July doldrums are right around the corner; the kids have been out of school long enough for boredom to start setting in, and the days are long and warm. But on the plus side, it’s an ideal time for grown ups and kids to start having fun and making memories together with crafts and projects. Here are some idea-packed books to get you started!
House Mommy’s Boredom Busters – 201 Fun Things to Do With Kids! (5/5 stars, currently priced at $2.99)
From toddlers to teens – and everyone in between!
I’ve included a variety of ideas for boys and girls of all ages, grouped by season for year-round fun. While there is an emphasis on outdoor activities, you’ll find dozens of fun things to do indoors on those cold, rainy days as well. Many of the ideas also include links to useful websites for additional information.
While this ebook is obviously written from the perspective of a stay-at-home mom, it’s for anyone who is looking for a few fun boredom busters that kids will enjoy. Perfect for moms and dads, grandparents, friends and babysitters (and a great gift idea, too!)
You can choose to do an activity with your child, or simply help them get started on something of their own. I realize that not every idea is suitable for every child. But based on my years of teaching and being a stay-at-home mom, I’ve learned you only need a few good ideas you can count on to keep kids happy, busy and engaged for hours at a time whenever boredom rears its ugly head.
What better way to spend your time?
You don’t have to spend much money to have fun with children. All that matters is that you’re willing to give them a little of your time and attention.This collection is based on what has worked for me – as both a teacher and a parent. Whatever activities you decide to do, I hope they help you to better enjoy the time you spend together, while creating special memories that last a lifetime…
Dad’s Book of Awesome Projects (4.5/5 stars, currently priced at $7.99)
Get ready to take playtime to the next level with Dad’s Book of Awesome Projects! Inside, you;ll find step-by-step instructions and photographs detailing projects so imaginative and fun, no one will complain about turning off the TV. From wooden “swords” to slay the most vicious of dragons to circus stilts that will send you soaring to new heights, these projects are sure to spark everyone’s creative spirit. And the fun doesn’t stop there! This book shows you and your kids how to build:
• Comic book shoes
• Rope swings
• Homemade goo slime
• Eggshell cupcakes
• Ol’-fashioned fruit crate scooter
Best of all, each of these activities can be tossed together with items around the house or with inexpensive supplies from the hardware store. With 25 DIY projects and crafts, Dad’s Book of Awesome Projects will reveal just how awesome it is to be a dad!
Art Lab for Kids: 52 Creative Adventures in Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Paper, and Mixed Media-For Budding Artists (4.5/5 stars, currently priced at $9.43)
A refreshing source of ideas for creating fine art with children, Art Lab for Kids encourages the artist’s own voice, marks, and style. This fun and creative book features 52 fine art projects set into weekly lessons, beginning with drawing, moving through painting and printmaking, and then building to paper collage and mixed media. Each lesson features and relates to the work and style of a contemporary artist. Lisa Congdon, Megan Bogonovich, and Amy Rice are just a few of the artists included. The labs can be used as singular projects or to build up to a year of hand-on fine art experiences. The lessons in this book are open-ended to be explored over and over–with different results each time! Colorful photos illustrate how different people using the same lesson will yield different results, exemplifying the way the lesson brings out each artist’s personal style. Art Lab for Kids is the perfect book for creative families, friends, and community groups and works as lesson plans for both experienced and new art teachers. Children of all ages and experience levels can be guided by adults and will enjoy these engaging exercises.
“Susan Schwake’s Art Lab for Kids is a well-thought-out guide, making it easy to introduce art into children’s lives. Simple, clear explanations of technique, combined with inspiration from established artists, will enable children to feel successful and encouraged to explore art as a form of expression.”
– Rebecca Emberley, best-selling children’s book author and illustrator
The Preschooler’s Busy Book: 365 Creative Learning Games and Activities to Keep Your 3- to 6-Year Old Busy (4.5/5 stars, currently priced at $8.51)
The Preschooler’s Busy Book is packed with 365 fun, engaging activities that will delight your preschooler, such as how to make a Thanksgiving tree or an animal pancake or even how to camp indoors. The Preschooler’s Busy Book offers creative reading, math, and science activities for children ages 3–6 to help stimulate their natural curiosity. It also includes money-saving tips such as how to make your own paints, play dough, clays, glue, paste, and other arts and crafts supplies. A great book for parents and daycare providers!
The Preschooler’s Busy Book contains 365 fun, creative activities to stimulate your preschooler every day of the year! It also shows parents and daycare providers how to: save money by making paints, play dough, clays, glue, paste, and other arts and crafts supplies; prevent boredom during even the longest stretches of inclement weather with ideas for indoor play, kitchen activities, and arts and crafts projects; stimulate a child’s natural curiosity with fun reading, math, and science activities; encourage a child’s physical, mental, and emotional growth with ideas for music, dance, drama, and outdoor play; celebrate holidays and special occasions with projects and activities; and keep children occupied during long trips or cross-town errands. This activity book has it ALL for busy preschoolers and their parents or daycare providers! It is also written with warmth and sprinkled with humor and insight.
The Unofficial LEGO Builder’s Guide (4.5/5 stars, currently priced at $9.18)
What’s the difference between a tile and a plate? Why isn’t it a good idea to stack bricks in columns to make a wall? How do you build a LEGO mosaic or build at different scales? You’ll find the answers to these and other questions in The Unofficial LEGO Builder’s Guide.
Now in full color, this brand-new edition of a well-loved favorite will show you how to:
• Construct models that won’t fall apart
• Choose the right pieces and substitute when needed
• Build to micro, jumbo, and miniland scale
• Make playable board games out of LEGO pieces
• Create photo mosaics and curved sculptures
• Build a miniature space shuttle, a minifig-sized train station, and more
Of course, the real fun of LEGO building lies in creating your own models—from choosing the subject to clicking that final brick into place. Learn how in The Unofficial LEGO Builder’s Guide.
The Unofficial LEGO Technic Builder’s Guide (5/5 stars, currently priced at $9.58)
The LEGO® Technic system opens a new realm of building possibilities. Using motors, gears, pneumatics, pulleys, linkages, and more, you can design LEGO models that really move.
The Unofficial LEGO Technic Builder’s Guide is filled with building tips for creating strong yet elegant machines and mechanisms with the Technic system. Author Pawel “Sairel” Kmiec will teach you the foundations of LEGO Technic building, from simple machines to advanced mechanics, even explaining how to create realistic to-scale models. Sariel, a world-renowned LEGO Technic expert, offers unique insight into mechanical principles like torque, power translation, and gear ratios, all using Technic bricks. You’ll learn how to:
• Create sturdy connections that can withstand serious stress
• Re-create specialized LEGO pieces like casings and u-joints, and build solutions like Schmidt and Oldham couplings, when no standard piece will do
• Build custom differentials, suspensions, transmissions, and steering systems
• Pick the right motor for the job—and transform its properties to suit your needs
• Combine studfull and studless building styles for a stunning look
• Create remote-controlled vehicles, lighting systems, motorized compressors, and pneumatic engines