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

• a great resource for caregivers of energetic preschoolers

  
  By A2C27IQUH9N1Z on 2003-03-04
  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.
  
  

• I hate to be the one to leave a negative review...

  
  By on 2002-07-06
  but I found this book to be very flimsy. Do we really need yet another recipe for glue, play dough, and other things that can be purchased ready made very cheaply? Out of the 365 "games and activities" in this book, I'd have to say I found maybe 3 to 5 that I might try. Most of the others would pretty much come to any Mom's mind naturally, and a lot of them are just useless.
  
  

• Just as wonderful as the Toddler Busy book

  
  By A2SPV96SGOEO2 on 2005-10-10
  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.
  
  

• A great resource idea book!

  
  By A3RX5RMRAJ8Z5B on 2005-09-27
  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
  
  

• Great for anyone who needs a creative boost

  
  By APRI8LOUPXJ3T on 2004-10-21
  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.
  
  
• Great Resource or Gift
  By A16BB04DCCVBO9 on 2003-08-26
  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.
  
  

• A "must have" for a new mother with a todler.
  By on 1999-03-12
  This book has been a saving grace. I have a very active todler, and just had a new baby. This book offers great ideas for keeping my todler busy and entertained. My favorites are "Rainy Day Play" and "Out and About." These activities are easy to prepare and convenient to take along on errands and/or Dr. Visits.
  
  
• Great Ideas
  By A15PF6XHY7MLWW on 2005-09-08
  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.
  
  
• A Mother's Sanity Boost.
  By on 1999-02-05
  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!
  
  
• The busy book series, help for the out of ideas parent
  By A2AYJPALY0EDJ1 on 2002-01-20
  Before I had a child I felt that I was a pretty creative person, but I soon realized that I had run out of ideas. It was difficult to figure out projects that my toddler, now preschooler could do and that we could do together. We only recently purchased this book and have done several of the projects. The projects are inexpensive and the things you will need are easy to find. My son and I have enjoyed what we have done so far and look forward to doing many more of the projects listed in the book. The projects are grouped in such categories as "Rainy Day Play", "Outdoor adventures", "Music, Dance and Drama", "Arts and Crafts"... so things to do are easy to find. We love it.
  
  
• Busy Preschooler, Happy Mom!
  By A13QP6Z187BUGU on 2001-04-07
  Great activites in an easy to read, easy to use format. I particularly liked the "Rainy Day Play" and "Out and About" chapters, as well as all the great recipes for everything from home-made silly putty to face paint and peanut butter playdough.

  It got me enthused again about spending quality time with my child!
  
  

• Best Kids Book for Moms!
  By A9VC2XA99QCU9 on 2005-09-19
  This is the best book for moms. It's packed with creative ideas that are easy and inexpensive. You can get your kids busy with something new everyday of the year!
  
  
• Preschooler's Busy Book
  By A20KIXK1J5IO2M on 2005-08-30
  My 3-year old daughter loves the activities in this book. After completing only two, she now asks every morning, "Can we do a project from the yellow book?" As an adult, one may look at some of the activities as rather mundane, but to a child for whom everything is new, they see nothing but fun.
  
  
• Organized, worthwhile activities
  By A2KFVNVJAM3O4I on 2006-08-28
  I love this book. Being a stay-at-home mom, this author knows how to stay, organized and have fun with her kids. I needed help to organize craft boxes, activity ideas, etc. This book does that. Of course, some of the things I naturally do with my daughter, like bake or color, I'm forgot about lots of other activities to do with young ones. It's a hands-on book. However, like the author says, it's only as good as you use it.
  
  
• A Great Reference for Moms of Preschoolers!
  By AI28747K087AA on 2001-02-04
  This book is worth every penny. It is filled with great, easy ideas that you can do without spending a lot of money or buying special supplies. Keeps the kids entertained and their minds working!
  
  
• Great Ideas
  By A2DVUM1TCZA2DM on 2002-02-23
  This book is full of great ideas! If you have any questions about what activities to do with your children, than this isyour book. It is broken down into catagories, and each activity has a supplies list. The book also has recipes for paint, glue, glitter, etc to save you money. Best of all, it was written by a stay-at-home mom!
  
  
• I Highly recommend this book for children's education!
  By A271RQJQ9IINTG on 2005-06-20
  This book is chock full of great ideas to spend more "quality time" with your preschoolers. The ideas range from the basics (like creating a Froot-Loops necklace) to the more exotic. Most are easily accomplished and require only household items. A lot of them will help educate your child without their knowledge! Nearly all of the ideas are things you might have done at one time or another when you were a kid, but probably had forgotten. Also, I love the appedix which includes recipes for edible and inedible play-doh, face paints, glues and pastes, pasta dye, etc. If you are ready to take on the challenge of a preschooler, this book will help you do it in style!
  
