Busy Boxes For 3 and 4 Year Olds

These busy boxes have been my lifesaver for no tv in the mornings. They were also my lifesaver when I first had Hanna and was looking for something quick and easy to entertain Hazel.

I love these busy boxes. I love that they encourage learning, thinking, and self-help. I love that Hazel enjoys playing with them and that it has become her go to on most occasions.

What is your go-to when it’s time for your toddler to learn and play? If you’re looking for ideas on what to put in your busy box I am here to help. Check out our list of ideas below, I hope they encourage you to help your child learn.

Monday

Rescue Dinos: Tape the dinosaurs down to a table and have your toddler pick the tape off and rescue them.

Pipe Cleaner Plunge: Take an old baby food canister -clean it out- and hold punch the lid -be careful. Have your toddler push the pipe cleaners through the holes. I’ve had this item since Hazel was 18 months and it has stayed in our busy boxes ever since she loves it!

Popsicle Match: You’ll need colored paper and colored popsicle sticks. Create your own popsicles, and get the correct colors for each popsicle you make. Have your toddler find the correct matches when they play the busy box.

Coloring and Stickers: Have them write a note to a friend or family member. We love using stickers and colored paper to make it fun. When they are done send the note in the mail.

Tuesday

Tuesday’s box consists of only things from our sorting set (you can purchase the set here, we are always using it).

Animal Sorting and Color Match: For this activity, she spins the wheel to see what color she gets, then she rolls a dice to see how many animals of that color she puts into the matching bowl. This game is played until all the animals are in the correct bowl.

Patterns: I created the boxes on a blank sheet of paper and then I usually start a pattern for her. Then I give her the chance to make a pattern and I have to fill in the blanks.

Wednesday

Chip Drop: Use these chips that come in the super sorting set, have your child sort the chips into the right colored bins.

Following Direction: Have them arrange the ice creams as they ask for in the picture. I got these ice creams from an online boutique, but you can also make some.

Mattern Matching: Draw shapes or lines on a foam cut out. Then cut the foam in half and make it a puzzle for your child to put back together.

Pip The Letter Pup: Let your child learn how to create words. See if they can create any on their own.

Thursday

Plus-Plus Blocks: Hazel loves playing with these and creating so many things, she creates people, boats, animals, you name it, the possibilities are endless!

Fruit Grab: Have your child place all the fruit in the middle, then tell them to spin the spinner. Each time they spin have them pick up that number of fruit and put it by them, once they have all the fruit the game is over.

Creating Art: You’ll need foam cut outs, glue, and random things to glue onto the foam. We like to use tissue paper, googly eyes, stickers, and rhinestones.

Friday

Go Fish: I created these back when Hazel was a year and a half and they are still a huge hit. Put paper clips into felt fish and use a magnetic fishing pole to pick up each fish.

Felt Wiggle: You’ll need felt and swirly straws. Cut the felt into squares, cut a hole into the squares. Have your child move the felt pieces from one end of the straw to the other while the straw is in the felt.

Car Line Up: Take a piece of paper and draw lines on it. Have your child line up the cars on the lines you created.

CARS IN THIS PICTURE FOUND HERE

Here are a few other things I switch a busy box out for. Sometimes I’ll have her play with this AlphaBee set where she can practice; putting her letters in order, spelling words, learning shapes and recognizing upper and lower case letters.

And then other times she’ll play with these Snap-n-Learn ABC Elephants. Here you can put them in alphabetical order, make words, or even try and catch them on each other.

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