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39 Comments

  1. Peggy J White says:

    Where can I find the busy boxes task cards?

    1. Angela Thayer says:

      Hello! Do you mean the labels for the boxes? If so, there is a link for them in the blog post. Hope that helps!

  2. Elizabeth Grace Montelongo says:

    Thank you for sharing 🙂

  3. Hi Angela,

    Our boys are about the same age (4, 7, 9) and my challenge is how to create a quiet time especially during the summer that can be catered to ages, my issue seems to be that my older two don’t really want quiet time during the day unless it’s tv, ipad, video game related. I just wondered if you had some suggestions in your experience not only as a teacher but as a mom with kiddos the same age.

    Thank You and Best Regards,
    Carrie

    1. Angela Thayer says:

      I can totally relate! It’s so easy to just turn on screens, but I’m also trying to limit that. For quiet rest time, I do have them just read quietly or draw in their rooms. I do that for about 30 minutes to an hour. I also let them listen to audio books. It’s nice to have some quiet time during the day! They weren’t always thrilled about this, but after getting in the habit, it got better. Hope that helps!

  4. Naomi A Jenkins says:

    Anything for older ones? We have a set homework time but I’m finding most of mine don’t have homework or would rather do it with parents than me, (I’m the after school teacher)

    1. Angela Thayer says:

      That makes sense. Right now, I don’t have a post on quite time boxes for older kids. But I can try to think of ideas and write another post.

  5. I’m wondering what size the bins are.

    1. Angela Thayer says:

      They are 16 quart bins.

  6. Ashley @ Forgetful Momma says:

    We haven’t done naps in a really long time. But I want to make some of these for my 2 year old for homeschooling come September. This year I’ll have both girls “doing school” so it’ll be nice to have something just for him during those times.

  7. What do you do on Saturday & Sunday?

    Also, does he play in the floor or on the bed? Your picture shows floor but the blog says bed…

    How old was your son when this started to work for him?

    Have you had any problems with markers or paydough/slime getting messy in his bed/room?

    We desperately need something to help my son rest. He’s three but hates being alone so much he tears up his room when we tried having him stay in there for “rest time” which became less of a break for me!

  8. Great idea, thank you, I’ll be trying this with my boys. The first 10 minutes when I put baby to bed is make or break, If you wake him in that 10 mins it’s very difficult to settle him again, after that I could go into the room and even tidy up and he won’t wake. Thank you for the labels too.

  9. Thanks a nice idea. I once made ‘busy bags’ for Littles to use during school time with the older children. Currently we have rest time for everyone after lunch. The boys are old enough to have white time in their room, reading, listening to music or audio books, and I have 3 girls sharing a room. I put miss nearly 2 to sleep, and her older sisters 4 and 6 get into bed for a ‘mini rest time’. They get in to bed, miss 6 is very happy on her bed with bits and bobs from her book case and little toys she carries around in her hand bag. Miss 4 normally really likes to lie in bed with toys. We take around half an hr resting like that then I take the older 2 girls downstairs for some special time together playing a game, drawing or making something. The boys are usually very happy for an hour or so and are old enough now to have a daytime nap if they need one and if they want to (they are 8,10,12 and sleep is back in fashion!).

  10. Becky Mutch says:

    These are great quiet time suggestions! I make my twins (who are 5) have quiet time in their separate bedrooms because I still have a 2yr old who sleeps and the twins just need a little down time apart from each other. Love the boxes idea! Will definitely try making a few (although making 10 boxes might be a stretch!!) 🙂

    1. You wouldn’t really have to make 10. You could still do five and each twin would just use a different box. So on Monday they’d use Monday and Tuesday’s boxes. Then the kid that had Monday would get the Tuesday box and the other one would get Wednesday. They’d still rotate through each week. 🙂

    1. Angela Thayer says:

      It is work in the beginning, but honestly it’s not hard to switch out material. I think it’s 100% worth it! My oldest was 4 when I first started using these. Hope that helps!

  11. Elise @ Harvey Ever After says:

    These are great! I’m definitely going to be make some quiet boxes for my toddler by the time summer rolls around. He’ll nap, but he also spends part of naptime playing in his bed!
    Elise @ Harvey Ever After recently posted…Toddler Products I’m Drooling Over TodayMy Profile

  12. wow, this is such a great collection! My 3y.o. still naps most days, but I need to be prepared soon for the day he will stop. I like this idea of having one box for each day, with special items only to be played with in quiet time. And the items you’ve included in each box are great! A good range. How long does your boy normally play happily with this for?

  13. What an awesome idea! My 3.5 year old od starting to get out of nap times and I have been wondering how id cope with her not napping, my 2.yr old napping and my 6 month ild too. Where did u find noah and the ark?

  14. Such good ideas! Thank you for laying the items all out too, that’s so nice. I was wondering what sizes of boxes you use, as I’m looking online and I have no idea what size to purchase. :0/ Thank you for your help!

  15. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! My 3 year old who doesn’t nap anymore doesn’t do well with quiet time either, and I just need a little break. I’ve seen similar ideas elsewhere, but yours was the first that actually made sense and was practical and doable for me. Day 1 of quiet time boxes was a success!

    1. Angela Thayer says:

      Oh I love hearing that!! Thank you for making my day! 🙂 I hope the success continues!

  16. Another great option for quiet boxes would be the Melissa & Doug reusable sticker pads ($4.99-$6.35 on Amazon).

    1. Angela Thayer says:

      Great idea! We actually have one of those. I’ll have to put one in a box. Thanks for the suggestion!

  17. Great! I am just starting to implement quiet times around here again after a 2 year break but I have a couple who don’t read yet so this will be perfect. I see he is sitting on a rug. Do you have him sit there and stay within the rug? I had read a couple of other places where they do that. I was considering that for mine. Thanks for the labels as well!

    1. Angela Thayer says:

      Yes, I do have him sit on a blanket. I have him stay on the blanket, unless he needs to go to the bathroom. I’m always in the same room as him so I can watch him. It works well for us.

  18. Fabulous idea !!
    Do you have any suggestions for a 2.3 yo? Ie: a bit younger than what you have?
    I fear our day sleeps are numbered 🙁
    Thankyou

      1. My 2 1/2 year old loves these water books!

  19. This is genius! We have quiet time and is 30 to 45 min of playing on his own. I love the organization of this idea.

    http://www.aznannies.com

  20. I’m going to try this! Thank you! do you offer a quiet time box for the weekend (Sat/Sun)?

    1. Angela Thayer says:

      Yes I do. I let him choose which box he wants to play with. Or sometimes I let him play on the iPad. Thanks for asking!

  21. Kristen Prosser says:

    Love it Angela!! I’m doing this, very soon. Gotta start collecting!
    Kristen Prosser recently posted…The little brothersMy Profile

  22. we do quiet time too. I make him lay down for 15 minutes and TRY to sleep. I peek in on him after that time and if he doesn’t I let him play in his room. I LOVE this idea though. I might have to hit the dollar store this weekend and stock up on these things. Thanks for the great idea!!

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