Growing Reader
Tween
8 Activity Books to Keep Your Kids Occupied This Winter
by Jennifer Garry
The dead of winter is most definitely my least favorite time of year. Here in the northeast, it’s gray and cold and sometimes icy. While I’m all for trying to get the kids outside as much as possible, sometimes 20 minutes is all their rosy cheeks and frozen extremities can handle. That leaves a whole lot of hours in the day to fill. Come February, we can really use a little help in the indoor fun department.
These eight activity books are a fun way to keep kids busy and entertained in wintry weather.
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Wreck This Journal
This book will blow kids’ minds. Unlike a typical book, readers are encouraged to destroy this one. Each page features a different creative prompt. From poking holes in pages to putting them in water or gluing random items inside, the book urges kids to explore their creativity in a whole new way.
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Maker Lab
Are your kids budding scientists? This book is full of kid-safe STEM projects and crafts that are perfect for eight to 12-year-olds. Using household items, they can make things like invisible ink, DNA models, soap-powered boats, and more — all while learning the science behind what they’re doing.
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Where’s Waldo? The Fantastic Journey
Waldo is a timeless classic. While some things from our youth leave our kids scratching their heads, a solid seek and find with a fun storyline is something they can get behind. This one follows Waldo on a journey with the Wizard Whitebeard as he looks for the 12 scrolls that reveal the truth about himself.
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My Book with No Pictures
If your family is anything like ours, The Book with No Pictures was an instant favorite. This fill-in-the-blanks version puts power into little readers’ hands as they make up ridiculous words that grown-ups will have to say when they read it. Complete with nonsense stickers for inspiration, kids will adore creating their very own book with no pictures.
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Learn to Letter with Luna the Llama
In this creative book, Luna the llama and friends teach kids the basics of lettering and calligraphy with traceable worksheets and fun projects. Eight to 12-year-olds will improve their handwriting and learn a fun way to make homemade cards, signs, and school supplies a little bit fancier.
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Frozen 2 Mad Libs Junior
Another classic from your youth that your kids will love! Mad Libs Junior includes word banks, directions, and explanations to make filling in the blanks a little easier for beginning readers. This Frozen 2 edition includes 21 stories about their favorite characters that will leave them laughing all day long.
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Coding Games in Scratch
With this step-by-step guide, game enthusiasts can learn how to build their very own computer games using Scratch 3.0. Beginner coders learn the basics of computer programming through practical tasks that teach them how and why computer code works.
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Peter Rabbit 2 Sticker Activity Book
If you're looking for an activity book that will delight younger readers, look no further than this sticker activity book based on the upcoming film Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway. Keep up all the Peter Rabbit fun with the companion coloring book, too!
