Inspire creativity, ingenuity, learning, and independence with this collection of fun kids activity books! From science experiments to building projects to crafts and time outdoors, these books are sure to beat any boredom and spark the imagination!
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We are all scrambling for things to do to keep kids occupied and content during this season of social distancing. Even homeschoolers are feeling the squeeze of extra-curriculars being dropped, cancelled sports, and the closing of favorite museums and parks.
I know I’m not alone in wanting to find a balance between enjoying more family togetherness and also helping my kids to find creative ways to entertain themselves. Boredom isn’t bad when it pushes kids to use their imagination, make up new games, and find new favorite hobbies.
In an effort to spark imagination and creativity (both theirs and mine), I pulled out several of our favorite kids activity books this morning and gave my kids some bookmark post-it notes to flag pages that they’d like to do. Honestly, y’all, this is also accountability for me to do the activities too! I’m excited, and even if we only do one every other day or so, it looks like we will still have plenty of time to get through their activities of choice.
Keep reading to see our favorite kids activity books, save this list for future reference, and snag one or two for easy boredom busters during this quarantine period. (Many are currently on sale!) As always, tag me when you share if you use one of these books (@thispilgrimlife), and share this list with friends who also have bored, cooped-up kids at home!
10 Fun Kids Activity Books
Smithsonian Makers Lab
This books is awesome for quick and easy projects that don’t require crazy supplies. We’ve had this one for years and have completed several projects, some more than once.
Sticks & Stones
If your kids are less-enthusiastic about going outside, or just need some inspiration for outdoor activities, this book is a great place to start! My oldest has flagged a few projects he is excited to get started on this week.
Genius Lego Inventions
Sarah Dees is a personal friend and an awesome kids’ blogger. She and her four boys have written four different LEGO books with easy project ideas that your kids can make WITH THE LEGOS THEY ALREADY OWN. It’s genius and a great way to give a collection of bricks new life.
101 Kids Activities that Are the Ooey, Gooey-est Ever!
This book is my GO-TO for all things dough/slime/etc. It’s not all messy, some are edible, and it’s sure to keep kids engaged!
The Artful Parent
Here’s another book that has been in our library for years. So many simple, fun ways to get creative with kids. If you have toddlers, I highly recommend this book, though the ideas are also great for older kids too.
Creative Adventures in Cursive
If you have kids who are learning to write in cursive, or older kids who just want a creative outlet, this book is perfect. Lots of craft ideas and ways to practice lettering.
Everyday Watercolor
I included this book in my Watercoloring for Beginners post. We are huge fans of watercolors because they are EASY, FAST, and ACCESSIBLE for all ages and skill levels. This book will help you learn a few new techniques.
Ultimate Kids Baking Book
I feel like this book is a win/win for kids who want to bake and parents who love to eat treats. (I fall into that last category).
The Nature Connection: An Outdoor Workbook for Kids
More ideas to have fun in nature, and learn a lot too! I love how this book has do-able activities and is broken up into different seasons.
Exploring Nature Activity Book
Again, I’m a big fan of projects and activities that are simple enough to open up the book and get started. This book is full of fun ideas to get creative and explore in your own backyard.
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