150+ Screen-Free Activities for Kids: The Very Best and Easiest Playtime Activities from FunAtHomeWithKids.com! Paperback – Illustrated, November 1, 2014

I honestly expected completely different content based off the title. I didn't read any reviews. Most of the book is more of a recipe book for baby/kid safe playing material (foam, goo, slime, paints). It's a very artsy crafty book but extremely well organized and if you have the time & interest I think it could be a great addition to your book collection. The chapters each begin with an introduction and the authors experience and tips. The chapters are: slimes, doughs, paints, small worlds, simple sensory activities, and do it yourself toys. Each activity lists prep time, ages (baby/toddler/preschoolers/5+) ingredients/supplies, detailed instructions, and what I like is that there are also variations/troubleshooting/budget tips. It also lists if it's dye free, taste safe, dairy/gluten/egg/soy etc free. Also there are instructions on turning what you make into art. The book ends with information on the science behind the activities, where to find supplies, and additional resources. If you're looking for activities for your kids to do on their own this is not the book. These are activities that require your involvement and can end up being very messy. The recipes are easy and simple and cost friendly. Most of the items you'll probably have and need to only get one or two others. For the right family this book is great for others it will be useless.I bought this cheap little pen to help contain some of my toddlers activities. It worked great: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B01I0TU1UG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_j7TLBb2MW14MM

I was fortunate enough to come across the Fun at Home with Kids blog about a year ago while looking for engaging and stimulating activities for my son. I have been using these fabulous sensory and open-play activities ever since! In my opinion, these activities are also exceedingly helpful if you have a child who may need more opportunities to become comfortable with sensory experiences. The activities allow your child to approach new sensory activities in a motivating and interesting manner. It has been so wonderful for my son! Naturally, I am beyond THRILLED to have this beautiful, full-color, detailed book with all of Asia's amazing activities right at my fingertips for everyday use. The details and directions are outstanding and I have been so inspired to set up more screen-free activities as a result. She shows you how to make it easy using many items you already have around your home and gives cost-effective suggestions as well. I rarely review things, but I simply had to give this book 5 stars. If I could give it 100 or more, I would! This is my best book purchase in years!

Tons of fun activities, definitely recommend doing this with your kids.

I LOVE this book -- everything except the recipes using sweet basil seeds. I've tried many of the recipes so far and they are creative, fantastic, and simple -- everything one could hope for. BUT. The "water beads" made of sweet basil seeds was a huge headache (and the only thing that prevents me from giving a full 5 stars). The recipe worked great, but the seeds - tiny, mushy, gelatinous balls of doom - stuck to EVERYTHING and were impossible to clean up. The author notes, to her credit, that this is a messy experiment and that one may have to wait for the seeds to dry to pick them off. But even dry, the seeds basically "glued" themselves to my childrens' clothing. Only soaking and painstakingly picking every.single.seed. off worked, and took almost an hour. I wouldn't go near these things again if you paid me. That's the only bad thing about this book -- just avoid this one recipe and the rest are golden!!

As a fan of the website Fun At Home With Kids, I was all too eager to order this book. I had great expectations and, oh man, did Asia deliver! She really gets kids. She gets how they learn, how they interact, how they develop and makes it easy for you to find activities appropriate for your child's age/skill level.She's made things easy for parents with babies and young toddlers by pointing out which recipes are taste safe. If your child has allergies, THIS. BOOK. IS. FOR. YOU. Asia has made a huge effort to include as many allergen free recipes as she could. Each recipe has an allergen key for quick and easy reference for busy parents.Each recipe starts off with the basic ingredients and execution. After the recipe, there are several suggestions for variations, allowing you to turn one activity into several!As a previous preschool teacher and a current stay at home mom to a 9 month old, I see how this book has activities that truly span the age range. This is a book of ideas that will grow with your child. It's great for siblings!Perhaps most importantly, I want to point out that this book is pure gold for busy, working parents. Open ended play doesn't have to be elaborate or expensive, but it does take some forethought. Don't assume that teachers and stay at home parents or caregivers are the only ones who can plan out play activities. This book takes the guesswork out of planning, especially for working parents, giving you more time to play and learn together.