Disclosure: This “100+ Busy Bags for Toddlers, Preschool, Kindergarten, & Beyond!” blog post contains affiliate links; as an affiliate and Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Please read my full disclosure policy for more information.
Busy Bags are a lifesaver for having quick and easy activities ready to go for your kids. You can use busy bags for toddlers, preschoolers, and even bigger kids, too, while on long car trips, during quiet time, in waiting rooms, and more.
Busy Bags Are a Lifesaver for Kids of ALL Ages!
So, I’ve gathered over 100 fun and educational busy bag ideas from my mama friends. Now, let’s check ’em out…
100+ Fun & Engaging Busy Bags for Toddlers, Preschoolers, and Big Kids, Too!
Busy Bags for 2 Year Olds
1. Ribbons & Bells Pull Bottle
This clever busy activity for 1 year olds doesn’t need a bag at all since it’s self-contained using a recycled spice bottle.
2. Circles Sensory Play
With just pom poms and pipe cleaners, you can inspire some engaging circle-themed sensory play for toddlers.
3. Match the Lid Busy Bag
All you have to do is raid the recycling bin to make this simple lid matching activity for toddlers.
4. Color-Themed Toy Activity
Gather toys and child-safe objects of a specific color, such as in this Orange Busy Bag, for a unique activity bag for infants and toddlers.
5. Pool Noodle Blocks
These pool noodle blocks can be used for imaginative building while on the go or while playing in the bathtub.
6. Tongs and Poms Toddler Activity
Grab a container out of the recycling bin to make this easy tongs and pom poms toddler activity.
7. Simple Scooping Activity
Gather various bowls, spoons, scoops, and some beads for this super simple fine motor scooping activity.
Preschool Busy Bags · Fine Motor Skills
8. Button Snakes
This homemade “button snakes” activity is perfect for preschoolers learning how to dress themselves and button their clothes.
9. Crazy Straw Fine Motor Skills
Some felt shapes and kid-favorite crazy straws make for an engaging fine motor activity for little ones.
10. Thread a Rainbow Busy Bag
Round fruit pouch caps make great beads for little hands to use in this rainbow threading activity.
11. Fine Motor Monster Munch
Add some googly eyes to everyday bag clips to make this adorable monster munching fine motor skill activity kids will love!
12. Pipe Cleaners & Straws Building Activity
Get your preschooler using their fine motor skills and creativity to build shapes and structures with pipe cleaners and straws.
13. Rainbow Lacing
Use recycled cardboard and colorful ribbon to make a simple rainbow-themed lacing activity that challenges a preschooler’s fine motor skills.
14. Cat Whisker Lacing
A free printable makes this cute and clever cat whisker lacing activity super easy to throw together for some fine motor skill practice on the go.
15. Rainbow Fine Motor Busy Box
Colorful hair ties add the fine motor practice to this neat rainbow-themed busy box.
16. Fine Motor Skill Weaving
Have your preschooler weave different materials through a gridded sink mat for an engaging fine motor skill busy bag.
17. Simple String Busy Bag
Cut notches around a cardboard circle to make this clever string activity that’s sure to strengthen fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
18. Nuts & Bolts
You can use kids’ plastic nuts and bolts toys or nuts and bolts from the hardware store for this simple fine motor skill busy bag.
19. DIY Sewing Flower
Use jumbo craft foam shapes to make a homemade flower-themed sewing toy for your preschooler to practice fine motor skills.
Preschool Busy Bags · Learning Colors
20. Rainbow Color Clip
Use this simple rainbow-themed activity for color practice and important fine motor pincer grasp strengthening.
21. Pencil Eraser Color Match
Colorful pencils and pencil top erasers make a quick and easy quiet bag for preschoolers to practice color matching.
22. Potato Chip Can Color Drop
No need for a bag — use a recycled cardboard potato chip can and some colorful pipe cleaners to make this clever color matching toddler activity.
23. Paint Chip Color Sort Activity Bag
Grab some free paint chips from the hardware store for this simple color-matching busy bag that’s perfect for preschoolers.
24. Button Color Sorting
This color sorting busy activity provides preschoolers with great fine motor skill practice, too.
25. Paint Chip Color Swatch
This color-matching activity will get you and your toddler outdoors searching for colors in your natural environment.
26. Egg Carton Color Sort
A recycled egg carton and colorful straws are all you need to make this simple activity for toddlers learning their colors.
27. Pom Pom Color Match
Use dot stickers and wavy craft sticks to make this engaging pom pom color match busy bag.
