Quiet Activity Bags for Kids

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #RitzFilledNotHangry #CollectiveBias

Last month I made some trick or treat bags using some colorful canvas bags and adding vinyl to the front. The bags that I got came in packs of a dozen so I had a lot leftover and immediately I started thinking about what I could use some of the extra bags for. One Sunday we were getting ready to head out the door to church and I was grabbing a few small toys and books and stuff to keep the kids busy and it got me thinking, there are often times that I need to keep the kids quietly occupied while we are out somewhere whether that be church or a doctor's appointment or even just in the car. I had the idea to use some of those extra bags that I had to make some quiet activity bags that I could fill up with some small toys, a notebook and crayons, maybe some small snacks. Something to keep the kids busy other than electronics. 

I gathered up a few different items, you can use things you already have or pick up some small inexpensive toys and other stuff, to add to the bag. I grabbed a couple of bags, obviously, some iron on vinyl to add to the front of the bag. I made 2 bags, one each for my two littlest girls that are 3 and 4. To fill the bag up I got a couple of notebooks, some small pens, a box of crayons that I split between the two bags, some stickers, lacing cards, and for a snack I thought RITZ Peanut Butter Filled Sandwich Crackers and RITZ Cheese Filled Sandwich Crackers would be perfect.

Kroger stores now carry the filled crackers so I was able to pick them up at my local Smith's while I was getting other groceries. I enjoy doing my grocery shopping at Smith's because even though there is another grocery store closer to our house the prices there are much better and when you have 8 people to feed prices matter. The other day I even got an envelope full of coupons in the mail, including 4 or 5 for free items. Anyway, I was at the store picking up some other stuff we needed and I thought throwing a little snack in there, especially something that is not sweet, would help keep kids happy and prevent them from getting "hangry" when we are out around meal times because hungry, grouchy kids are no fun. Although maybe I need to keep some extras around for the older kids because they are the worst when "hanger" strikes.

The first thing I did after gathering up all of my stuff was iron my decals on the bags. To make the decals I used my Cricut and in Design Space I just made the words, my daughter's names and activity bag, in different fun fonts. I sized them so that they were about 6 inches across. Then I added a little shape for each bag, a flower for one and a snowflake for the other (she is obsessed with Frozen). 

Next I divided out all of the stuff into two piles, one for each of the girls. Some of the things I split between the two, it was a lot cheaper to buy 24 crayons instead of two boxes of 8 so I just the box into two sandwich bags. I also picked up one set of lacing cards and divided those. 

Then just stuff it all in the bags and you are ready to go. 

My daughter was watching over my shoulder the whole time I was putting the bags together and asking when I was going to give her her bag. She couldn't wait to be able to use it. The hard part is going to be keeping it all together to use when we have times when we have to go somewhere. I think they will love using them and will be excited to take their bags with them and when they use up the stuff that is in there you can just replace it with small little toys and stuff.