Kid Kit v2.0

I see that my Toddler Airplane Survival Kit is getting a boost of web traffic. That, combined with a summer full of spending time with kids, makes me think it's time to talk about my latest kid activity kit. I give you, Kid Kit 2.0™, the Grab and Go Edition®.

So here's what the kit looks like from the outside:

The notepad is a standard 3"x5" version and there to show scale.

The Kid Kit is actually pretty audacious in scope: it tries to have activities for toddlers to teenagers, both indoor and outdoor options, and to be there when kids would normally utter the B word. And it's got a somewhat proven track record: having made many a restaurant or shopping trip far more bearable for all involved. And of course, it's compact enough that I can toss it in my murse Jr. Go Bag without a second thought.

The bag above has two compartments. In the main one are the following items:

• Sidewalk chalk
• Markers, crayons and a couple of glitter pens (which are especially favored)
• Various Matchbox type cars
• Various small plastic varmints
• A collection of Silly Bandz. Remember that craze?
• A bag of random Legos
• A tiny bag of rubber bands for making bracelets and such
• An inflatable beach ball (works as well for playing soccer as it does for playing in the pool)

The second pocket in the bag holds flat items:

• 3"x6" ziplock bags. Used for collecting stones and other interesting objects on hikes
• A loom tool for the rubber bands above
• Stickers
• Wet-Ones wipes. The kit can't be all fun and games
• Paper Dominoes
• Tissues
• Index cards, used as little canvases
• A How-to-Draw-Robots template

These items, the right mindset, and a little bit of luck, and just about any situation can be made into a tolerable if not fun adventure.

Have any suggestions for items to add? I'd love to hear them.