I am totally on the “LIMIT TECHNOLOGY” for little kids bandwagon and am all about “Pocketbook-Sized Toys”! I have been so inspired by some articles I’ve read lately; especially a great article by Your Therapy Source (link at the bottom). So I decided to make a list of 10 pocketbook-sized toys to occupy your kid (instead of your phone!)
As a public school OT, I work with Kindergarten students two days a week. The continued decline in the basic motor skills of four and five-year-old children is VERY evident. There are probably many reasons why, but I feel that lack of functional playtime is a BIG contributor. Nowadays, many kids have their own tablets, TVs in their rooms, and an iPod shuffle. They spend less and less time playing outside, which limits their gross motor skills, endurance, and coordination. When they are inside, they spend less time playing with toys and using their hands and more time with technology.
It is so tempting to give your kid your phone when you are in the car or in a waiting room. It keeps them busy. It keeps them quiet. They become engrossed and stop asking “Are we there yet?” or interrupting your conversation with your spouse, the doctor, etc. Most moms have a ton of random stuff in their purses; wipes, band-aids, superglue, diapers, you name it! Why not some great little “pocketbook-sized toys?”
$15.99
10 pocketbook-sized toys to occupy your kid…
I decided to make a simple list of ten things for Moms to keep in their purse/pocketbook/handbag. Ten things to hand your kid INSTEAD OF YOUR PHONE. As an OT, I can attest that even a few minutes of fine motor play can help a child. These ten pocketbook-sized toys work on eye-hand coordination, fine motor skills, and bilateral coordination (using two hands together). Plus, they are QUIET and small. The perfect “pocketbook-sized toys.”
As an OT, I love recommending car organizers that encourage fine motor play and independence. This organizer is perfect for storing those “instead-of-screen” activities that develop crucial skills. The multiple pockets are perfectly sized for small fidget toys and fine motor activities, while the mesh side holders are great for crayons, colored pencils, or small manipulatives. The center pocket can store coloring books or activity pads instead of tablets.
I especially love that it comes with connecting links – perfect for bilateral coordination practice! It keeps all your developmentally appropriate toys within easy reach, and the waterproof material makes cleanup simple.
1) Pop Beads – Pop beads are one of my favorite go-to therapy toys. They are great for getting kids to practice using their two hands together. They work on hand strength and manipulation skills because kids have to turn the beads within their hands in order to get the beads to link together. Kids have a blast making “bracelets” and putting the shapes and colors in order.
2) Crayons-on-the-Go are great for little kids. I love these little ones that roll up and don’t end up falling out all over the bottom of my purse. Older kids can work on writing or drawing, while younger kids can color or practice shapes. You can even play tic tac toe together.
3) I LOVE Travel Games! For one, they are small and easy for me to throw in my handbag. Plus, small pieces mean more fine motor work! For a busy mom, they fit right in a diaper bag or a pocketbook. They would be perfect for the car or a waiting room, too.
4) Magnetic tins (a wonderful quiet activity) that fit right in a purse. They work on bilateral coordination and fine motor skills. There are many different kinds for boys and girls. The Magnets stick right to the picture inside the tins, which makes it hard to lose the pieces, too.
5) Remember these? I used to play for hours with these Magnet Drawing Games
6) Legos are a wonderful toy that works on fine motor, constructional and bilateral skills. You can get a little set like these or just grab a handful of your big set at home and put them in a zip lock bag. Kids love to build and use their imaginations.
7) Tricky Fingers is one of my go-to activities to work on eye-hand coordination, problem-solving, and fine motor skills. I find this is a good one for kids with sensory issues because you have to be careful how hard you press the marbles. You also have to keep the board in a horizontal position, or the marbles will slip. A word to the wise—although this game says it is for kids 3 and up, I think it is WAY too hard for a three-year-old. Better for 7 and up. Also—it may be a bit noisy in your purse.
8) Handheld Water Games are great for thumb strengthening, visual tracking, and bilateral and eye-hand coordination. It is super tricky to get the ball in the hoop, the shape in the slot, etc. Kids become immersed in the goal of winning as they work on all these great skills.
9) Good Old Silly Putty! I know some moms don’t like playdoh because “it makes a mess” but silly putty has a different consistency. It doesn’t crumble like playdoh, and it has more resistance, which is great for fine motor strengthening. It comes in the handy little egg too, which definitely won’t take up too much room in your purse. I like to stick a couple of beads or pennies in there, too. It’s fun for kids to dig them out and it’s extra work for those little muscles.
10) Travel Colorforms toys are another quiet but fun pocketbook-sized toy for kids to play with while waiting. They come in all different characters like this Disney Princess take-along set or this Doc McStuffins Take Along Set. One thing I like about Colorforms is that they are great for fine motor, but you don’t have to worry about your kid sticking them (like stickers) to the chairs in the waiting room while you speak to the front desk! Ha-Ha!