  
• preschooler's busy book
  By A3N3ATX45HLLLK on 2006-08-30
  This is a great book. I have a busy 5 year old and it can be a challange to keep her busy. She loves the activities, mom is cool again:)
  
  
• Alright....
  By A1E29194QNFHFG on 2008-05-30
  I just got this book and it has some cute, easy games and activities. I don't know that I would call them creative. Some are things like "let's go pick up the neighborhood trash" Uh.... no thanks. My neighbors can pick up their own trash and they can clean up their own yards.
  
  Other than a few "misses" it really is full of ideas and fun.
  
  
• Great Ideas!!
  By A35OZXCIHWN7C1 on 2005-01-23
  I have gotten alot of use out of this book! Suggests great learning oportunities, such as math, reading readiness, and more... in cheap inexpensive ways! They are simple, engaging, creative, and quick.
  
  
• it was okay
  By A3L4WULGVDYZPQ on 2007-05-30
  there are better ones out there to spend your money on.It did get here on time and in conditon.
  
  
• THERE IS HOPE!!!
  By AHMQZE5RB3EC5 on 2007-12-10
  I'm only 100 pages into The Preschooler's Busy Book, but after the first few pages I knew there was hope for me and my daughter facing the winter months indoors together. I took the author's advice and brought along a "Busy Bag" on a shopping trip we took with my mom and grandmother. I packed books, markers, some bracelets, and magnets that she could play with on a small cake pan while I pushed her in a stroller. It was truly a life-saver. She is 3 and a half, so we are just entering this new stage of boredom and inquisitiveness, so I cannot wait to try some of the great ideas I've found in the book. I also purchased the Arts & Crafts Busy Book, because she loves craft projects, but my imagination is limited. The quotes at the beginning of each chapter are really great too and make you think about the joy of motherhood. The size of the book is nice and compact, not too big to bring along somewhere to read. It's also convenient that you don't have to spend a lot of money on these activities. Most items can be found around the house. The only reason I gave it four stars is because I haven't completely finished reading the book yet, but I anticipate it to be a five-star review overall.
  
  
• Fabulous Idea Book
  By A3CRRX8E6QVL97 on 2007-06-11
  I bought this book for my husband and I to come up with simple activities for our 3 1/2 year old. We have tried several activities and my daughter loves them. They are simple, use common, everyday household stuff and are inexpensive to do. It is a great basic activity book.
  
  
• LOVE this book
  By A30X7XFFC3QMR3 on 2007-09-26
  This book was a sanity saver for a mom with 3 year old twins. How neat to have a resource to turn to on rainy days, snowed in days or days when things are going chaotic. This book is full of all kinds of activities and suggestions on how to occupy your little ones. I love it!! The activities are so easy to do and they are so creative. There are recipes, games and instructions to make homemade toys. These are just a few of the many materials covered. I recommend this book for anyone who has young children!
  
  
• Offers great ideas
  By A338GP2C5KIYW8 on 2008-02-24
  I bought this book to survive our long winer season we are having here in Boston. This book offers a lot of good tips to keep our toddlers and preschoolers busy.
  
  
• great ideas
  By A1LBQCYDQ8IZ0F on 2008-04-24
  This book is well written and has great ideas, hundreds of them. Some are real simple and there aren't any pictures, I find myself reading it thinking "why hadn't I though of this before?" some activites are just a few minutes each. I had checked it out at the library before purchasing. Would reccommed this book.
  
  
• Great book and great ideas
  By AIZZ4NDUCBG0M on 2008-06-16
  Love this book and it provides a lot of great ideas. I use this book to plan play dates, birthday parties, and to plan fun things to do while traveling and staying with family. We use it a lot and my daughter (and friends) really enjoy the projects. Some of the painting projects are ambitious, but the few that we tried were great fun.
  
  
• Definately a Busy Book!
  By A2VEQG0QZTW7Q3 on 2000-06-27
  This book was a definate boredom saver for kids really ages 3 to 10. I have used many of the activities to keep the children in my care busy. The older kids enjoy going through this book and picking out projects that look interesting to them. It is easy and quick to read so I don't have to spend all day trying to figure out how to get the projects right. I was very impressed and I highly recommend this book to anyone that deals with children.
  
  
• great ideas for preschool aged kids
  By AXYV27VVGU1BU on 2007-02-20
  this is a great idea book...some repetition and basic ideas...but, sometimes you just need a simple project and you and your kids can make it your own.
  
  
• LOVE this book!!
  By A3029I362KJP3O on 2007-11-25
  I bought the toddler's busy book when my son was two years old and we loved it so much that I decided to purchase this one a year later. We've done most of the activities in this book and my now four year old still loves it. He will go and grab the busy book from the shelf and ask if we can find him something to do! Must have for all moms of preschoolers!
  
  

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