The Children's Busy Book: 365 Creative Learning Games and Activities to Keep Your 6- to 10-Year-Old Busy (Busy Books Series) Paperback – April 16, 2013

From the basics of planning activities and making sure you have all the necessary supplies "in stock" this book then provides information and activity ideas for:Rainy Days * Kitchen and Food * Fun Outdoors * On the Move (in the car etc) * Homework Help * Making Memories * Arts and Crafts * HolidaysI SO agree with the author when she writes "The games and activities you set in motion will encourage your child to be creative, to think, and to interact with others, which most computer games, DVDs and T programs won't do." A big AMEN to that! This is a book that you are unlikely to read in one go BUT it is a book that you will go to on a regular basis to gain inspiration. This book may well be a jump start to create your own games and crafts etc.How many of us see a rainy afternoon as a blessing?! Maybe you will after reading this book! As the author suggests, do not let the temptation of computer games, TV etc overtake you. Get creative!Please note that there are not illustrations for every activity. Most are just writing. However there are a few and American Sign Language, Braille and Morse Code etc are illustrated for obvious reasons!As a family we LOVE to play cards so I was excited to see a great variety of card games listed in here. How about some indoor gardening or maybe start a coin collection? There are even ideas on how to put on indoor Olympics!If your children are anything like ours they LOVE to help in the kitchen. There are many recipes included in this book, some requiring cooking and others that do not.As for outdoor games. there will likely be some that you already know about and do but some will be fresh. Others may have got lost in the memories of time and so this book will help refresh that memory!The homework helper covers all the subjects - English, math, science, geography etc!The holidays covered are Valentine's, St. Patrick's, Easter, Canada Day, Independence Day, Halloween. Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa.A great resource book! Pages and pages of suggestions so even if you do not like one, you will like another. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

I got this book as a freebie. I was hoping to find activities for my kids, and found a few things I forgot I did as a child, but nothing really new for my kids to do. Worth it as a freebie, but I wouldn't pay for it.

The author is not trying to reinvent the wheel; she does want to help you make the most of your child’s free time. Contents of this book are designed to stimulate creativity, social skills, imagination and thinking skills. They can be used after school, during the summer, or on a weekend. The ages six to ten are recommended but not arbitrary as younger children as well as adults might also enjoy them. They are not gender specific; the categories are generalized with much overlapping.Let’s look at some of the chapter headings: rainy days, indoor Olympics, fun outdoors, my family and me, arts and crafts, and holiday fun. Under these headings the reader will find some traditional games like jump rope and hopscotch, marbles and card games. There are some great recipes in the kids in the kitchen section like oatmeal pancakes and Teriyaki chicken. In the math area there are activities like naming that coin and calendar games. Budding scientists learn how to make rock candy crystals fossils, and invisible ink. For a family project children might want to research a family tree, create a scrapbook or set up a “praise box.”In the Appendix, Kuffner lists more suggestions for reading, resources for parents, and an index of supplies needed to complete or create the projects. This book leaves nothing to be desired. Everything needed is clearly delineated and indexed. The guide is a valuable resource to be placed on the shelves of parents, camp counselors, librarians and teachers. Just the thing to reach for as soon as an adult hears a child say, “I’m bored.”

I purchased this book to replace one we had misplaced that was given by my mother to her grandchildren. We have the other 2 volumes as well that are geared to different age groups. My kids and I really like and appreciate these books. They cover a range of different environments, scenarios, times, age groups, and materials needed. It is written clearly and simply, and easily enough for my 9 year old to look through and organise an activity for his younger siblings. The materials are readily found in most homes, outside, or easily accessible for purchase. It enhances childrens' imaginations and ingenuity by presenting common household items in a new way ( ex: toilet paper rolls for a pair of binoculars, and a laundry basket for a basketball hoop etc.)Highly recommend!

This book is well worth getting. There are hundreds of very different and creative activities for kids. Some of them may take a little time to set up, but you can do it once, and then save time and frustration on very busy days.There are tons of card games, how to do semaphore, sign language, braille, secret codes, things to do with plants, gardening, rocks, indoor and outdoor games, kitchen activities, cleaning fun, math and word games and science experiments.Anyone will find at least a hundred new ideas. This is a well done book and resource for parents or people with kids in their life.Highly recommended.

kids didnt like it on the kindle app at all

Enjoyed the ideas, tried many, and had fun! Great for the person with no CHILD IDEAS of their own!! Glad I found it.

My daughter loved this she home w a concussion since Jan And has found lots of activities to fi in the book

Downloaded this as I thought it might be useful in a school setting. Not really what I was expecting, so can't really say that I liked or disliked it. Lots of variations on familiar games - would be useful for parents of younger children

this is packed with ideas for 6-10 yr olds, some are new to me and with a bit of setting up will work wonders for bored kids on a rainy day! Not bad for a freebie! Definitely worth having.

A lot of the games are what we would normally play in the car, but there are a few that are different.

Nice for a new grandparent

I did not know the book was American. If I had I might have chosen differently.However, it was a present for a 7 year old and he was very pleased with it.