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I was just talking with a friend the other day about the fact that it is officially time to figure out how to keep the kids entertained this summer. (This is our last week of school.) I like to have a schedule because it just works well for me, especially since I work from home.
I would love to hear how you deal with summer and keep every one sane! I will most definitely have some more articles on this topic over the course of the week and would love to share our readers’ ideas.
For those days that we stay home and mom needs to get some work done, I have found that activity books are the perfect tool to keep the kids busy, happy and creating something. Here is a list of some of our favorites:
1. Super Sweet Big Book of Activity Fun!
This activity book is perfect for a long road trip or a day at home inside. It has so many activities and they are learning at the same time! It has all kinds of super sweet (hence the name) stuff to do like cut-out pieces, word searches, coloring pages, mazes, stickers. It just recently came out at the beginning of May and this book is one of our personal favorites! Recommended for kids ages 4 and up.
2. Super Cool Big Book of Activity Fun!
Yep. This Super Cool book is made by the same people as the Super Sweet book we mentioned above. It also came out at the beginning of May and it also is one of our favorite activity books. Kids can practice drawing the letter G, and reinforce the lesson by finding and placing a sticker of a giraffe. They can punch out pictures of dinosaurs and use them to activate a vibrantly illustrated scene, and then find fascinating dino facts, like how tyrannosaurus rex means “king of the dinosaurs,” on the next page. They can read all about the seasons of the year—and complete a word search featuring springtime words to help them remember everything they’ve learned.
Our 7 year old loved this book! I love how this book really teaches them aviation history. They learn about the evolution of flight and the incredible technologies that enabled man to fly. This book includes historical photos, detailed diagrams, and colorful comic strips. And of course, 5 very cool airplanes they can make themselves, including the 1909 Blériot monoplane and the rocket-powered Bell X-1.
4. Amazing X-rays: The Human Body
This book is true to its name – Amazing! X-rays are fascinating and the kids had such a fun time seeing what real doctors see. The book has a built in light box where the kids can clip on one of the 16 acetate x-rays to examine close-up. It also teaches them about the human body and skeletal system. There’s also plenty of text for them to read, with illustrations and photographs.
I was talking to a little girl the other day who said she doesn’t really like to play with toys. When I asked what she does, she said she just loves to draw and play with stickers. I told her I had just the book for her! Doodle It: Glamour Girl has over 100 pages of stylish doodles and 100 reusable stickers. From creating a perfect evening gown, to designing spectacular sunglasses, to styling a pop star princess, there’s plenty to keep the designer in you busy.
6. Journal of Inventions: Leonardo da Vinci
This was my older son’s favorite book ever! There is so much to discover in this book, it’s just amazing. From 3-D pop-ups and detailed illustrations based on the personal notebooks and sketches of Leonardo da Vinci. Discover da Vinci’s Mechanical Man, coil-spring clock mechanisms, hydraulic contraptions, and designs for armored vehicles—the precursor to modern tanks. Each invention is brought to life as a movable 3-D pop-up, with da Vinci’s own words and illustrations to provide further insight.
Fascinating and very fun book! What do scorpions and robots have in common? Find out in this full-color illustrated book on robotic animals, which introduces budding scientists to the field of biomimetics, the science of creating machines or materials by copying nature. For decades, scientists have looked to scorpions and other eight- and six-legged creatures for inspiration. Imagine a creature that can withstand extreme temperatures—from below freezing to a brutal 120 degrees F—and survive in almost any environment on earth. Read about the “Scorpion” robots and how they help in space exploration and modern uses, and then build your own walking scorpion, complete with light up eyes and moving pincers.
8. Jungle World (Pledger Sticker Book)
Sticker books are still one of the best ways to keep a young one (and sometimes even your teenager!) busy in the car. For the kid who loves animals, this Jungle World sticker book is perfect for them. The jungle is home to more living things than any other place on earth, from furry animals like tigers to soaring birds and buzzing insects. It’s a place of true beauty that will fascinate kids—especially when it’s brought to life by Maurice Pledger’s Jungle World! With more than 200 oversized stickers that kids can insert into Pledger’s stunning illustrations of jungle scenes, it’s easier than ever for them to learn what life is like in this amazing habitat.
9. Explore: Underwater (Pledger Explore)
Have a child who loves the ocean and sea life? They will love this book. Explore: Underwater takes kids on an astounding journey under the surface of the world’s oceans, rivers, lakes, ponds, and other bodies of water. They’ll visit crowded coral reefs (some of which can even be seen from space!), lift the flap to learn how they get their bright colors, and meet the clown fish and the sea slug. They’ll brave the freezing cold of the North and South Poles and feel the soft feathery face that helps penguins keep warm. And they’ll peek beneath the pond’s grasses and tall plants to catch a glimpse of the shimmering sea star for a complete hands-on educational experience.
10. Doodle It: Creepy Critters
Another fabulous doodle book which will keep the kids engaged and entertained. This fantastic doodle book will make young readers wriggle and squirm! Doodle It: Creepy Critters includes over 100 pages of squiggly doodles, along with 100 reusable stickers, that allow young readers to become creepy critter experts. From drawing the biggest spider ever, to creating a slug sandwich, to filling a slimy sewer, there’s plenty to keep any bug-lover busy. So grab a pencil and get started!
We have so many other activity books to tell you about! We will have to do a part 2 to this. Do you have a favorite activity book that you have bought for your kids? Please share what it is in the comment section!
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