EMERGENCY ‘MICRO-ACTIVITIES’ YOU CAN PULL OUT OF YOUR PURSE IN UNDER 30 SECONDS
You know that when you’re out and about with kids, an unexpected meltdown can happen at any moment and completely derail the day. You’re stuck in a crowded waiting room, dinner is delayed by 20 minutes, the grocery line is endless… scenarios outside of our control can cause little ones to really struggle. Acknowledging that these moments can happen means we can prepare for them. Having a great system in place and some awesome micro-activities that live in your purse is the best way to set yourself up for your next parenting win.
Micro-activities are zero-to-low prep, instant distraction play ideas that you can pull out of your purse or diaper bag in under 30 seconds. This way, you can avoid giving your kid you phone to play with or pulling out an iPad to keep them occupied. Having a few creative ideas ready to go can be the difference between a fun outing with your kids and leaving the store with a screaming toddler in your arms.
Choosing Your Emergency Kit - Packing for Success
As we all know, taking some time to prepare activities and toys for outings means less meltdowns, less boredom, and happier kids. Having some of these things ready in case of an unexpected delay or long wait time can help keep kids feeling happy and regulated. If you don’t want activities just floating around in your bag, using an organization method can be helpful to keep things in one place.
One example of this is a simple zipper pouch. They’re nice for holding one or two small activities and keeping them contained in your bag. If you have a bit more space, you can use a Mothercould Kids Travel Organizer. Several different pouches, different sizes, made to hold a variety of activities and fold up into a compact carrying bag! The fabric is wipeable, and the zippers are made for little hands to use. If you’re packing an activity with lots of tiny pieces, using a Mothercould Snack Box is a great way to keep tiny pieces nicely organized, and doubles as a play tray.
Pro-Tip: Keep the organizer dedicated strictly to on-the-go moments so items retain their novelty value. These are special, out of the house activities!
What to Pack
Here are some ideas for micro-activites that fit well in a purse, ready to bring out when needed.
Mini markers and a mini notepad, stickers, and sticky notes: For little artists, simply bringing some fun stickers, markers and a notepad is a great way to keep them occupied. I love having sticky notes too - you can cover a surface in sticky notes, make a flip book, look up an origami tutorial, tons of options!
Play dough, tools, and animal figurines: Pack an on-the-go play dough kit in a Mothercould Snack Box! Make your own play dough (trust me, it’s so much better than store bought!) and wrap it tightly with plastic wrap. Remove some dividers in the snack box so the play dough will fit. Add a few small tools and animal figurines. Ready for sensory play on the go!
Small cars and road tape: This is an easy one for car lovers! Grab a few matchbox cars and a roll of road tape. (You can also just use plain painters tape!) Use the tape to set up a road wherever you are and let your little ones drive the cars.
Large beads, paracord or pipe cleaners: Practice fine motor skills with some beading! Kids can string beads on a thick string, like paracord, or bendable pipe cleaners. This activity also stores well in a Mothercould Snack Box so the beads can be separated in each section.
Here are some great product ideas if you’d like to purchase an activity to keep in your bag for “emergency play time”:
Kids camera: These are SO fun for kids, and definitely would keep them occupied while waiting! Super small, they fit easily into any bag. Not to mention you could have some great photo memories captured by your little ones!
Magnetic men: Super easy to throw into a bag, these magnetic men are tons of fun. Find some magnetic surfaces around you, or just stick them to each other!
Water pen books:These are a favorite for good reason. Just add water to the pen and kids can draw in the books over and over again.
Mini sticky cubes: Our girls love these! Mini sticky cubes that fit into a small container, these stick to so many different surfaces. (Which is great because they won’t roll off the table onto the floor!) They double as sensory play with the unique texture.
Lite Brite Touch: I love this toy! It’s like a Lite Brite but without all of the tiny pieces. It includes engaging colors and lights, and has several different games built into it.
There are so many different things you could pack in your purse as an “emergency mirco-activity” but what will be most effective is playing into your child’s interests. Pack mini animal figurines if they love animals, cars if they love cars, drawing supplies if they love art. Keeping the things you choose as a special, on-the-go activity means they’ll retain novelty and feel exciting every time you pull them out for play.
I know that being out and about with your kids can feel daunting, like a meltdown waiting to happen. But taking some time to prepare some activities will not only help with those difficult, unexpected times, but it’ll help save your sanity and keep you level-headed when long delays happen. Don’t forget to utilize a good organization system, like the Mothercould Kids Travel Organizer or Snack Box. Preventing activities from taking over your purse is also a goal of this system!
With a little bit of prep work, you can have your next parenting win with a great outing, full of fun activities! Give some of these a try, see what works for your kids, and enjoy your next family outing!