Tote of Goodies

Ok, so maybe this post would again be better under Parenting without Tears, but I think it has some application in the classroom, too! I'll give my ideas for that at the end of my post.

We decided to take a spur of the moment trip to SeaWorld. We've been several times in the past, and have always enjoyed it. Since we haven't gone anywhere this summer, and didn't have plans to do so, this seemed like the perfect trip!

Now, I don't know about you, but I really hate that time between supper and bedtime in a hotel. My children don't have any of their toys from home, and even if I wanted to stick them in front of the television, the hotels usually don't have a child-friendly lineup to choose from! So here's my solution to that....a tote of goodies!

Even my husband, who hints that I might be a teensy, weensy bit of an over-packer (which I totally am, I can't deny it!), doesn't complain about the extra tote because it keeps the kids busy once we get back to the hotel for the night! It would totally be worth making an entire extra trip just to carry it into the hotel! I keep the tote in my car, in the hidden storage area in the trunk. Out of sight, out of mind (until I want it!)

So what's in the tote you might ask?
1-Look and Find Book (like I Spy but for little ones)

2-Hidden Pictures magazines

3-Tic-Tac-Toe and Toss-Tac-Toe magnetic game

**There are several of these magnetic games available and they are rather inexpensive (under $10 each!). I found many available at amazon.com. I plan on purchasing several more of these next time I order from Amazon. I particularly have my eye on Steps and Slides, which unfortunately Amazon does not offer at this time. I did find it online at a few different places, but will have to research those places better before I order from them!

4-Trouble travel game

5-Connect 4 travel game

6-Old Maid cards
7-Go Fish cards

Ok - so for the teaching connection. The reason I have this tote is to keep my children from being bored. I believe this is applicable in the classroom as well. I think having some of these totes available for early finishers could/would prevent some behavior issues. In my classroom, students are already able to select the types of activities I would put in these totes, but I think part of the draw is that my children don't have many choices in the box and they only see them when we go on vacation. In my classroom, students have A LOT of choices and they're always available. I'm really going to have to think hard about creating some of these in my classroom! And you can be sure there will be a post once I do!

Hope this gives you some great ideas for making the lives of those children you interact with on a regular basis more exciting! Until next time...