I've been reorganizing my bookshelves, so I thought I would share some of my favorite early childhood resource books with you. These are the ones I turn to when my own creativity is not flowing — they are filled with simple, play-based activities that encourage creativity and exploration. Today I'll share some of my most-used general resource books, and over the next week or so, I'll also share my favorite art, science + nature, math, literacy, and parenting books.
Love this book! It's divided into Toddler Play, Preschool Play, and Grade School Play and is FULL of games, crafts, pretend play, party ideas and more! Lots of familiar ideas with new twists as well as little tidbits on parenting, stocking an art cabinet, etc. One of my favorite and most-used.
Everyday Opportunities for Extraordinary Parenting: Simple Ways to Make a Difference in Your Child's Life
by Bobbi Conner
by Bobbi Conner
Another great book by the same author. This one reminds me that to find those teachable moments as we go about our day together.
This book has tons of easy games to play at home, outside, in the car, at the grocery store, waiting in line, etc. The games are even indexed in the back by skills like visual observation, problem solving, imagination, memory, and more.
This is a little book that you can stash in your purse, diaper bag, or glove box and use when things are getting crazy. Ideas for doctor's office visits, long car rides, shopping trips, etc.
Care to share a favorite from your bookshelf?
Happy Reading!
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for the recommendations. Lately I have been getting a lot of our projects from The Toddlers Busy Book by Trish Kuffner for both learning fun and play/artsy fun.
These books sound great, thanks for the recommendations! I recently borrowed “Much More Than Counting” by Sally Moomaw and Brenda Hieronymus from our library, and it has some really interesting activities to do wtih young children. I borrowed “More Thank Counting” at the same time, but I like the “much more” book…much more!
I love to read recommendations from other parents and I really enjoy your list and the way it is based on “simple, play-based activities that encourage creativity and exploration”.
This just so needs to be encouraged in all children and we can all do with some help to find such activites for our children.
I would love to post your list on my website:
http://www.baby-books-guide.com/
You can see some lists from other parents:
http://www.baby-books-guide.com/baby-book-ideas.html
Please let me know if you would like me to add your recommendations.
Thanks,
Carmen
thank so much for the recommendations I am always looking into what to read next, have to be educational and mostly about children, thanks
Ooo! Ooo! I’m itching to go check these books out now! They sound great!
A couple of my favorite resource books are How to Get You Child to Love Reading by Esme Raji Codell, and The Read Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease. They may not seem like obvious titles to go to for playing and thinking activites, but they’re both full of them! Go figure, I like books that encourage reading!
I’m always interested in parenting books, thanks! Do you have recommendations for craft idea books as well?
Thanks for some new resources. Always great to find some good new ones.
These look like great resources – thanks for sharing!
nice to know about this matters, good job
Thanks for the tips. I am always looking for interesting books and creative outlets for my kids.
Thanks for the unplugged book recommendation. I’ve been wanting to check that out at the library for awhile and you just gave me the desire to go there today and do it!
Thanks so much for the recommendations-I just added them all to my request list on the library website!