28. Color Match Paperclips
Colorful paperclips challenge kids’ fine motor skills during this color matching busy activity.
Preschool Busy Bags · Learning Shapes
29. Felt Shape Flowers
Cut some shapes out of craft felt for a creative preschool quiet activity that challenges little ones to make flowers.
30. Magnetic Shape Sticks
Encourage shape-making and open-ended creativity with these easy-to-make magnetic popsicle sticks!
31. Velcro Popsicle Sticks
If you’re not up for using magnets, use adhesive hook and loop dots to make velcro popsicle sticks instead.
32. Shape Buttons Puzzle
Trace big shape buttons on a plain sheet of paper to make this simple shapes puzzle for instant preschool learning.
33. Craft Stick Shape Match
This clever shape matching game uses a recycled egg carton for some hands-on learning fun.
34. DIY Shape Lacing Cards
Help your preschooler practice their fine motor skills while reviewing shapes with these homemade shape lacing cards.
35. Creative Felt Shape Fun
Cut some craft felt for a preschool busy bag that inspires open-ended creativity using basic shapes.
36. Sensory Shape Cards
Use felt and various textured materials to make some homemade sensory shape cards that are fun for preschoolers to explore and match textures.
37. Sorting Shapes
Plastic shape buttons are great for this hands-on shape sorting activity that’s perfect for preschoolers.
38. Corks & Buttons Building
Adhesive hook and loop dots transform everyday buttons and corks into an engaging fine motor activity for little hands.
Preschool Busy Bags · Alphabet
39. ABC Fun
Just grab some colorful straws and foam letter stickers for this hands-on activity for learning letters of the alphabet.
40. Alphabet Puppets
These easy-to-make letter puppets would pair perfectly with any alphabet book for an alphabet busy bag for preschoolers.
41. Clothespin Letter Match
Store-bought alphabet flash cards and everyday clothespins make this letter match busy bag super easy to throw together.
42. Alphabet Hearts Matching Game
Use paper hearts to make a simple letter matching game that’s perfect for a preschool quiet bag.
43. Jar Lid Letter Match
Take advantage of the jar lids from the recycling bin to make this preschool letter matching game that’s perfect for a busybag.
44. ABC Sticker Book
Make your kindergartener their own little alphabet book, then add some foam stickers to increase the hands-on letter learning fun.
45. Letter Match Memory Game
This fun letter match memory game is a fun way for kids to practice letter recognition or matching upper and lowercase letters.
46. Alphabet Seashells
Use natural seashells for a tactile beach-themed alphabet matching game perfect for preschoolers.
47. Simple Homemade Alphabet Puzzles
The unique cutting lines make these preschool alphabet puzzles challenging and fun for kids.
48. DIY Bottle Top Alphabet Board
Grab some recycled bottles to make this hands-on letter learning board that works a preschoolers’ fine motor skills, too.
49. Clothespin Name Learning
This clothespin name activity gets preschoolers matching letters while becoming familiar with the spelling of their name.
50. Build Your Name
Use LEGO DUPLO blocks to make your child their own letters blocks for this preschool name building activity.
Preschool Busy Bags · Numbers, Counting, & Patterns
51. Color Match Bottle Cap Game
Upcycle plastic bottle caps into an educational color matching game that your preschooler can play anywhere.
52. Apple Seed Counting
Have your kindergartener practice counting and number recognition with this cute apple-themed counting activity.
53. DIY Number Game
Use number stamps to make your own number learning game that’s perfect for popping in a busy bag.
54. Pattern Clothespin Game
Colorful patterned washi tape turns plain old clothespins into a simple pattern game for preschoolers.
55. Counting Robots Busy Bag
Robot stickers add a fun element to this preschool counting activity using jumbo craft sticks and clothespins .
56. Color Pasta Sequencing
Use dyed pasta for this preschool sequencing busy bag that gets kids making and exploring patterns.
57. LEGO Wheel Patterns
Print the free pattern strips and gather up some LEGO wheels for this clever transportation-themed pattern activity.
58. Missing Number Math Activity
Use craft sticks and clothespins to make this clever missing number math activity that’s perfect for a preschool busy bag.
59. Spin & Add Math
Grab a store-bought number spinner to try this fun math game for practicing addition.
Busy Bags Ideas for Play & Creativity
60. Popsicle Stick Puppets
Add cute foam stickers to popsicle sticks for a busy activity that encourages imaginative pay and storytelling.
61. Dress-Up Peg Dolls
Use hook and loop dots and some peg clothespins to make some imaginative dress-up dolls for little ones.
