1) Espresso train
Bliss’ometer: 15 mins
Pros: Kids love trains, enough said!
Cons: Adults will need to get heavily involved
2) Table football
Bliss’ometer: 10min
Pros: Very easy, and great for more than one child
Cons: It can get a bit noisy!
3) Checker board
Bliss’ometer: 10mins
Pros: Great challenge for older kids (7+)
Cons: You need a lot of sticks!
4) Wagon wheel
Bliss’ometer: 5mins
Pros: One for the young children (3+)
Cons: You can’t take it away with you.
5) Baby sick!
Bliss’ometer: 8mins
Pros: You only need a pen…
Cons: …it needs to be a permanent marker
6) Stick house
Bliss’ometer: 10mins
Pros: The perfect starter for older kids (7+)
Cons: Some parent involvement required
I love coffee shops. I have a Latte ‘to go’, most mornings – it’s part of my commuter coping mechanism. At the weekends trips to coffee shops are more of a family affair, the kids are particularly partial to Chocolate Cream (the nearest thing to a milk shake on the Starbucks menu). But as much as the kids enjoy these trips, they become restless before I even get halfway through my Latte. So over the years I have improvised a number of activities to keep them occupied, all of them make use of the materials available in any coffee shop. I hope you find them helpful, or should I say I hope they help you to enjoy your coffee! Good luck.
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Great stuff for RECYCLING! I’m gonna have to show my niece who’s the “artist.”
Awesome! Thanks so much for sharing – I love it!
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Loved your ideas. I have a coffeeshop and decided to post this on our fanpage. Maybe you’ll get more followers. Great work!! Thanks!
One word: Awesome!
-r
Love these! One creative barista at Starbucks once helped my young son build a sword. Here’s how: slide wooden stir sticks into the ends a straw so that you can slide another straw on top (thus adjoining as many straws as you like) to make a sword. Then slip on a clear domed lid for the sword’s hilt. Viola!
Thanks for sharing! That’s quite a cool idea! Scott:)
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Hmmm….1,2,3,4,4,5….Is it numbered that way on purpose?
Thanks you – just fixed the dodgy numbering. Scott:)
this is awesome! thank you!
You’ve made my heart smile! I have two boys…no wait, I have two RAMBUNCTIOUS boys; who love “making”-cause crafting is for girls?! This is by far the best and most useful article I’ve ever encountered in the way of tidbits for kiddos! Martha Stewart ain’t got nothing on you! Thanks a bunch, and keep them coming!
I try to make all my projects fun, so I’m really pleased they have made you smile. Good luck with your two boys! Scott
I just LOVE your drawings! Wonderful!
And as for the coffeeshop activities they are just great. I cant believe someone has to raise their eyebrows over that! Those few extra sticks and others does not cost much for the owner, and they have happy costumers in return!
Yes, it seems my ‘coffee shop crafts’ post has stirred up a small measure of controversy – I didn’t see that coming. Thanks for the comment. Scott:)
Hi, I check your blog from time to time. Have to say I missed you! Good stuff, and great for kids. Thanks for sharing your creativity!
Thank you, I wish I could post more often – having said that, I do have a cool post lined up for next week! Scott:)
I work at a Starbucks and will be making some of these for myself and my co-workers. Much fun will be had! =)
Thanks Kari – I have a Starbucks Latte every morning, I’m a big fan – so hope you don’t mind me making use of a few extra stirring sticks from time to time! Scott:)
amazing blog !!!
bravo !
While so many of the other ideas on this blog are great, I have to say that this post leaves me sort of sad.
Those are interesting – but I would suggest you tip the shop or barrista five or ten bucks for the ‘craft supplies’ and the mess they get to clean up. There are places that some folks like to go and have a bit of quiet time – a coffee shop is one of them for a lot of people.
Seems like if the family is along, why not get your coffee and take the kids to the park to play?
I’m with you! As the owner of a small coffee shop, I’d be a little annoyed if someone attempted to have play time at my place. I’d recommend taking the opportunity to teach your kids to ask politely for things, clean up after themselves and show gratitude. Perhaps that spoils the fun though?
Yes, my wife also managed a coffee shop, in fact, that’s where we met. I love coffee shops, I’ve spent a lot of my working life in them (it’s where I like to think). Now I have kids, I like to share the experience with them – they all have their favourites, tuna melt sandwiches (with olives removed) and hot chocolate in the Winter. But as polite and as well mannered as they are, on occasions I have found myself looking for creative ways to distract them (or should I say, ways to stop them distracting others!). Luckily, in the UK most coffee shops are very child friendly – they are often the chosen meeting point for ‘baby groups’. So all I can say is that so far I’ve not spotted any raised eyebrows!
Those are awesome, Scott! I might even entertain myself with a couple of them.
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Thanks Diane – yes, I think they are more fun for the adults! Scott:)
I may consider starting to drink coffee just to take my kids there and try these projects. We do love to entertain our kids by having them build pyramids out of creamer and jelly at any place that has them at the table. Also, do you know the straw worm trick? That is a fun one too!
Hi Ann, thanks for the comment – and no, I don’t know the straw worm trick, please tell more! Scott
I absolutely love what you do and am in awe of your skill and imagination. These crafts will keep me “occupied” at the coffee shop as well!!
Thanks Dawn – yes, it’s true, they entertain the ‘grown-ups’ as well!
These are such great ideas. Can’t wait to try them out on my kids!
Thank you Wendy – enjoy your coffee!
I dig your website and push it onto as many unsuspecting folks as I can. Your creations are refreshing, clever and so cool because everyone actually wants to make them. Thank you for rescuing us Americans from her glut of country-crafty blogs.
My site has art! Look at it if you want.
Thank you – I’m on my way over to check out your art. Scott:-)
Awesome – planning a trip to Starbucks already!
Yes, I couldn’t really hide that all my ‘coffee shop’ crafts were made in Starbucks! Thanks for the comment. Scott