11) Thinking Putty – This mesmerizing putty isn’t your ordinary stress ball! The color-shifting Super Scarab putty provides an amazing sensory experience while strengthening those important hand muscles. Kids (and adults!) can stretch, fold, and squish it while working on hand strength and finger dexterity. The beautiful iridescent colors make it extra engaging, and unlike regular putty, it never dries out or loses its shape. Perfect for fidgety fingers during wait times!
12) Books: The Perfect Purse Addition! Just like our pocketbook-sized toys, having a few engaging activity books in your bag can be a lifesaver during wait times or travel! They’re perfect for developing fine motor skills as kids turn pages and write, plus they work on visual tracking and hand-eye coordination. Interactive books with puzzles, questions, and travel activities keep those little minds busy and hands working – all while being quiet and compact. Unlike phones, these books encourage proper posture, social interaction, and skill development. They’re the perfect complement to your purse toy collection when you need some screen-free entertainment!
13) Ultimate Dot-to-Dot Animals- Not your typical connect-the-dots! These animal puzzles are perfect for building visual tracking and number skills while improving pencil grip. Kids love revealing each hidden animal picture, making it great for quiet entertainment. The bonus? They’re secretly practicing pre-writing strokes and eye-hand coordination – much better than screen time! Just tear out a page to pop in your purse for instant entertainment.
14) Perfect Pocket Entertainment! Card games are another fantastic screen-free option that fit right in your purse! From scavenger hunts that get kids searching their surroundings to conversation starters that spark family discussions, these compact cards work on finger dexterity, social skills, and thinking abilities. Whether it’s the magnetic Tic Tac Toe that helps with strategy and fine motor control, or family-friendly Never Have I Ever cards that encourage storytelling, these games turn waiting time into learning time – all while being quiet and portable!.
15) No more “Are we there yet?” with these compact bingo cards! Perfect for car rides or waiting rooms, Travel Bingo gets kids actively scanning their environment while secretly working on visual attention and fine motor skills as they mark their cards. A purse-sized solution that turns travel time into engaged, screen-free fun!
16) This classic got a purse-friendly makeover! The compact light board lets kids create glowing designs while strengthening finger muscles and hand-eye coordination. It’s quiet, contained, and perfect for keeping little hands busy during wait times – much better than a phone screen!
17) Turn any car ride into an eye-spy adventure! This compact game gets kids scanning their environment and practicing letter/number recognition. Great for visual tracking skills and keeping minds engaged with the real world instead of screens.
18) A pocket-sized challenge that gets kids thinking in 3D! This marble run puzzle works on problem-solving and spatial planning while tiny fingers manipulate the pieces. The contained design means no lost marbles, making it perfect for on-the-go entertainment.
19) This magnetic version of the classic word game is perfect for building spelling skills and finger dexterity! The flip-down letters stay put, making it ideal for car rides or waiting rooms. Kids get so caught up guessing letters, they don’t realize they’re working on important language skills.
20) Magnetic Building Tiles – These colorful magnetic tiles are perfect for developing spatial awareness, creativity, and STEM skills. The strong magnets and durable materials make them ideal for young builders, while the included storage bag keeps everything organized.
21) Sound book – A delightful interactive board book with three sound buttons featuring Easter-themed characters. Perfect for developing auditory skills and celebrating the holiday with little ones.
22) Linking Blocks for Counting – These connecting cubes are a fantastic manipulative for early math concepts, patterns, and counting skills. The interlocking design helps develop fine motor skills while making learning fun and hands-on.
23) Dress-Up Book – This interactive dress-up book combines fine motor practice with imaginative play. Perfect for developing hand coordination while having fun with fashion and creativity.
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Check out these amazing posts by other bloggers about why you should “LIMIT TECHNOLOGY” for children.
1. Tablet Use Results in Less Muscle by Your Therapy Source
2. Tips for Limiting Screen time in Kids before Age Two by Sarah Lyon on Growing Hands-on Kids
3. Why Kindergarten Teachers Want Your Child to Step Away from the Ipad on Charlotte Smarty Pants.
Great suggestions and a great post to help spread the word that yes iphones are easy but they come with a price to childhood development if overused.
I love the Wooly Willy suggestion. I definitely need to add that to my bag of tricks. Since I have been sitting at events with little ones for years while my older children participate in sporting events or concerts one item I would suggest small one inch blocks with some plastic animals. That is always a hit. Another great one is the Crayola Dry Erase Activity Center – not pocketbook size but awesome.
Here is another post on decreasing electronic time entitled Stop Digitally Sedating Your Kids
http://growingplay.blogspot.com/2016/04/stop-digitally-sedating-your-kids.html
Thank you so much for the suggestions, Margaret!
We also keep a magnetic tic tax toe and go fish in our glove box, so we can easily grab it on our way in to restaurants, Dr appts, etc. Will be adding some of these suggestions to our glove box also. Thanks for this great post 🙂
That’s a great idea! And so much better than a phone! Thanks Erika!
Miss Jaime I thought of you when I read this in the Wall Street Journal yesterday about “snack size” toys. http://www.wsj.com/articles/toys-to-play-the-way-we-eat-on-the-go-1463498521
That’s funny! Thanks, can’t wait to read it!