When my kids were quite young I found a really great book on clearance called the Amazing Activity Handbook. It has four sections: Indoor games, Things to make and do, Outdoor Games and Fun on the Move. The suggestions are simple but there are games and activities that will bring you back to your childhood. Port-starboard, Cat’s Cradle and Tiddlywinks are just a few suggestions of games with instructions. There are tons of really easy-to-make crafts and their favourite section was “Fun on the move”. We used to go on many long roadtrips with our two boys so this section was invaluable! Animal, vegetable or mineral? Word association games, storytelling games and travel songs – all great ways you can have fun with your kids on your next trip.
The simple but fun suggestions made this book a great resource that we could bring it on our trips or quickly reference it at home when we were lacking inspiration in the craft and game department – otherwise known as being bored!
I wanted to pick up a new copy for a friend, but I couldn’t find it in print anymore. So why am I sharing it with you? Well, I found quite a few similar books and ended up picking up a few of them at Amazon. Each one a little different, but together they make for a great car survival kit. Or you could just use them at home as an unplugged fun kit, perfect during Covid lockdowns to get your child away from online kids games for a bit!
I’ve included 7 of my favourites below… but you’ll find many more on Amazon, as well as on Indigo.ca which I also love for kids books.
1. 365 Jumbo Activity Book for Kids Ages 4-8
This jumbo activity book contains over 365 Different Activities! That means you can let your kids creativity run wild everyday of the year! Ok no one is likely to use the book everyday – but there are loads of fun activities and colouring pages jammed into this book and the playful illustrations will engage young kids and could be a lifesaver during pandemic shut-downs. Under $20 – find it on Amazon.
2. Really Fun Travel Activity Book For 7-9 Year Olds
This book is super cute and I really liked that it was for a slightly older age group as I fund these are the kids that will always choose to stare at a screen before anything else. The activities are both challenging as well as fun with a focus on learning through play to develop concentration, imagination and problem solving skills. The book includes mazes, jokes, riddles and puzzles. Under $10 – find it on Amazon.
3. Space Activity Book for Kids Ages 4-8
This jumbo space activity and colouring book is a great find for kids who love anything to do with space and science. It features full-page drawings of planets, astronauts, spaceships, aliens, meteors, rockets, the solar system, robots and more! It includes colouring pages, copy the picture, dot to dot and mazes. Under $10 – find it on Amazon.
4. 50 Cool Things to Do in the Car
Looking for screen-free activities when you’re on a car trip? Look no further than this cute, compact tin filled with 50 great ideas for family fun on the road! The cute carrying tin contains 51 full-colour activity cards to keep kids 5 and up entertained while you’re on a road trip or anytime.
Under $15 – find it on Amazon.
5. National Geographic Kids Just Joking
Packed with the silly jokes including knock-knocks, tongue twisters, riddles, traditional question and answer jokes, and more. Laughing animals, funny people, and other colorful photos are paired with each joke, adding an extra laugh on each page. Under $10 – find it on Amazon.
6. Would You Rather for Kids: Disgusting & Gross Edition
If you’ve ever played ‘Would you Rather’ you already know it go on forever and usually heads well past the limits of how much silliness most of us parents can handle! How will you choose between two equally impossible choices? Yup, these silly scenarios make grown ups squirm, but they are fun boredom busters that the perfect travel game! Under $10 – Find it on Amazon.
7. National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Why
Arouse a child’s curiosity and they will stay occupied and engaged! It’s the ultimate boredom buster and an excellent use of their time. Linking to a popular feature in the super successful National Geographic Little Kids magazine, this book brings the bestselling National Geographic Kids Almanac, to a new audience: preschoolers! Using an interactive question-and-answer format and content in a child’s immediate world this book has hands-on games, crafts, and more. What makes a car go? How does mushy dough become a crispy cookie? What does the doctor see in my throat? An essential parent reference and a great conversation starter on a long road trip. Under $15 – Find it on Amazon.
