The swap has now reached its set number of swappers. If you signed up, you should receive an email in the next week, letting you know what to do next. 

If you missed out and would like a preschool busy bag set before Christmas, you may consider purchasing one from the store.

If you'd like to be notified of future swaps, fill out this form.

There will be two coordinators... myself and Bridgette, my sister in law.  We will each coordinate 2 swap groups.

The swap sign up form will be closed once we reach 160 swappers (4 groups of 30, plus 10 fill ins per group).

In order to help cover the expense of coordinating the swap, there will be a participation fee of $2, in addition to the shipping deposit.

If you participated in the swaps when they were hosted at Unsolicited Advice, you will be happy to hear that the shipping has been reduced to $10.50, the USPS medium flat rate box.

For more information about what a busy bag swap is, visit our swaps page.

You can sign up for this swap using the swap sign up form. Be sure to read the rules first!

Here is the lsit of activities for this holiday season's preschool busy bag swap.

Preschool Busy Bag Swap

1. Read the swap procedures before going any further. Still think you'd like to join the swap? Then move on...

2. Look through the following list of activities, and choose your top three choices. Activity assignments will be made on a first come, first served basis. While we will take your top three choices into consideration, there is no guarantee that you will be assigned one of them.

3. Fill out the swap form, and give us 3-4 days to sort out the swap groups and assign swap activities. You will receive an email after that with further instructions.

All of these activities should fit within the $1.00 per bag budget. However, please price out your activity before starting. If it is going to put you over budget, let Bridgette or I know right away, and we will help you figure it out.

Some of the activities will require printing and sometimes laminating. If you do not have a printer or access to a laminating machine, please let us know in the comment section of the sign up form. Lamination is only required if the activity will be used for dry erase purposes or for the play dough activity. Please print non-laminated items on cardstock, unless otherwise noted.

Shapes and Colors

Shape Hunt and Sort- Shape sorting mats and a shapes die. Child rolls the die; then finds an item in the house that matches that shape and places it next to the proper mat. Print mats on cardstock and create die by drawing shapes on a small wooden block.

Color Wheel- Child matches color coded clothespins to the colors on a color wheel. Print on cardstock and provide color coded clothespins.

 Trace a Shape Game- Child draws a shape card. Finds a matching shape on the sheet and traces it. Print on regular paper and laminate (or put in a sheet protector). Provide dry erase marker or washable crayon.

Double Trouble Shapes Match- Child matches complex shape combinations. Print on cardstock and use foam shapes.

People to House Match Up- Child matches colored Popsicle stick people with the correct colored house. Cut house shapes from foam and glue together to create a pocket. Provide color Popsicle people.

Pom Pom Patterns- Child completes color & size patterns with pom-poms. Print 2-3 sheets on cardstock. Provide the proper number and color pom-poms.

Roll-a-Cise- Child rolls a shape die, then performs the exercise associated with that shape. Print on cardstock and create die by drawing shapes on a small wooden block.

Numbers/Counting/Early Math:

Number Wheel- Child counts dots and clips on the right numbered clothespin. Print on cardstock and provide numbered clothespins.

Five Fabulous Frogs- Child counts out frogs or other items and places the correct number on each mat. Print on cardstock and provide frogs or other items. (Can use any object with these printable counting mats.)

Measure It- Child uses animal cards to measure items and sorts them onto the corresponding mats. Print on cardstock and provide items for measuring.

Number Tracing Sheet- Print page one on regular paper and laminate or place in a sheet protector. Provide a dry erase marker or washable crayon.

Number Tiles and Bug Counting Cards- Child counts bugs and places the correct number tile on each card. Print on cardstock and create number tiles.

Alphabet:

Upper and Lower Alpha Spoons- A set of 2 colored plastic spoons, one color with uppercase letters written on them, the other with lowercase. Child stacks lowercase on top of uppercase spoons. Please provide 52 plastic spoons of two colors with uppercase and lowercase letters written on them. Print out optional.

Letter Tiles and Alphabet Tile Cards- Child places letter tile on the card picturing an item that starts with that letter. Print on cardstock and create letter tiles.

Alphabet Zap- Number 3 on this web page. Substitute sight words with letters of the alphabet. Take turns drawing a Popsicle stick. Name the letter or give the sound. If correct, keep it. But look out for the zap stick. Provide Popsicle sticks with letters written on them and a cup or container.

Alphabet Tracing Sheet- Laminated sheet for child to practice writing letters. Print on regular paper and laminate or place in sheet protector. Provide dry erase marker or washable crayon.

Find that Letter- Child draws a card with a letter written on it, then finds a matching letter on his sheet and circles or traces it. Print cards on cardstock. Print game sheet on regular paper and laminate. Provide dry erase or washable crayon.

Just for Fun:

Playdough and Mat(s)- Some ideas: Number Mats ,Letter Mats , Shape Mats (look under "Play-dough Shape Mats"), Berry Pie Mat, Carrot Planting, Facial Expressions, Feeding Giraffe- The play mat provides the child with focused interaction. Print and laminate and provide playdough.

Felt Cupcake Decorating- Child decorates his felt cupcake. Cut all pieces from felt.

Clothesline- Child hangs felt "clothes" from a clothesline with clothespins. Cut clothes from felt and provide some sort of cord and several clothespins.

Spooning Beads- Child spoons beads from one container to another. Please provide two containers, one spoon, and a handful of beads.

Felt Snowflake Builder- Child creates snowflakes using various felt shapes and pattern cards. Print cards on cardstock. Please provide a felt board (can be a sheet of felt glued to a sheet of cardstock), and cut felt pieces.

No Sew Felt Fishing Game- The age-old magnetic fishing game. Please provide fishing poles and several felt fish.

Pom-Poms and Pinchers- Child picks up and transfers pom-pom with plastic tongs. Please provide plastic tongs, a handful of pom-poms, and a bowl or container.

Pipe Cleaners and Pony Beads- Child laces beads onto pipe cleaners. Provide a handful of beads and a few pipe cleaners. Spice containers not necessary.

Popsicle Stick Builders- Child uses Popsicle sticks to build creations. Provide Popsicle sticks with Velcro attached to ends. Bottle caps are optional.

Straw Lacing- Child laces straw pieces onto yarn or shoelaces. Please provide yarn lengths (or shoelaces – inexpensive at Dollar Tree) and cut up straw pieces. Paper shapes are optional.

Mini Felt Board- Felt board and felt pieces to create scenes or pictures. Create a felt board by gluing a half sheet of felt onto half sheet of cardstock. Provide cut out shapes or objects

Felt Ice Cream Patterning- Child draws a card, then creates an ice cream stack matching that pattern. Print pattern cards on cardstock. Also provide 1 felt cone, 3 felt brown scoops, 4 felt pink scoops, and 4 felt white scoops.

What Goes Together? - Child lays sorting cards on table and places the objects on the proper card to illustrate what belongs together. Print cards on cardstock and provide one of each object.