The Toddler's Busy Book: 365 Creative Games and Activities to Keep Your 1 1/2- to 3-Year-Old Busy

This is a great book, chock full of simple but engaging activities! I hesitated on getting this book because I thought "I have Pinterest for ideas." I am SO glad I just went for it, and got this book!There are some ideas that seem almost obvious, in a way, but that's what is so genius about all of them gathered together and written down. An idea that was just part of an intro paragraph (not even one of The Ideas) was rolling stuff down a ramp. I happened to have foam board and set it up against the couch. Brilliant!! Seems obvious and simplistic, but I wouldn't have thought of it myself. And my 2.5 year old LOVED it. (My almost 1.5 year old didn't quite get it.)There are also many ideas that AREN'T "obvious" but just as easy to pull off. I've loved experimenting and seeing my son really rise to the activity--using concentration and fine motor skills, enjoying challenges that suits him (and I never would have thought he could do!).I also love how this book has helped me be purposeful about trying new things as well as "letting go!" Letting the kids make a controlled "mess" and knowing they are learning and I am investing in them.I HIGHLY recommend this book!!! There have been so many new things I've been doing with my 2.5 year old (extremely active) boy. I'll maybe update in a few months when my girl reaches 1.5 years old as several of the activities have been just a little over her head.

I was home with a sick toddler and a cranky youngster the day this book arrived, and it saved me. The first page I flipped to had an idea for a simple game that I put together in two minutes and had us all laughing for twenty. Bless you, Trish Kuffner!This book is nicely organized. A chapter of introduction helps you plan, supply and mentally prepare for those long days when you are running out of ideas. The author writes with humor and affection. Subsequent chapters are organized into Rainy Day Play, Kids in the Kitchen, Water Play, Outdoor Adventures, Out and About, Nursery Rhymes and Finger Plays, Early Learning Fun, Music and Movement, Arts and Crafts, and Holidays. Most activities are simple to set up, generally using about three or four household items. Appendices list recipes for basic paints, doughs, glues and clay; a list of activities for a Crazy Can (a random drawing of activities that aren't messy and need little supervisoin so you can, for example, get dinner ready); best toys for babies and toddlers; best books for same; and resources. The index lists projects (but not materials, which would be helpful in later editions).The book subtitle, 365 Creative Games and Activities to Keep Your 1-1/2- to 3-Year-Old Busy, sells the book short, as I've used these ideas successfully with older children as well.For those of us who are not good at dreaming up artsy fun things-to-do, this book is a wonderful resource. For those of you who *are* good, you will probably still find some fun ideas in this well-organized, friendly guide.

~~To start off and attempt to be fair, I just received this book. It may indeed have many good ideas for play, creativity, and fun but the first chapter "Help! I have a toddler!" has set the stage for everything I've seen in the book so far. The main thread in the dialog that I've seen from the forward through the first chapter and into flipping through the book is how tiresome, trialing, and a hardship having a child is.~~***UPDATE*** After reading further, I have to change it from 1 (hate it) to 4 stars (like it). The only texts that are negative are the forward/chapter headers (which is what I commented on above). The author's suggested books in the back, Gentle Discipline ect and easy to use lists of materials also raised my score. Overall, if you can ignore much of the chapter headers, than you are in for a REALLY creative and helpful book. I love the simplicity of these ideas and how easy it is to pull them off, as well as how engaging and spatially educational they are. Oh, and she's not afraid to encourage kids to make a mess because 'that's how they learn'! =) Love that. As well as how encouraging she is of interaction, connection, free play and media free family time. Bravo, I just have to wonder WHY on EARTH she headed each of her chapters with quotes talking about how "you can't return children" and that toddler steps will 'plunge you' into the 'most exasperating time of your adult life'. Are these supposed to be encouragement? LOL Overall, I'm not disappointed that I bought it. Who knows, maybe I'll buy a copy of the Preschooler's Busy Book for next year too ;) I would recommend this book to others.

The ideas in here are inspiring and very doable. Great for toddlers from 1 year to 3 years.

It depends what you are looking for. I wasn't looking for a book with SO much to read. I am a grandmother and was looking for interesting things for my granddaughter. I can't imagine a mom being able to get through this book. I returned the book.

Bought this for a new grandmother. Pages and pages of ideas for very young all the way up to preschool age ( and a bit beyond)

Interessante,offre diversi spunti per interessare i bambini in attività creative. Alcune cose sono ripetitive, ma tutto sommato da buoni spunti.

Each day you will have different activity for your kid.its nice book.i m trying those one by one.its fun doing it.

My wife was looking for new ways to spend time with our 1 year old son, especialy during the rainy days and that's how we came across this book. Even though the book is ment for older kids (1,5y), we look for inspiration in it already and my wife is very happy with it. I recommend.

I know that some reviewers have found the suggestions in this book unoriginal. However, this book is great for the rest of us. I would consider this an ideal lead on from Miriam Stoppard's 'Baby's First Skills'. A lot of the activities could easily be classed as developing skill(s). Some activities are more suitable for older toddlers but I found plenty of low cost ideas to keep my young toddler occupied. You may have read the criticisms of the tissue box game but there is also the more long term suggestion of a sacrifical box (an old tissue box stuffed with scarves - the latter of which can be easily sourced from scrap fabric or charity shops). This book subtly encourages creative thinking in adults too and has given me back weekends of happy play with my child - instead of frantic & stressed out days at a loss as to how to entertain my clearly bored child without buying more toys or singing the same songs again/feeling like an inadequate parent.