Quiet Time Boxes

Well it's been FOREVER since I updated...sorry about that to my family members!  I guess I ran out of things to write about, and decided to take a break.  However, I did this little project, and thought it might be interesting to someone, so here we go!

I saw the idea for quiet time boxes months ago, and bookmarked the page for later.  I thought, "Someday I will do this!" and didn't really think Ellie was old enough at that time.  I was reminded of this fun idea through another blog (if you're interested in getting ideas, click here) about a week ago, and thought maybe Ellie was old enough to give it a try.  Basically, the concept behind the quiet time box is to provide your child with age-appropriate activities that serve three purposes:

1. Challenge/develop your child's skills (motor, reading, linguistic, spatial, etc.)
2. Keep your child quietly occupied during independent play/learning time
3. Give parents a block of time to accomplish tasks (chores, work, relaxation, etc.)

I wasn't quite sure how these would go over with Ellie, since she's only 14 months old and most of the examples I found online were for ages 2-4, but I decided to try it anyway.  My goal through this process was to create 5 quiet time boxes for Ellie (one for each weekday) with at least one of each of the following components:

1. a board book
2. a fine motor skills activity (something requiring her to use her hands and fingers)
3. a fun object (stuffed animal, interesting object, etc.)

My first task was to go through our house and look for toys and objects that I could use.  My first thought was to look in the attic, since I have a lot of teaching supplies up there.  I found A TON of play food (the kind that can be "cut" in half--attached with velcro), as well as a few small stuffed animals she had never seen before.  I also pulled out a few small board books that would fit nicely inside the boxes.


Then, I went out in search of my boxes.  I thought about buying plastic storage boxes, but found the colorful photo boxes (like shoe boxes) at A.C. Moore on sale, so I ended up  buying 5 of those in different colors.


I then went to Walmart in search of a few specific items, like toy blocks, and found a couple of other interesting items there.  After Walmart, I went to the Dollar Store and found everything else I needed.  These were all very inexpensive...I really could have made these boxes out of toys and materials we already had at home, but wanted to give her objects she had never seen before (since she gets kind of burned out on toys after a while).


And then I compiled my boxes!  Of course, I have to include pictures...

Monday's box includes the play food, a board book, and a small stuffed bear that can be pulled out of the trick or treat bag.  (I love that the toy food comes with a small cutting board and plastic knife!)

Tuesday's box includes rubber blocks, another board book (with a finger puppet!), a beanie baby cat, and a plastic elephant that makes a clicking sound when you twist the legs and head.

Wednesday's box includes four mini-maracas, a board book, "I Spy" bottle (visit I Can Teach My Child for directions), and soft spider that screams when you press it.  I never got around to getting an actual photo of the box's contents, but this is a picture of her playing with it during quiet time, so you get the idea.

Thursday's box includes mini gardening tools, a board book, silicone pancake shapers, stuffed squirrel toy, and an empty plastic container.

Friday's box includes a board book, silicone pot gripper (I was thinking this might help her with "pinching" skills), a plastic tambourine, and a basting brush.  This box seems a little empty to me, but I figured I would add and take away objects as we get/find new, interesting things.

I have to say, I think these boxes have been great so far.  The first day I gave her one, she played quietly by herself in her room (with the baby gate up) for 30 minutes.  If I gave it to her first thing in the morning after breakfast, she would probably play for 45 minutes to an hour by herself, but I like to spend time with her in the morning, so we do the quiet time in the late morning or early afternoon.  I'm still working out a set time to have her quiet time.  The point is, she enjoyed it and I was able to get a few things done!

Here are a few more pictures I thought you might enjoy!

 Afternoon quiet time with the Wednesday box...she loves those maracas!

 Ellie's favorite hobby...pulling down all of her board books and "reading" to herself.

 Snack time!  Here, she's wearing her current favorite "accessory"...a lettuce catcher Tupperware bowl.

Until next time!

~Kristen