church toys

[kimbo613]

We are changing churches and I am trying to think of quiet things to keep DS busy during the church service.  Our new church does family worship, so all of the children are in the service with their parents.  As you might expect, children make noise, and some is expected.  There is a "quiet" room to take screaming kiddos so they don't interrupt, but other than that, the kids stay in.  Of course, they are not expected to stay in seats the whole time either, but I need SOMETHING to keep him occupied for the 20min or so for the sermon.  I have gathered a few books and a small stuffed animal, but can't think of anything else that is quiet.  I have seen older kids coloring, but DS would end up coloring on the chairs and floor and who knows what else.  I am hoping there are some creative juices flowing out there

[Casseopea]

A drawing pad is a nice way for him to *color* without making a mess- though he might be a tad young still.
http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Doodle-Pro-Tag-Along-Blue/dp/B0015KU14O/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1281142051&sr=8-4

Crayola (and a couple of others) make coloring books and markers that only can be used together, if the lo tries to color on something else it doesn't work.  Aparently you can find them with crayons instead of markers (since 1.5yrs is a little young for markers) but I have had a really hard time finding any.
http://www.amazon.com/Crayola-Wonder-Disney-Coloring-Markers/dp/B000IMYZHE/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1281142191&sr=8-8

Hmmm... those are my only thoughts at the moment.  HTH. 

Kimberly

[kimbo613]

Cool.  The doodle pad is a good idea.  My mom has some magna doodles for her preschool class that are like travel size or something.  That would be easy to take with us.   Have to ask her where she got them.

I have seen the color wonder sets, but never seen with crayons.  I think he is too young for markers.  I still have a hard time keeping crayons out of his mouth

[We Three]

A pad of paper and some stickers would occupy my dd forever at that age!  You could get a soft lunchbox and fill it with quiet things, and call it the "church box"...and put a bunch of little things like that in there...and keep it in the car, only for church, so he'll always be happy to see it.

We have a teachers' store near here, and there is a whole area of cheapie little things...we had a "restaurant box" for dd (a Thomas lunckbox) that we filled with stuff from there. A tiny slinky, stickers, little plastic farm animals, self-inking stamps, a pad of paper, a miniature magna-doodle, a small sand-timer (boy how she loved that!), and a pack of flash cards with animals on them.  Oh and this little clear plastic thingee that had blue water and a dolphin inside, and just by turning it he would swim around in there!  As I write this, I am feeling sad that we *used to* go out to eat often enough for us to need this stuff LOL!  Darn economy. 

[kimbo613]

The sand timer idea is brilliant!  I never would have thought of that, but he will love it

Something my mom mentioned too...I wonder if he is too young for a lacing toy.  He does love stuff that fits into little holes...

We've just been able to go out to eat a few times recently since DS has gotten better in the evenings and a little more flexible about bedtime   He loves going to Red Robin cause he gets a balloon, and will actually eat part of my hamburger.  (though of course he will never eat one at home )

[aimeeL]

We have a church bag, too... let's see - has an AWESOME activity book that my MIL made for L.. lots of velcro stuff and snaps to play with... there are a few activity books online that I'd seen - with laces and buttons and such to keep busy fingers occupied.  How about a felt board?  A preschool/teacher supply store might have something small and portable?  Or at least you could buy felts - animals, people, etc - and could probably make the "board" yourself by stapling/gluing felt to a cardboard backing, ykwim? 

Finger puppets?  L gets a kick out of these.. we got a pack of ten at IKEA - little animal finger puppets
Lacing cards... hmm - I forget where I got these.. a bookstore?  Borders maybe?  She's JUST getting the hang of them now, but still kind of fun to just "play" with
Magnet thingy - this was a gift that I think our friend bought from Cost Plus World Market.  It's this little, flat tin box - about the size of a large book... that has these magnets inside - people from all over the world and their ethnic costumes.. You can "dress" each person, etc.  Again, L is *just* starting to get the idea of dressing, but she's liked playing with it for awhile now...
Animals - We bought a little tube of animals from Michaels that she loves to take out and put back in - you can get all sorts of these little figures - farm animals, marine life, etc. 

[Nauvoo]

Snacks!!!  I love all the other ideas.  But for us especially when the bread and water are going around we use snacks much to the custodians dismay.  Works very well especially because it's right during nap time.

[kimbo613]

Definitely snacks.  Especially since the service cuts into lunch time, I always have a little extra to tide him over.

Will have to check Michaels in a few weeks maybe...when the novelty of our other stuff wears off   His favorite was the plastic slinky this week, though I think that may have been a bit distracting to those sitting behind us.