Sometimes I run out of ideas for keeping my son busy, especially when I need him to entertain himself (primary example: when I am working from home). As all of you moms of toddlers know, the mere idea of a two-and-a-half year old boy sitting still for more than five minutes at a time is a pipe dream at best. It’s certainly not for any shortage of toys or TV shows, those things just don’t keep him engaged. So I found something that works wonders: I made a special box of arts and crafts that he can do independently. We call it his craft box (so much for originality, huh?) and he knows that it only comes out when Mommy has work to do. The novelty of it being a special activity is what really seals the deal.  It’s also a way for him to nurture his creativity and it really, truly does keep him occupied for long stretches of time.

I choose to include special items that he doesn’t have everyday access to (but are still safe for him to play solo). Some of my favorite things to include in his box are:

A box of Eco-Kids Eco-Crayons, instead of regular crayons. They come in a box of 6 colors and they are completely all natural. Because he is still likely to put things in his mouth, I love that these are made of only fruit, plant and vegetable extracts that are completely safe if accidentally ingested. My son calls them “rocks” because of their unique shape, and I like that they are broader in shape than traditional skinny crayons which are easier for him to hold and less likely to break when using aggressively. The colors are not quite as vibrant as traditional crayons but my young Picasso doesn't notice and he really enjoys coloring with his "rocks".

Glob Natural Paint. The Easter Bunny was kind enough to leave my son an all natural paint kit in his basket this year. I love that the kit comes with everything you need: 6 all natural paint packets, 6 jars with lids and 2 bamboo brushes (good when you want to paint with your little one or when one gets misplaced). This requires a tiny bit of effort on my behalf as I need to make the paint and lay down some protective paper over the kitchen table, but the paint washes off surfaces, skin and clothing easily and should little ones decide to taste it, you can rest assured that it is non-toxic and comes from only plants, vegetables, flowers and spices. This paint is also great for finger-painting!

Special paper. This can be poster board, foam board, colorful construction paper or any kind of paper that your child doesn’t usually get to use.  I like the really big sheets of blank paper and the jumbo coloring pads by Melissa & Doug.

The key to a successful creativity box is to make the items you choose to include special and safe. Also, anything that can be cleaned up easily is a big plus.

 How do you keep your child occupied when you are busy? What are your go-to activities for encouraging independent play?