside!
I am nominating you for mother of the year–preschooler division.
.-= mep´s last blog ..Still All Thumbs on Thursdays =-.
Such a good idea! I am constantly rotating out the “Look what Mommy brought!!!!” stash that I keep in my bag, but the thought of putting everything in separate bags to switch out is genius. Now I’m all “Duh, why didn’t I think of that!”
.-= Jayna @ Yankee Drawl´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday: Love, Me =-.
I love this idea! I just throw a bunch of shit in the bottom of my purse… LOL, not the most efficient practice.
.-= MommyNamedApril´s last blog ..Happy Birthday, Jonathan!!! =-.
This is a great idea. I too have come up with a solution to ” the prize inside issue”. I got a tree and at christmas I let the children decorate this tree, and they take great pride in their special tree. Then after christmas I don’t have to see them till next year because its no longer a toy; its an ornament
Some people are blessed with amazing ideas like this. I usually just purge the toys without a care. Now I have to add two new different kinds of guilt to my repetoire. 1) Guilt that I dont come up with child-rewarding-entertaining-mummy-sanity-saving ideas like this 2) toys in landfills.
Seriously good idea though, and honestly? This is the first time I’ve heard this particular idea!
.-= Vanessa M Design´s last blog ..VanessaMacLeod.com is Eco-Friendly =-.
That is a super great idea! I have been throwing all that stuff away and feeling very guilty about it. Perfect solution!
That is a great idea! I just heard that a local elementary school asks for donations of these types of toys to give out as rewards for good behavior.
.-= Tired Mom Tésa´s last blog ..Playhouse Disney Live in Cleveland: Coupon Code & Big Ticket Giveaway! =-.
That’s all sorts of awesome an idea.
And how sad is it that I recognize some of those toys in your picture …
.-= Karen MEG´s last blog ..Not really posting, just reliving… =-.
This is genius!
.-= amy2boys´s last blog ..Treasures: Blogged =-.
THis is amazing post that i’ve ever read.!
Specially the comments are giving me the extra knowledge about the topic. Comments are great way of communication through people.
Okay, strange question…Is that Grimace in your photo? I have not seen that character in ages:)
I really need to go through the toy boxes in my house and do this. Simple, yet great idea…Thanks!
.-= Jennifer´s last blog ..A bare bum and a life lesson… =-.
Love this idea!
And that last comment made me laugh–I was trying to remember Grimace’s name!!
.-= Liz @ Peace, Love & Guacamole´s last blog ..Now THAT’S what I call details =-.
LOVE IT!
.-= Mojavi at Simple Things´s last blog ..flax seed =-.
Great idea and it is new to me.
.-= Michelle´s last blog ..The World’s Largest Nerf Party =-.