Activity Preparedness - Create an On-the-Go Activity Kit

If you’re the parent or grandparent of a preschooler, no one has to tell you that the need for spontaneous entertainment often arises. Whether you’re taking a long car ride, visiting a relative at the retirement home or just plain making an impromptu stop at the park, having something – anything – to occupy your preschooler is an absolute necessity!

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could somehow prepare in advance for all your preschooler’s entertainment needs? Good News! There is a way: It’s called Activity Preparedness.

The Cure for Your Preschooler’s Boredom Away from Home

Much like an earthquake preparedness kit, you can make your very own On-the-Go Activity Kit stocked with all the supplies you need to entertain your preschooler in any situation. Your preschooler may actually look forward to long waits at the doctor’s office or rush hour traffic just to get their hands on the coveted activity kit, which is only reserved for mom’s “special occasions.”

To keep your bases covered, it’s best to keep two activity kits on hand; one for indoor activities and one for outdoor activities. And the ideal place to store your activity kits is in the back of your car so they’re handy whenever the need arises.

How to Make an On-the-Go Activity Kit

It’s as simple as purchasing a small laundry basket or other medium to small plastic container, and filling it with fun games, toys, activity books, etc. that you know your preschooler will enjoy.

Acitivity Kit Tip: Purchase new items for your activity kit. Don’t use stuff your preschooler already has in his/her room. New items that your preschooler doesn’t normally get to play with will add to the thrill – and goal of impromptu entertainment – of the activity kit. In this same regard, it’s important to always reserve the stuff in the activity kit for on-the-go entertainment, not for use at home.

Suggestions for an Indoor Activity Kit

-Coloring Books and Crayons
-Drawing Paper and Markers
-Story Books
-Activity Books, such as Word Searches, Paper Dolls and Dot-to-Dot
-Handheld Video Games
-Travel Games
-Modeling Clay
-Barbie Dolls or Action Figures

Suggestions for an Outdoor Activity Kit

-Sporting equipment, such as balls and a Frisbee
-Sidewalk Chalk
-Bubbles
-Sand Toys, such as shovels, buckets and molds
-Trucks, such as a bulldozer for sand play
-Remote Control Cars, Airplanes, etc.
-Kite
-Airplane Gliders and Parachute Toys

Summer Activity Kit Variation

Spend a lot of time at the beach or pool during the summer? Put together an activity kit that’s sure to make a big splash with your preschooler. Instead of a plastic container, use a beach bag – if you can find a waterproof bag that’s even better - to house your kit.

Sunglasses, splash balls, squirt guns, diving rings or sticks, and a beach ball are just a few suggestions to get you started. Surf’s up!

Do you have a creative idea for an On-the-Go Activity Kit? Contact us with all the details, and will post your activity kit stories here for our PreschoolRock.com readers!

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