Lunches out are generally easy—until your toddler starts getting bored! I often come to the problem of how to keep my toddlers entertained until I finish that last morsel in my bowl. Here are some of my favorite activities that can be easily bought off Taobao:
- Activity Books
There are three types that I usually get: coloring books, coloring + tracing books, or Gakken books. I love the coloring books for tots that I’ve found in China so far. They generally have two pictures, except one is colored while the other is not. The child can choose whether to follow the “guide” or to color it his or her own way. For days that she prefers to trace, I bring out the combo books, but I noticed that my daughter’s favorite are the Gakken activity books. In the first Gakken book, children are asked to trace the lines between two characters that have some form of connection. By the end of the book the children should be able to draw straight lines from Point A to Point B (or curvy ones, depending on the activity on hand).
Search Terms: Coloring Books: 儿童涂色书; Coloring + Tracing Books 儿童蒙纸学画画本
- Color Magnetic Boards
These portable drawing boards have been quite helpful! The one I gave my daughter has little stamps on the side and a pen to draw on the board. The different parts of the board have different colors underneath, so when my daughter draws a circle, then different parts of the circle would show in different colors.
Search Terms: 画画板
- Sand Painting Kits
I had my daughter practice at home before letting her do this on her own while out to eat. These sand painting kits have pictures or drawings on them covered by stickers. The task is to take off the stickers bit by bit and put some glitter on them (or sand, if we go by the name). The kit will usually have a small brush that the child can use to spread the glitter on that specific part. Then voila! You’ll have a glitter-filled project. Once your child has mastered this at home they can show off on the big stage.
Search Terms: 儿童套装沙画
These magical books start out with silhouettes of characters and shapes and come alive once the Magic Pen breathes color onto the pages.
Search Terms: 水画涂鸦本
The sticker books I’m referring to are those with stickers in the middle of the book while the remaining pages are usually stories. These stories have missing characters or items that the child needs to fill in using the stickers in the middle of the book.
Search Terms: Sticker Books: 贴纸书
- Foam and Paper Stick-ons!
There are a few types I’ve seen so far. There’s the DIY sticker set;, the stick-the-buttons-on-the-picture set; the paper plate animals and cup animals. Here are some examples:
Search Terms: 宝宝木质拼图
Not every kid likes coloring, drawing, and art. To those who prefer building something or connecting puzzles, bringing a wooden puzzle is a good option.
Search Terms: 儿童手工贴画
This is also for the kids who prefer building blocks over coloring and drawing, and the puzzles come in many different shapes.
Search Terms: 儿童手工3D制作拼图
This is for the toddlers who have mastered their scissor skills. After all, you don’t want to make all of the fuwuyuan unhappy with the bits of paper all over the floor now, do you?
Search Terms: 儿童剪纸书
I love these little DIY books for young kids, but it might be best to practice this at home first. Otherwise you’ll end up assisting your child throughout his post-meal project-making time.
Search Terms: 儿童手工书
So there you have it, ten projects your child can do after their meal is done. Do you have any more suggestions, tips, or tricks for a relaxed lunch out? Let me know in the comments section below!
Photos: Taobao.com
16 Comments
My son loves wooden puzzles and puzzles in general! We sometimes receive “free” puzzles with purchases, and those are the ones we “travel” with so that if he loses pieces it’s not the end of the world!
Nice list! My 3 year old easily gets bored when we eat out too and your list definitely gave me something to keep him preoccupied! I love the list!
I no longer have a toddler but this is something I have to think about again soon because we have a baby on the way. Books and art materials really do help a lot but you’re other ideas are great too!
@Jessica so true! It’s disastrous when they lose a piece isn’t it? They really break down and act like it’s the end of the world haha, cute but challenging at times!
@Nhessie, thanks! Glad you liked it! Thanks for commenting!
@Janice, I’m glad you found it helpful!
I no longer have toddlers but this is such a great list for those moms with little kids.?
I keep my daughter entertained with stickers but instead of sticking it to the paper, she sticks it to herself lol! I would love to try the Magic Pen Painting books. I remember doing something similar to those when I was young–the ones you need to paint water on then color magically appears.
Having two little kids, I’ve learned my lesson and make sure I bring activities for them when we go out. I usually bring coloring books for my girl and blocks for my boy. So far, these have helped us survive out of the house trips!
Great list, it becomes a problem for me and hubby when we eat out cause my son can’t seem to stay put. We can try some of this activities so he’ll have fun while waiting for our food. I like your finds but I like the cutting paper specifically, saw one like that in Market Market!:)
Thanks @Jerzee! 🙂
@Melissa, that’s the exact same thing! Haha your daughter gets to relive a part of your childhood through this activity 🙂
@Kim Reyes, absolutely agree! That’s why I need these, too! Haha
@Jho Tacorda, My daughter is also starting to like cutting a lot, so I also just bought her that activity you’re referring to. Hope your son enjoys it! 🙂
We have and use all of these except for the sand painting kits. Those sound so cool! I hope they are available locally as I’m curious to try them.
Glad you liked them Maan! Yes hope you can get hold of the sand painting kits, too! 🙂
Oh, these are so helpful! My boys are usually a handful when they’re done and I’m just starting. I should remember to bring some of these when we’re eating out.
When my kid was a toddler, I always bring her sketch pad and crayons. It kept her in her seat. 🙂
This is why we dont often eat out with the kids :)) When we do, we always choose kid-friendly restaurants and I usually bring their own art kits to keep them busy 🙂
I know right? My kids are so wild! I’m OK with going out to fast eating places like Subway, but sit down hot pots or other nice restaurants catering to adults can be a nightmare.
Always best to bring something for the kids when you know they’ll have to sit still like when dining. I like those paper cut outs!