The kitchen is basically the center of our house. Between prepping for meals, cooking, snacks and cleaning, we spend a lot of time there. Often when I am trying to get things done, if they aren’t eating, the boys are running around and making a mess. I have to quickly find something to get their attention and keep them busy.
I frequently grab things from our preschool shelves from upstairs and take them downstairs to the kitchen. The kids either color, draw, play with Play-Doh or do puzzles while I cook or clean. When we were done, the supplies usually end up in a kitchen drawer. It didn’t take long for a whole drawer to be overran with their things. It has been getting pretty full and I have plenty of actual kitchen items that could be occupying it better.
On a trip to a dollar store to pick up some organizing containers, I found some sectioned totes and grabbed a few anticipating I would find a use for them. After I got home I realized it was the perfect size for all the kids activities in the kitchen. Everything fits perfect and it makes it easy to store.
The tote is now filled with items from a dollar store or the dollar spot at Target or Walmart. I like to grab one or two new items each time I am at the store. Ours includes:
- Coloring Books
- Activity Books
- Paint Books
- Puzzles
- Flash Cards
- Books
- Stickers
- Small Play-Doh
- Crayons
- Pencils
- Paint Brushes
When I am prepping for dinner now, the kids sit at the kitchen island and I set out the kit for them to keep busy. It has made things run smoother and the house is momentarily slightly quieter.
**CLICK HERE TO RE-PIN**
How do you keep your kids busy when you cook?