If you’ve ever been out for food, on a long car journey, or travelling as a family, you’ll know how useful it is to have something on hand to keep little ones entertained. That’s where a busy bag comes in. A busy bag is a grab-and-go kit filled with simple activities, toys and games that are age-appropriate for your child. It’s brilliant for restaurants, trains, planes, waiting rooms, or even just days out where you need a little calm distraction.
The beauty of a busy bag is that you can completely tailor it to your children’s ages, needs and interests, and you can rotate the contents so it always feels fresh. Here’s how I built ours, with ideas you can try for your own family.
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Table Of Contents
The Bag Itself
I used a hanging toiletry bag as the base for our busy bag. It has lots of compartments to separate activities, zips closed securely, and can be hung up in a hotel bathroom or laid flat on a table so children can see everything at once. I went for black because I know it’ll get thrown on the floor, dragged about and generally well-used!
Mini Mesh Bags
These little mesh zip pouches are perfect for organising small items. I used them for Lego kits (see below), but they’d work for crayons, cards, or even little snacks. Having separate bags helps keep things tidy and easy to swap out.
Mini Travel Games
We raided the house for a few mini versions of family favourites. Ours included:
- Connect 4 (mini version) – great for quick competitive play.
- Ludo – a simple board game that packs small.
- Snap / Snap Cards – always a classic and easy for all ages.
- Snakes and Ladders – a quick board game with lots of replay value.
- Top Trumps – ideal for slightly older children who love facts and comparisons.
These games don’t all need to go in at once — you can rotate them to keep the bag from getting too bulky.
Lego Mini Kits
My girls love Lego, so I put together mini Lego kits in the mesh bags. We added a few baseplates and a mix of small bricks. The idea is that they can create little builds on the go, then we swap the pieces out regularly to keep it interesting.
Sensory Threading Set
This was a fun find — a rubbery, slightly strange set with cords you thread through holes to make patterns. It doesn’t really “do” anything, but it’s perfect as a mindfulness exercise. It keeps little hands busy and is calming to fiddle with in restaurants or cars.
Mini Magnetic Drawing Boards
These tiny drawing boards are ideal for quick games of noughts and crosses (tic-tac-toe), doodles, or just keeping little ones occupied. They wipe clean easily, and because they’re so small you can pop a few in without taking up much space.
Electronic Tic-Tac-Toe Game
I’ve also ordered a little electronic tic-tac-toe game for the bag. It hasn’t arrived yet, but it should be a fun way to mix up the activities and add a bit of novelty.
Other Ideas for Busy Bags
Your busy bag doesn’t have to look like mine — it’s all about what works for your family. Here are some extra ideas you could include:
- Crayons or colouring pencils with a small notebook
- Fidget toys (Pop-its, spinners, stress balls)
- Sticker books or reusable sticker scenes
- Puzzle books or activity pads
- Playing cards or Uno
- Travel-sized puzzles
- Magnetic play sets or dolls
- A few favourite figurines or cars
A busy bag really is a sanity saver when you’re out and about. The key is to keep it lightweight, portable, and filled with things your kids actually enjoy. Rotate items regularly so it stays exciting, and keep it by the door or in the car so you never forget it.
Create Your Own Mini Organised Life Binder (My Secret Weapon)
I have tried every planner and organisation system under the sun, and nothing ever really worked for me — until I created my own Organised Life Binder System. It has genuinely changed my life as a busy, ADHD mum of four.
With the binder, I can keep everything in one place — family schedules, meal plans, routines, to-dos, goals, and all those little life admin tasks that usually get lost in the chaos. It’s flexible, printable, and completely customisable, so it works whether you want to focus on daily planning, decluttering, kids’ routines, budgeting, or all of the above.
And here’s the best bit — I’ve recently started using the Mini Binder version, and I’m obsessed! It’s all the organisation power of the full binder, but in a portable A5 size that actually fits in my bag. I use it for my own planning, but also for my kids’ systems — school routines, homework checklists, weekend resets — you name it.
No matter which size you choose, the Organised Life Binder System gives you:
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✔ A calm, clear system to get the chaos out of your head and onto paper
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Grab The Resource I WISH I Had When My Kids Were Being Assessed For Autism
Navigating the autism assessment process can be overwhelming, and when my kids were going through it, I wish I had a resource to help me stay organised and on top of everything. That’s why I’ve created a comprehensive Autism Journey Journal. This resource is everything I wish I’d had at the time – a place to record dates, appointments, meeting notes, and reflections, all while helping you stay prepared every step of the way. Grab your copy now and make the process a little bit easier for you and your family.
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