Busy-Box Activity

Create a box to entertain your kid when you just can't play one. more. game.

Submitted by
Sonam Adinolf

You call it being a pack rat. We call it ingenious. All that stuff that you've been stashing away for who-knows-what now has a noble purpose: to teach your kid about textures, colors and sounds. (And to think your partner called that feather-studded eye mask "worthless.")

A plastic shoebox with a lid
Soft stuff:
A piece of velvety fabric, a small piece of faux fur (don't worry, we won't ask what that's doing in your junk drawer!) or a satiny ribbon. Anything soft or silky will work.
Loud stuff:
A bell, a rattle or a squeaky toy. If it makes noise, your baby will love it. (You think it's bad now? Just wait for his electric-guitar-with-amplifier phase.)
Hard stuff:
Plastic rings, blocks and empty bottles work great. Just avoid small things that could be a choking hazard, and really hard things like rocks if your baby is old enough to throw things.
Strange stuff:
A feather, a rubber ball, even that bizarre baby figurine that someone thought would make a wonderful baby shower gift.

Take all of your stuff and load it into your box. Then step back and check out your newly cleaned junk drawer!
Shake, rattle and roll! Shake the box a few times to get your baby's attention. Then toss the contents on the floor.
Encourage your baby to check out the goods. Let him pat the faux fur. Roll a plastic ring across the floor. Let him jingle a bell. Or brush his cheek with a feather.
While he's exploring, talk to him about what he's touching: "Feel the soft feather"; "This wooden block is hard"; "This ball is squishy like Daddy's belly!"
Next up? Cleaning out your closet to make another busy box! It can't hurt to have a backup (or a tidy house).