Customer Reviews

365 Days of Creative Play

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

365 Days of Creative Play is a wonderfully complete guidebook to children's play. As the founder and creator of Familes-First, a web site for all families, I found this book especially important and worthwhile. Not only are the crafts, recipes, and play ideas fun they are also educational ( the kids don't have to know this part ; )). I have strongly recommended this book to both my online parent's and craft's groups and all folks who either have children or work with them.

This is a wonderful book! I have 5 days to plan a week's worth of activities for 10 children between the ages of 1 and 5. A friend loaned me this book. The ideas are extremely varied, some indoor, some outdoor, some can be adapted for either.

The ideas seem to be in random order through the book, and the index at the back lists what category they fall under, i.e., art, craft, construction, dance, environment, family, games, etc. All ideas can be done with household items that you already have, paper plates, glue, crayons, and many ideas do not require any supplies. All of the ideas are presented in a learning-through-play manner, not academically as in other books like this. After looking through this book, I found literally dozens of ideas, and my stress level has gone down considerably!

The one thing I would change about the book--I did not find any warnings regarding the 2? or so ideas that involved balloons, and there were minimal warnings on ideas that included small objects that young children might swallow. People will have to rely on their own common sense (easier for some than others).

Overall, a superb book, and I'm thrilled to have discovered it just when I needed it the most!

I bought serveral books on children's creative play recenlty, and I found this one the most useful one and very practical. The games are interesting, easy to play and children can learn from these exercises. Although different countries have different cultures, but as an Asian, I still found this book practical, and both my daughter and myself enjoyed very much by going through these plays. My daughter now is almost three, I am sure this book will still be very useful to me for the years to come.

There are 13 different types of activities. They are Art, Construction, Craft, Dance, Education, Environment, Foods and Cooking, Games, Horticulture, Make-Believe, Music and Nature. It gives you tips for your child's safety and enjoyment. The book also lists a variety of materials and supplies you might need for that activity.

A ton of great ideas. Some very simplistic but I purchased the book when my son was 3. A 2 year old would find the simple activities enjoyable. We like stone painting and butter balls. Worth the investment for sure!

This book has been around FOREVER and continues to be updated. Over the years, I have probably given away at LEAST 20 copies of this book to parents of toddlers. It is the BEST book out there for creative, imaginative fun for kids that can only help them to be smart, smart adults.

I couldn't believe the reviews that stated that this was for "unimaginative"adults! I am as creative as they come and I was amazed at some of the neat, terrific and educational ideas that the authors came up with. That said, there are a few activities that I thought were a little "out there" so I skipped those activities, but everyone is different. Trust me, this book leads the way in creative play!

This isn't a book for those who'd rather park their kids in front of the television or who wish to send their kids off to do something else. It's hands-on, preferably adult and child, and tends to be for younger children. But if you're that kind of parent--and here's hoping you are--prepare to have a blast with your younger child. Kid art gives this book a fun look and feel, too.

One of the ideas for creative play the authors offer is to find a hill and roll down it. Or if that doesn't knock your socks off find a trail of ants and watch them marching by! If your child needs you and a book to come up with these play ideas seek professional help... now!

This book was not quite what I expected. There are some good ideas and some truly idiotic ones as well. I'm not sure if the good outweighs the bad.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under the age of four not be given nuts, popcorn, or raisins, due to the risk of choking. Therefore, it seems rather inappropriate to include these ingredients in recipes and craft activities in a book aimed at children "age two years and up." Here are just a few examples of activities from this book that use such ingredients:

- Grandma's Granola (Activity 171) contains both nuts and raisins
- Popcorn Packaging (Activity 74) contains popcorn
- Cereal Balls (Activity 51) contain raisins.