Kids Activity Books: Screen-Free Fun

The Toddler's Busy Book: 365 Creative Games and Activities to Keep Your 1 ½- to 3-Year-Old Busy by Trish Kuffner. This toddler activity book has been a lifesaver for parents (including me!) ever since it was published. As this book demonstrates, you don't need elaborate activity ideas to keep toddlers content.  There is also a preschool version of the book!

Amazing Leonardo da Vinci Inventions: You Can Build Yourself by Maxine Anderson. Mix history and boredom-busting with this unique activity book that inspires kids to imagine themselves as the greatest inventor of all time: Leonardo da Vinci! Will they build shoes that walk on water, a flying machine, paint a timeless portrait? They can do all that and more while at the same time examining da Vinci's drawings and learning about his life.

What Can I Do?: Inspiring Activities for Creative Kids by Mary Richards. This pint-sized book has over 70 activities for bored kids. What I like best is the variety of options. There are ideas for kids who need quiet time, activities for play, and choices for kids who want to spend time with friends and family.

The Highlights Book of Things to Do: Discover, Explore, Create, and Do Great Things by Highlights. If your kids won't be overwhelmed by being presented with 500 things to do, this is a great book from the activity experts at Highlights. Indoor, outdoor, arts, crafts, science, cooking and more categories will keep your kids busy for years.

Play with Us: 100 Games from Around the World by Oriol Ripoli. You'll probably have to get this out-of-print gem from the library, but it's worth it! If you love our DIY traditional games, you will get tons of use out of this activity book. Kids will learn how to play games from around the world. Many can be played indoors or outdoors so no matter what kind of weather you are having your children won't be bored!

Exploring Books Through Play: 50 Activities Based on Books About Friendship, Acceptance and Empathy. This book is a collaboration by a group of educators who strongly believe that play is the foundation of learning. For each of 10 picture books focusing on values such as taking care of one another, or how to be a good friend, the authors provide playful activities as a point of entrance into talking about the books' themes. Bonus: learn how to use books to inspire kids to serve others!

STEAM Kids. I helped write a book! My co-authors and I have gathered 52 STEAM projects for kids ages 4-10. The book focuses on ideas that can easily be done at home. There are math art ideas, nature studies, technology explorations and more. Be wowed by magically inventive, wild and wonderful projects with clear instructions and colorful how-to photos.  BUY: eBook |  Amazon Print | UK/EU customers only: eBook

STEAM Play & Learn: 20 fun step-by-step preschool projects about science, technology, engineering, arts, and math! by Ana Dziengel. I adore the projects in this book, and they are truly for preschoolers. Preschoolers learn best through play but that doesn't mean they can't explore STEAM subjects like science, math and engineering! There are 20 projects, ranging from ideas with little parental involvement to experiments that require more supervision. Best of all, they all have that WOW factor that is oh-so-important to keep preschoolers happy!

The Curious Kid's Science Book: 100+ Creative Hands-On Activities for Ages 4-8 by Asia Citro. Maybe you think you don't know how to do science projects at home. I mean, aren't they complicated and require lots of specialty items? No! This book is chock full of ideas that don't require a PhD to do and understand. Plus, the author gives a clear explanation of how to use the scientific method to encourage kids to ask lots of questions as they explore scientific principals in entertaining ways.

Tangle Art and Drawing Games for Kids: A Silly Book for Creative and Visual Thinking by Jeanette Nyberg. Oh how I love this book. Truth be told, the title should be "for Kids and Grown-Ups" because I have used this book so many times as inspiration for my art journal! This drawing book is such a great boredom buster because kids can play-draw together. There are lots of suggestions for multiple person drawing games, like synchronized drawing. Nyberg also sparks creativity with suggestions for mixed media drawing whimsical prompts.

MORE: See one of the ideas from Tangle Art in action!

Art Play!: Activities for Preschoolers by Meredith Magee Donnelly. Art Play is full of amazingly creative, developmentally appropriate activities that focus on process art.  All of the projects invite children to freely explore art materials in an open-ended fashion and require basic art supplies. Photographic instructions featuring a diverse group of children make the ideas a snap to replicate, and unique ideas like spin art blocks and clay self-portraits will delight everyone. Art Play makes the perfect gift for any caregiver or teacher who values nurturing their child’s creativity. Highly recommended!

Cardboard Creations by Barbara Rucci. Got a full recycle bin? You will never have to recycle your shipping boxes again! Cardboard art projects range from whimsical giant eyewear to calming yarn wraps, to fairy houses. Who would have thought cardboard could be so alluring? My favorite aspect of this art activity book is that Rucci focuses on the process–letting your kids explore the satisfying experience of making something from scratch.