3 Rainbow Busy Bags Made from Dollar Tree Foam Sheets

*This is a sponsored post. All opinions and ideas expressed are my own. I received the product mentioned in this post for free from Dollar Tree. This post also contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. Thank you!

When it comes to keeping my kids busy in just about any situation, I rely heavily on the use of busy bags! When nursing a baby, waiting in a doctors office, keeping quiet in church, I always have a stash of these in my bag. Because we use them out and about, pieces often go missing or get ruined, so I don’t like to spend a ton of money on creating these. My favorite place to shop for busy bag materials is the Dollar Tree. It’s the perfect price point, and I always find items that are great for combining together to keep my littles busy and engaged! Perfect for making batches for a busy bag swap or my daughter’s preschool class! Check out how we used their craft foam sheets to make 3 different rainbow busy bags!

Rainbow Busy Bags for Preschoolers

I have this belief that all kids love rainbows. Not only are they appealing and pretty to look at, but what a fun way to practice color identification and the order of colors in a rainbow that by playing with them! These 3 rainbow busy bags are all easy to throw together and will provide tons of fun and entertainment.

Make-a-Rainbow Busy Bag

Did you know that when you add water to foam sheets, they stick together? It’s like magic for kids! For this busy bag, we cut out various semi-circles in the craft foam, from biggest to smallest in the color order of the rainbow.

At home, kids can use a paintbrush and a cup of water to layer the foam shapes to create a rainbow by ‘painting’ water on each piece and attaching them together. If you want to take this on the go, grab a baby wipe, wipe the foam and stick the pieces together like that!

Rainbow Button Snake Busy Bag

A button snake is a really fun way to help kids learn how to button without pressure. On a piece of ribbon, attach buttons to either end. If you don’t know how to sew, don’t worry, sewing a button is a simple process! Check out this video. I actually use my sewing kit that I purchased at the Dollar Tree for my button snakes!

Once you have buttons on your ribbon, cut shapes in the craft foam out of the various colors. In the middle of each shape, cut a slit for the button to pass through. Kids can make a rainbow snake by adding the foam shapes to the ribbon (all while practicing an important skill!).

Foam Rainbow Chain Busy Bag

Making paper chains is always a loved kids activity. In this busy bag, by using foam in lieu of paper, this chain can be created over and over again!

Cut out strips of craft foam (about 1-2 inches wide). On one end of the foam strip, place a velcro dot. Flip the foam strip over, and on the opposite end, attach another piece of velcro. You should be able to fold the foam into a circle and attach the velcro pieces together.

Kids can link together multiple pieces of foam like this, creating a rainbow chain! Simply take apart each piece and create it again!

Get your Busy Bag Supplies!

You will find SO many ways to play with these. If you have extra sheets, cut them up and add them to your bath! Kids will love to dip them in the water and stick the onto the wall, creating large and beautiful murals. Have so much fun playing with your rainbow busy bags!