Quiet Time Boxes

So for a couple of months now I have been using quiet time boxes. 

They are the best!
I am the type of mom that NEEDS down time!

While baby H. is taking his nap,
I send Miss Sweety pie down to her room to play with her quiet time box.

I started out with Lego's, K'nex, and stuffed animals.
But it wasn't up her alley {at all}.
I also made the mistake of giving her toys that were her favorites.
Then when it was playtime, or I was making dinner she had nothing to play with.

So I decided to make themed boxes with her forgotten toys.

Monday's theme: Aspiring Artist
It includes: A couple of Fancy Nancy books,
Dora water wonder paint note book
(uses water to paint, and then dries back white so it can be reused.)
wooden beads,
and some playschool people.

Tuesday's theme: Pinkalicious
It includes Pinkalicious and Purplealicious (the book),
Princess lacing cards,
and pretend hair styling kit.

Wednesday's theme: Dolls
It includes My "d" book (all about dolls)
paper dolls,
and baby doll with pretend bottle, food, clothes, diaper etc.

Thursday's Theme: Butterflies
It includes Fancy Nancy Bonjour Butterfly,
and other Fancy Nancy books,
wooden butterflies,
and some jewelery links.

Friday's theme: Princess
It includes My Froggy Valentine book,
Color Wonder book and crayons (too used for church, but not filled up.)
Princess Adventures static clean/dry erase book,
and play dough with Little Mermaid molds.
and a few other Disney Princess books.

Then I stored them under her bed,

with an alternate box,

so I can add things when I think of them,

or throw something extra in at the last minute.

P.S. If it's been a long day for her,

or she will be up late, I tell her she can play with her box and then she has to take a nap.

So here are some guidelines:

1. Use only the toys that your child doesn't play with everyday.

I just went around our house and through our bins of things she loves, but they are not her first choice.  For example, she never just picks up dolls, but she likes them. And at quiet time she is happy to have something new. So it was the forgotten toys around the house.

The key for M. was finding new exciting books.  Most of the books in her boxes are from the library, and I can rotate themes if I want. I usually put the books on hold and rotate through the books.

2. Don't use things that are consumable

Aka coloring books, stickers, markers or things that have to be thrown away when their all used up.

3. Don't use electronic things

Quiet time isn't very quiet with electronics.

4. Encourage your child to play with everything in the box.

Now I often include Lego's, and other things that are not on her top 10 toys.  I encourage her to play with them by telling her it's a rule to play with everything in the box.

5. Encourage your child to stay in their room until you get them.

This is the best rule!  But if this is too much of a stretch for your child, don't worry. Just work up slowly to your ultimate goal!

  

Here are some ideas for other things to put in a quiet time box:

1. Blocks

2. Magnetic Dolls

3. Measuring tape

(a small non dangerous one, it encourages M. to look at things in a new way.)

4. View Finders

5. Lite Bright
6. Plush Toys
7. Lincoln Logs
8. Tinker Toys
9. Doodler
10. Puzzles
11. Lego's
12.Kids K'Nex
13. Small Cars

Here are my other posts for Quiet Time Bags,
and a Quick Quiet Time Box idea.
Also check out The View From 5'5'' to find more ideas and how to's for Quiet Boxes.

Good Luck!
Happy Quiet Timing!!