Preschooler's Busy Book: 365 Creative Games & Activities To Occupy 3-6 Year Olds [Paperback]

Trish Kuffner (Author)

Book Description

Release date: October 1, 1998 | Age Range: 3 and up

365 FUN, CREATIVE ACTIVITIES TO STIMULATE YOUR PRESCHOOLER EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR

This book contains 365 activities (one for each day of the year) for three- to six-year-olds using things found around the home. It shows parents and day-care providers how to:

• Save money by making your own paints, playdough, craft clays, glue, paste, and other arts and crafts supplies.

• Prevent boredom during even the longest stretches of indoor weather with ideas for indoor play, kitchen activities, and arts and crafts projects.

• Stimulate a child's natural curiosity with fun reading, math, and science activities.

• Encourage a child's physical, mental, and emotional growth with ideas for music, dance, drama, and outdoor play.

• Celebrate holidays and other occasions with special projects and activities.

• Keep children occupied during long trips or cross-town errands.

The Preschooler's Busy Book is written with warmth and sprinkled with humor and insight. It should be required reading for anyone raising or teaching preschool-age children.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A fabulous resource! -- Early Childhood News, October 1999

For little hands that are eager for action, "The Preschooler's Busy Book" has multitude of answers. "The Busy Book" will offer hours of entertaining activities for parents and their children. As the years go by and the book becomes worn, no doubt many of the activities will have provided a wealth of fond memories. -- Capital Parent, March 1999

Parents, preschool teachers, and caregivers would all find this book a ready resource for each day of the year. -- BookPage, January 1, 1999

This book is written with warmth and sprinkled with humourous and insightful quotes on life with young children. -- Boise Family, May 1999

About the Author

Trish Kuffner lives with her husband and five children just outside of Vancouver, British Columbia.  She is the author of The Toddler's Busy Book, The Preschooler's Busy Book, The Arts & Crafts Busy Book, and The Wiggle & Giggle Busy Book.

Product Details

• Age Range: 3 and up
  
• Paperback: 406 pages
• Publisher: Meadowbrook (October 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671316338
• ISBN-13: 978-0671316334
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 5.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (93 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,139 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #3 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Crafts & Hobbies > Crafts for Children
  • #4 in Books > Parenting & Relationships > Family Activities
  • #10 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Puzzles & Games

More About the Author

Trish Kuffner lives with her husband and five children just outside of Vancouver, British Columbia.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

127 of 131 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars a great resource for caregivers of energetic preschoolers March 4, 2003

By audrey TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I have gotten a lot of use out of the author's book for toddlers, and feared this book might contain too much overlap, but I figured it was worth a few dollars to find out and I was pleasantly surprised. This edition dives into math, reading readiness and more challenging crafts. Kudos to the author, who could have been lazy but wasn't!

The book is nicely organized and the author writes with humor and affection. A chapter of introduction helps you plan, supply and mentally prepare for those long days when you are running out of ideas, and subsequent chapters organized projects into the following sections: Rainy Day Play; Kids in the Kitchen; Outdoor Adventures; Out and About; Reading, Writing, 'Rithmetic and More; Music, Dance and Drama; Arts and Crafts; and Birthdays and Holidays. Most activities are simple to set up, generally using two to four common household items. Appendices list recipes for basic paints, doughs, glues and clay; activities for a Crazy Can (a random drawing setup implementing activities that aren't messy and need little supervision); gifts children can make; best books for young children; 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 3- to 6-Year-Old Busy, says it all. I found quite a few good ideas in this well-organized, friendly guide.

69 of 71 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for anyone who needs a creative boost October 21, 2004

By busy mom

Format:Paperback

I am a working mother with an active, highly imaginative 3 1/2 year old. I used to be a teacher and always prided myself on being able to come up with great lesson plans. But with the fast-paced, frantic lifestyle of a working mother trying to succeed at 3 and four full time jobs (career, mother, wife, housekeeper), I have temporarily lost that creative spark.

I was shocked at myself when I realized I had fallen into the easy TV trap and was encouraging my daughter to watch TV so I'd have some time to take care of all of my things. I knew that something else had to be done, but I couldnt' come up with any great ideas on a spur of the moment, and I didn't have time to sit and figure out activities. This book was an exciting discovery. I have expanded the book's idea of a "crazy can" and developed several categories-including activities she can do by herself while I'm making dinner, paying bills, etc, and do-togethers for quality time together. Everything is already planned out for me, so we can use the time we have on the activities, not planning and wondering what is age-appropriate.

They are simple, engaging, creative, and quick enough that they don't over extend short attention spans. Most of the materials are already on hand. And, they are "Mom-tested". The first time I read this book my daugther was asleep and I wanted to wake her up just to do them because I knew how excited she would be. She loves the activities as much as I expected and I am able to decrease her TV time, and increase her mind, and our time together.

45 of 46 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Just as wonderful as the Toddler Busy book October 10, 2005

By Samuel Dylan Hrncir

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I ordered the two books together and they are highly recommended. Ms. Kuffner doesn't repeat (much) in the books so it's worth it to have both. My 3 year old and his 11 year old sister love the activities in this book as well as many adults who have played with us.

I have been using both books to put together a homeschool preschool program for my 2 sons, and they're great for that.

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A great resource idea book! September 27, 2005

By D. Lane

Format:Paperback

I get a TON of ideas from Preschooler's Busy Book by Trish Kuffner. I'm a home daycare provider and I'm always looking for ideas to do with my daycare kids. I don't know what I would do with out this book. It'a MUST have for home daycare providers and parents of small kids

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Mother's Sanity Boost. February 5, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

Hundred's of great, fun, and SIMPLE activities a child can do with limited supervision. I don't know who will enjoy this book more--the child (because of the activities) or the parent (because of the free time and the happily occupied child). Get one today!

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Resource or Gift August 26, 2003

By Kelly Albrecht

Format:Paperback

I love these books. I had The Toddler's Busy Book, too. These books are the source of my most admired activities -- people are so impressed when they see a picture of my daughter in our indoor rice crispie "sandbox". (not all the ideas are that bold!)
My daughter had immune problems as a toddler and we were housebound during the winter in a condo with no yard. I don't know what I would have done without these books!

I love them so much I buy them as gifts for people. My best gift for a mom who is expecting who already has a child is this book (or the Toddler one if more appropriate), along with a rubbermaid storage box with individual baggies filled with some of the projects ready-to-go. During crazy times or when the older child is bored, she just has to pull out one baggie, I have copied the directions sheet and it is already in the bag with the supplies. My finest gift!!! And not expensive, either.

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Ideas September 8, 2005

By York Peppermint Patty

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book has ideas for activities for preschoolers that don't take a long time to set up. They are short enough for a preschooler's short attention span and yet if they really are enjoying the activity it can keep them busy for a longer period of time. My son really enjoyed painting with marbles, the alphabet clothespin game and of course homemade bubbles. It puts together all of those recipes for bubbles, playdough, clay, paper mache and homemade silly putty into one book. I wasn't that creative at coming up with things for my son to do and this book really helped me with that.