DIY Toddler Activity Gift Box

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Today’s Festive Family Holiday Hop post is based on Gifts for the Season.

This time last year Adam and I were involved in a 30 day toddler play challenge. Every day we posted photographs of our play adventures onto Facebook. My friend, who worked full time, said she felt guilty that she didn’t have time to find the resources and set them up in order to play with her son. So for Christmas I made them a toddler activity gift box.

Here is a list of items I placed in the toddler activity gift box as well as links to how Adam and I used the resources.

Sensory Fish Tank, Sensory Bags and Tissue Box With Fabric Squares

The Sensory Fish Tank was made by adding blue hair gel to a zip-loc bag. I added cut out fish and water plants from foam sheets. The fish tank can be sellotaped to the window and the winter sun gently warms the hair gel.

One year on and our Sensory Bags are still going strong. They are made by adding a variety of objects to a zip-loc bag. The edges can be strengthened with Duck Tape. These particular ones were filled with (from left to right):

Shampoo and Christmas rubbers

Bath gel and pom poms

Bath gel, Christmas rubbers and glitter

Baby oil and glitter

When we created our own Tissue Box activity we used cut up bibs. For the Christmas present we used colourful fleece fabric squares.

Non-messy Finger Paint, Discovery Bottles and Coloured Rice

Non-messy Finger Painting is a great way to paint without having to cover the house with newspaper. Your little one can also keep returning to the activity until the paint dries up.

Our Discovery Bottles have lasted a full year. These bottles contained beads, coloured rice, glitter and water and pasta and foam numbers.

We loved our Coloured Rainbow Rice and it is easy to make. You can find the instructions here. Simply by emptying the coloured rice into the gift box you have a ready made sensory bin. We have used coloured rice in a number of activities including our Winnie the Witch inspired art and Rainbow Fish Rice Fishing.

Playdough, Shaving Foam and Numbered Foam Cars

I placed all the ingredients into a zip-loc bag in order for my friend to create home made Playdough. All she needed to do was to add hot water and food colouring.

Shaving foam is a great sensory resource. It can be in the bath, in a tuff-spot or simply using the box lid. We loved making shaving foam car tracks by adding paint.

We created numbered cars by adding glitter paint to Foam Cars.

Sensory Gloves, Rainbow Spaghetti and Making Tape

By adding different resources to disposable gloves you can quickly create Sensory Gloves. We filled these three with flour, lentils and oats.

Rainbow Spaghetti is great to make with any left over cooked spaghetti. Simply add food colouring and you have a super sensory activity that is edible too.

Masking Tape has to be the most used resource in our house. For several weeks we had a Masking Tape Car Track on our living room carpet and sofa. We extended it to include a car park and train track.

All of the toddler activity equipment was placed in a clear plastic box. The lid was decorated by cutting out letters from Smarties contact paper. My friend no longer needed to feel guilty as the resources were already prepared for 12 toddler friendly activities.

Check out the other Gifts for the Season posts from Festive Family Bloggers

Festive Family Holiday Gift Guide Favorites ~ Gifts for Everyone on Your List

DIY Toddler Play Activity Gift Box from Adventures of Adam

Ten Things from Germany as Christmas Presents from La Cite’ des Vents

Ten Things from France as Christmas Presents from La Cite’ des Vents

Easy Gifts Kids Can Make from Hand Made Kids Art

Stocking Stuffer Ideas from Crystal’s Tiny Treasures

Green Gifts for Crunchy Mamas from All Done Monkey

Gift Guide for Montessori Homeschoolers from Living Montessori Now

Gift Guide – Birth to 18 Months from ALLterNATIVElearning

Gift Guide from Peace But Not Quiet

Gift Guide for Promoting Healthy Development from The Inspired Treehouse