Bag Draw

What's in the bag? In Bag Draw, your child reaches in, draws out one everyday object, and tells you all about it: what it is, whether they use it, and what it says about them. It's a guessing game and a conversation starter in one, and it fits All About Me week perfectly.

What you need

• A paper bag, pillowcase or cloth bag you can't see through

• 6 to 10 everyday things from your child's life, such as a toothbrush, sock, spoon, toy car, book, hairbrush, family photo, crayon, shoe or an unbreakable mirror

How to play

1. Fill the bag. Put the items in while your child isn't looking.

2. Reach in. Your child reaches in and feels around. Want to add a challenge? Ask them to guess what they're touching before they pull it out.

3. Draw one out. They pull out one item. Ask, "What did you draw?"

4. Talk about it. Ask a few questions:

   • "Do you use this?"

   • "When do you use it?"

   • "Where does it go on your body?" (a sock goes on your foot, a hairbrush goes on your head)

   • "What does this tell us about you?"

5. Keep going. Set it aside and draw the next one. When the bag is empty, look at the pile together: "All of these things are part of your day!"

Why we love it

Toddlers love talking about themselves, and this game gives them something real to talk about. Each object sparks a little story ("I brush my teeth after breakfast!"), which builds vocabulary and sentence skills. Connecting a sock to a foot or a brush to hair ties right back to this week's body-parts learning. And the family photo usually turns into the best conversation of all.

Make it easier or harder

• Easier: Use just 3 or 4 items, and name each one together as it comes out.

• Harder: Ask your child to find a specific item by feel alone: "Can you find the spoon without looking?"

• Take turns: Let your child fill the bag for you. What would they pick to tell about you?

A quick safety note: Use an unbreakable mirror, keep small or sharp items out of the bag, and stay close while they play.

Shop these items

Everything mentioned in this post, in one place. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

• Brown paper bags

• Crayola jumbo crayons

• Shop everything for Week 1: All About Me

• Starter supplies: the basics we use most weeks

• See every week in our Amazon storefront

More for this week: see all our All About Me activities, Letter A activities and Number 1 activities.

Every child is different. Please use your own judgment about what's safe and right for your family. Always supervise children during activities and while eating, and adjust foods for allergies, dietary needs and your child's age and chewing ability. Sprocket & Sprout shares these ideas for fun and learning only. We are not responsible for any injury, allergic reaction, damage or mess that may result from trying them. This post may contain affiliate links; if you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.