62. Xs & Os Tic-Tac-Toe
Use small wood coins and some popsicle sticks to make this clever tic-tac-toe game that’s perfect for on the go.
63. Pretend Play Vet
A printable vet clinic chart, some animal toys, and kids pretend doctor tool toys come together to encourage lots of imaginative vet-themed play.
64. Simple Sticker Busy Box
Provide an assortment of stickers, crayons, and paper in this simple busy box that encourages fine motor skills and creativity.
65. Felt Pizza Busy Bag
Encourage your little chef to make their own pretend pizza with this cute felt pizza activity.
66. Cartoon Character Memory Game
Incorporate your child’s favorite cartoon characters into a homemade memory game that’s perfect for a quiet time activity.
67. Pipe Cleaner Art
A busy bag doesn’t get much simpler than colorful pipe cleaners for inspiring some creative sculpture building!
68. Simple Accessories Dress Up Play
Gather up a bunch of kid-friendly dress-up accessories for a simple busy bag that inspires imaginative dress-up play.
Busy Bags for Kindergarten & Elementary · Reading & Spelling
69. Letter Sticker Name Recognition
A piece of paper and foam letter stickers are all you need to make this hands-on name recognition activity.
70. Spell Your Name Busy Bag
Foam bath letters make this kindergarten busy bag easy peasy to make and to take on the go.
71. Paint Chip Sight Words
Grab some free paint chips from the hardware store to make this hands-on sight word busybag.
72. Days of the Week Clip Activity
Use clothespins and colorful markers to make this busy bag that teaches the days of the week and color matching, too.
73. Felt Flower Color Words Activity
This felt flower color word activity is perfect for advanced kindergarten kids learning to read color words.
74. Animal Name Tags
Use the kids’ small animal toys to make this easy busy bag for learning animal words.
75. Magnetic Spelling Game
Make simple letter magnets using dot stickers for a clever magnetic spelling game perfect for kids learning to read and spell.
76. Word Family Sort
This simple word family sorting activity helps early readers recognize patterns in words.
77. 3 Letter Word Lacing
Alphabet beads and pipe cleaners make this 3-letter word learning activity easy peasy and great for fine motor practice, too.
78. Rainbow Sight Word Lacing
Plastic letter beads and colorful pipe cleaners make up this simple but fun hands-on sight word activity.
79. Language Learning with Recycled Letters
Pair some letters cut out of recycled materials and a kids language learning book to make a busy bag for learning a second language.
Busy Bags for Kindergarten & Elementary · Math
80. Paper Plate Math Facts
Grab a paper plate and some clothespins for some hands-on math facts practice you can take on the go.
81. Tally Mark Dominoes
Use some construction paper or cardstock to make this clever domino math game for matching numbers with tally marks.
82. Math Busy Box
Pom poms and Foam bath numbers make up this neat math activity box for kindergarten and early elementary kids.
83. Shisima Game
Make this neat multicultural math game for a fun and educational game kids can play anywhere.
84. Wacky Mixed-Up Hundreds Chart Game
Use a simple hundreds chart to make this “mixed-up” math game inspired by the Dr. Seuss classic, Wacky Wednesday.
85. Rock & Roll Place Value Game
All you need are some small stones and dice for this hands-on activity for practicing place value.
86. Cup Equation Spinner
Use styrofoam cups to make this clever math equation game that can be taken on the go.
87. Bottle Cap Skip Counting
Use bottle caps from the recycling bin to make a hands-on skip counting activity that’s perfect for a quick math busy bag.
Easy Printable Busy Bags
88. Wacky Tracks Fidget Toy Shapes
This quick and simple shape-learning busy bag uses just some printable shape cards and a fun Wacky Tracks fidget toy.
89. Printable I Spy Busy Bags
Print these free I Spy pages for busy bags that keep kids engaged while out and about.
90. Printable Animal Activity Pack
This free printable activity pack includes 12 animal-themed activity pages perfect for quick preschool busy bags.
91. Story Circles
Print these Story Circles for a quick and easy early literacy activity your preschooler can take on the go.
92. Dinosaur Math
Everyday clothespins turn addition and subtraction into a fun hands-on activity in this printable dinosaur-themed math busy bag for kindergarten or early elementary kids.
93. Printable Garden Puzzle
Print this numbered garden puzzle on cardstock or laminate it for a more durable on-the-go counting activity.
94. Caterpillar Counting Activity
Fuzzy pom poms pair with printable caterpillar cards for a tactile counting activity kids will love!
95. Printable Apple Counting Cards
Print these apple-themed counting cards for a hands-on count and clip activity that’s perfect for preschool or kindergarten kids.
