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Squeaks had just turned three when she officially gave up naps in favor of a mid day quiet time. It directly coincided with the devastating loss of her pacifier (she chewed a hole in it and I refused to replace it). While it was an adjustment for both of us, we have since come to look forward to quiet time in our house. A little break for both mama and Squeaks while the boys nap.

Squeaks is the type of kid who could entertain herself in a completely empty room. The child has an imagination like no other. Sometimes I listen to her playing in her room alone and the adventures she’s having with her stuffed animal pals would blow your mind. Still, I didn’t want to just stick her in her room for an hour ever day with no guidance whatsoever. I wanted the time to be fun and relaxing for her but also educational, if only to a small degree.

Enter quiet time bins!

 

Every day after I get the boys down for nap, Squeaks spends her quiet time in her room. I have a bin for each day of the week so she sees something new every day. Every so often I’ll rotate items out and add new ones as needed. The contents of each box are fairly similar though. There’s always a puzzle or two (Squeaks is in love with puzzles lately), something to draw or color with, a book she can enjoy on her own, some kind of fine motor activity, and a fun small toy. I save little toys that her brothers are too young to play with, so they’re special just for her.

Here’s a look at what inside each of our bins:

Sunday-

Melissa and Doug goldfish puzzle. I separated this set of puzzles and put each one into it’s own little container.

Minnie Mouse puzzle. I bought this set and I’m saving the larger puzzles for when she gets a little older. A 24 piece puzzle is her limit right now.

Bible Stories Water Wow. Can you tell I love Melissa and Doug?! If you’ve never seen their water wow pads, they’re awesome. Like painting, but all you need is a tiny bit of water in the little pen it comes with.

Fisher-Price Doodle Pro. A classic.

My Little Pony Stuck On Stories. This comes with tiny little suction cup ponies you can stick to the pages of the book to create little scenes and stories. Fine motor skills!

Last but not least, a Frozen coloring book from the Target dollar spot and some crayons.

Monday-

Finding Dory coloring book with crayons and stickers from Targets dollar spot.

Melissa and Doug magnetic wooden dress up doll.

Melissa and Doug Animals Water Wow.

Little Mermaid magnetic wooden puzzle.

A couple Finding Dory Look and Find books. These are a little like a “Where’s Waldo” but simpler. Found at Target.

A Finding Dory mini puzzle. Another one from this set.

Animal finger puppets. Part of this set.

Tuesday-

Zootopia My Busy Book. These are fun books. They come with little figurines to create little scenes with. The board book is fun for Squeaks to look through too.

Mini Frozen figurines for some imaginative play.

A couple more coloring books from Target.

A blank drawing pad and crayons.

Magnetic doodle pad. For the life of me I can’t remember where I found this one but here is a similar one.

Four pack of Melissa and Doug wooden animal puzzles

Wednesday-

More finger puppets from this set.

A variety of mini coloring books out of play-packs purchased from Target.

Emoji face stickers. These were a gift and I’m going to have to find more because Squeaks loves drawing people and then adding the stickers to make faces.

A blank drawing pad and finger crayons.

Melissa and Doug cat puzzle from this set separated into its own little container.

An Anna puzzle Squeaks received as a gift. It’s also part of a set I separated into containers.

Magnetic “Wanted” poster. My mom found this one at  local toy store.

This bin is lacking a book so I usually grab a few off her book case that she enjoys looking through.

Thursday-

Usborne’s First Book About The Orchestra. This is a super cool book with little buttons you can push to hear the instruments. Usually I don’t like sound books but this one isn’t annoying at all and the sound isn’t too loud.

The little Frozen book is just a blank pad of paper.

Paw Patrol Play-Pack from the Target dollar spot. These little play packs are great. They come with a mini coloring book, crayons, and stickers. You can’t beat a dollar and I just switch them out once Squeaks has used up all the pages.

Melissa and Doug Alphabet Water Wow.

The little puppy figurines were a birthday gift.

Hungry Caterpillar lacing cards.

This bin has three puzzles (I told you Squeaks loves puzzles lately). The Finding Dory and Frozen puzzles I purchased at a local consignment sale.The last little puzzle is another Melissa and Doug puzzle taken from this set.

Friday-

Mini Mouse 24 piece puzzle from Target dollar spot.

The little Olaf puzzle is separated from the same set as the Anna puzzle on Wednesday.

I’m pretty sure I got the mermaid coloring book at the dollar store.

A pack of stickers and a Paw Patrol blank note pad.

Another Play-Pack. Despicable Me 3 this time.

A “Beauty And The Beast” My Busy Book. Pretty sure my mother-in-law found this one at Barnes & Noble. I can’t find it on Amazon.

Lastly, some stretchy multi-colored lizards, ’cause why not?

Saturday-

Usborne’s Garden Sounds book is the same idea as the Orchestra book. This little book makes the most soothing sounds. It’s amazing.

Usborne’s All Better book. It comes with reusable bandages to put on the pages as different characters get ouchies. Cute!

More finger puppets from this set.

Some miniature horse figurines.

Hungry Caterpillar lacing cards. I just split the set up into two bins.

Two more puzzles taken from set mentioned above and separated into their own little containers.

And finally, a blank notebook and crayons.

These activities have been a great start to a relaxing quiet time routine for Squeaks and I. She looks forward to her box every day. Be sure to check out the quiet time activities I recommend in my Amazon store and follow along as quiet time evolves and grows with our family!

How old was your little one when they gave up naps? Do they still do quiet time?