Dry-Erase Activity Mat {Educational}

I'm always looking for new ideas to keep my kiddo learning and entertained. Especially when we go place.  Most specifically, when we go out to eat.  Playing with sugar packets and stacking jelly containers only goes so far!

Restaurants offer the kid's menus that have different activities on them.  It seems to me that they are either extremely overwhelming or too challenging for a 3 year old.  My son usually just draws all over them.  This dry-erase activity mat is a great way to solve that problem!  It's cheap, easy, and you can personalize it to tailor their needs, as well as yours. Plus, your kids can help you make them.  You'll notice my little guys hands along the way.

Materials:
12"x12" card stock or scrapbook paper
8 printed activities
adhesive
clear contact paper
scissors or paper cutter

Step 1: Cut card stock.  I cut my scrapbook paper into 4 pieces that measured 6"x6" (and it was double sided).

Step 2: Cut out activity pages. I found some online and just printed them off, making sure that either the height or width didn't exceed six inches. This is where you can create the activity mat to meet the interests and needs of your child.

Step 3: Cut out contact paper. Measure and cut two 13"x13" pieces of contact paper.

Step 4: Adhere activity pages to card stock. Remember that each piece of card stock will have an activity on each side.

Step 5: Assemble!  Peel off the backing from one piece of contact paper and lay it on a smooth surface.  Place the four pieces of card stock with attached activities on the sticky side of the contact paper.  Leave space between each piece. Finally, remove the backing of the second piece of contact paper and place it on top. Make sure that it aligns with the other piece of contact paper. Cut and trim the edges in case you're contact paper doesn't align perfectly.

 Step 6: Grab a zipper top baggie, some dry erase crayons, and an old sock! The spaces between card stock allows the activity mat to fold for portability. It fits {snugly} into a sandwich bag, but I would recommend a quart size or larger.

Here are some additional photos of the mat and my little guy checking it out.