96. Printable Color Sorting Busybag
It doesn’t get much easier than this free printable color sorting activity for toddlers and young preschoolers.
97. Match & Count Number Cards
These free printable number cards can accomodate learners of various levels, from beginning counting to reading number words.
98. Ocean Animals Count & Clip Cards
These adorable ocean-themed count and clip cards are perfect for preschoolers to practice counting while strengthening fine motor skills, too.
99. Printable Superhero Upper & Lower Case Letter Match
Use the free printable pack and some everyday clothespins to make a hands-on superhero-themed upper and lowercase letter matching activity.
100. Shapes, Counting, & Colors Printable
Print these colorful shapes printables for an easy educational learning activity that’s perfect for preschoolers.
101. LEGO Patterns Busy Box
Keep some LEGO bricks and these printable patterning cards in a box for a fun, ready-to-go kids activity.
102. Counting Sun Spots
This sunshine-themed printable count and clip activity provides some science learning, too!
Busy Bag Ideas for Holidays & Seasons
103. Fine Motor Hearts
This Valentine’s Day busy bag uses heart-shape cookie cutters and beads to strengthen little hands.
104. St. Patrick’s Day Count & Clip Cards
These printable count and clip cards are perfect for an easy St. Patrick’s Day busy activity.
105. Simple Sorting Hearts Busy Bag
Cut out paper hearts of various sizes and colors to make a quick and easy Valentines busy bag that will have kids sorting by size and color.
106. Simple Nesting Easter Eggs
Fill a busybag with plastic Easter eggs of varying sizes to inspire open-ended exploration of size and proportion.
107. American Flag Counting Game
Grab these free printable flag cards and some colored plastic clothespins for a patriotic counting game.
108. Autumn Leaves Number & Letter Puzzles
These clever number and letter puzzles, made out of paper leaf shapes, are the perfect quiet bag activity for Fall.
109. Fall Dominoes Math Game
Use fall-themed stickers to make this simple DIY math game for a busy bag that’s perfect for Autumn.
110. Jack O’Lantern Faces
Felt pumpkins and facial features let your child build their own Jack O’Lantern — without the mess!
111. Counting Ghosts Game
Ghost-shaped erasers and cute little plastic cauldrons make a Halloween counting game kids will love.
112. LEGO Turkey
This busy bag incorporates a kid favorite, LEGO DUPLO blocks, into a Thanksgiving pattern activity.
113. Felt Christmas Tree
This Christmas tree-themed busy activity lets your little one decorate their own Christmas tree, over and over.
114. Christmas Wreath Counting
Kids use fuzzy pom poms to decorate a Christmas wreath with this holiday counting activity.
115. Snowflake Drop
This cute winter-themed toddler activity doesn’t even need a bag since it’s made using a tall plastic bottle.
116. Sticky Snowman Activity
Use snowman window gel clings for an instant winter-themed activity for toddlers or preschoolers.
Even More Busy Bag Ideas & Resources:
- Big Activity Box with 15 Activity Ideas
- How to Host a Busy Bag Swap
- How to Make Busy Bags with Thrift Shop Finds
- Busy Bag Ideas for Under $1
Activities & Toys for Busy Bags on Amazon:
If you don’t want to make busy bags, check out these kids activities and toys on Amazon that are perfect for adding to busy bags or taking on the go as is…
Toddler Busy BackpackLearning Resources Smart Snacks Number PopsMontessori Screwdriver BoardWikkiStix Sensory Reusable Molding and Sculpting SticksApple Lacing ToyMelissa & Doug Tape Activity BookLearning Resources Birds in a Nest Sorting SetWooden Montessori Activity BoardMelissa & Doug On the Go Water Wow! Reusable Color with Water Activity PadMagnetic Color and Number MazeBusy Cube for KidsLearning Resources Rainbow Sorting CrayonsLearning Resources Noodle Knockout! Fine Motor GameREADY 2 LEARN Lacing AlphabetName Puzzle Busy BoardLearning Resources Super Sorting Pie
Find more fun toys and activities in B-Inspired Mama’s Amazon Shop: Perfect Picks for Toddler & Preschool Busy Bags
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More Toddler and Preschool Ideas on B-Inspired Mama:
- Ideas for Early Learning at Home
- More Ideas for Early Learning from The Kids Co-Op
- Snowflake Sensory Bag
Disclosure: This “100+ Busy Bags for Toddlers, Preschool, Kindergarten, & Beyond!” blog post contains affiliate links; as an affiliate and Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Please read my full disclosure policy for more information.
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