12 Best Activity Books For Rainy-Day Fun | Kidadl

FOR AGES 3 YEARS TO 8 YEARS

12 Best Activity Books For Rainy-Day Fun

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When the weather isn't great and you are stuck inside, it can sometimes be difficult to find things to do or toys to play with that can keep everyone entertained and occupied.

Children's activity books are a great remedy for this, however, as they came in such a huge variety of formats and cover a broad range of topics and interests. If you always have an activity book to hand, you can make sure that there'll be a way to keep your kids busy whilst still developing their skills and learning something new.

One thing that is so great about activity books is that they don't just have to stay at home and are an easy item to pack to give kids something to do when travelling, on holiday or to supplement other daytime activities. We have rounded up our pick of the best that are available online so that all you have to worry about is which activity book to choose.

For other indoor time activities which are fun and educational, take a look at our selection of the best STEM toys for kids of all ages, and the best coding books for kids.

Our Top Choice

Leap Frog Leap Start 3D Learning System‍

This makes our top spot on the list as it is not just an activity book but a complete learning system that brings them to life. There is certainly a higher initial investment for this choice but once purchased, there is an entire range of replayable Leapfrog activity books that are compatible with it. These books cover a variety of different topics and some are even themed to favourite children's' shows such as Paw Patrol.

  • Price: £45.31
  • Interactive 3D display
  • Touch and talk
  • Combines video, audio and print

Best For Larger Families

Where's Wally? Games On The Go! Walker Books‍

Where's Wally? books are absolute classics, having sold 72 million copies and kept children and adults entertained for hours. This activity book not only includes the well-known Wally searches but also features puzzles, games and activities that the whole family can take part in. It even has a fold-out board game for added family fun.

  • Price: £6.35
  • Travel size
  • Answers at the back
  • Blue elasticated strap to keep book closed

Best For Early Years

My Quiet Book UK‍

Activity books for toddlers are a great way to help them develop gross motor skills and start to recognise and recall things such as colours, shapes, numbers and animals. This large, soft fabric book is designed for a child to engage in quiet yet visually stimulating tasks through moving and manipulating the parts.

  • Price: £32.99
  • A4 size
  • Extremely durable
  • 12 pages of early years activities

Best For Under 5s

Write-On Wipe-Off Let's Trace -Highlights‍

Reusable activity books for kids are great to get hold of as they offer hours of entertainment and can be used time and time again. This book features dry wipe pages of simple line tracing, mazes, puzzles and drawing activities so there's plenty for your young child to like.

  • Price: £11.99
  • 56 sturdy pages
  • Comes with dry wipe pen
  • For practising early writing skills

Best For 5-Year-Olds

The Usborne Little Children's Space Activity Book‍

Another option for the younger members of your family, this is one of many activity books for 5-year-olds that has a science theme and a whole host of things to do including dot-to-dot, spot tasks, doodling, mazes and stickers.  It's a great way for kids to improve their attention span whilst learning about space.

  • Price: £3.99
  • Educational and entertaining
  • Colourful pages
  • Range of tasks

Best For 6 - 10-Year-Olds

Pencil & Paper Games - Usborne‍

If you are looking for activity books for 6-year-olds and over, this tearaway pad takes playing games off the screen and back to basics, requiring only a pencil to use. It features many traditional and well-loved paper pastimes that children can play together or against other family members.

  • Price: £3.56
  • Over 100 tear-out sheets
  • Multiple copies of each game
  • Includes instructions for each game

No Worries! Mindful Kids: An Activity Book For Children Who Sometimes Feel Anxious Or Stressed‍

When most people think about activity books for kids, they probably think of those that are full of puzzles and crafts or designed for academic learning but this exercise book focuses on the mental health of your child and encourages them to work through their feelings of anxiety, worry, sadness and stress in a safe, healthy way.

  • Price: £4.99
  • Self-care book for emotional awareness
  • Quirky illustrations
  • Promote discussion about feelings
  • Part of The Mindful Kids Series

Best For Getting Creative

Paper Crafts For Kids: 25 Cut-Out Activities For Kids Ages 4-8 - Stefania Luca‍

Arts and crafts are a great way to get kids whiling away the hours doing something a little bit different. This fun-filled artbook option contains 25 paper crafts including origami, fortune tellers and 'make your own' ideas to keep things fresh.

  • Price: £7.99
  • Ready-to-cut templates
  • Easy-to-follow instructions
  • Variety of projects included

Best For Science Theme

Awesome Engineering Activities For Kids - Christina Herkert Schul‍

If your kids are fascinated by science and engineering them this book choice can help introduce them to new and exciting theories and concept. This one is a great choice in particular for helping introduce STEM exercises in a fun way and encouraging children to get thinking and experimenting.

  • Price: £13.21
  • Cross-curricular
  • A broad range of exercises
  • Interesting information about what different engineers do

Best For Stickers

Melissa & Doug Habitats Reusable Sticker Pad - My Town‍

There is something about sticker books that is just instantly appealing and this reusable sticker pad book is sure to pique the interest of your child. This fun and colourful pad will help encourage creative imagination and the discovery of habitats while kids make creative scenes. As the stickers peel off and can be repositioned, kids don't have to just make one picture; they can let their creativity run as wild as they like.

  • Price: £4.99
  • Extra-large pad
  • 5 colourful backgrounds
  • Over 150 stickers

Best For Colouring

Disney Classics Colouring - Autumn ‍

This beautiful colouring book marries Disney and art to create wonderfully drawn illustrations that your kids can have fun adding their own flair to. As the drawings are quite detailed, they are an excellent way for older children to practice fine motor skills and keep inside the lines. In addition, this choice will help them to explore their creativity with things like colour, shading and blending.

  • Price: £6.99
  • Over 100 images
  • Includes patterns and double-page drawings
  • Includes illustrations from classic and modern Disney films

Best For Puzzles And Games

The Puzzle Activity Book -Buster Activity‍

Last but by no means least, this bumper puzzle book is packed one after the other full of brain-teasing activities, mazes, pictures puzzles and more to keep boredom at bay and get your kids thinking whilst still having fun. Best suited to 4 - 6-year-olds, this book is one to break out at any time.

 

Our best buys have been selected from the most highly reviewed and recommended products we found across the web and include options for families of all ages. If you have invested in a range of books and now need somewhere to store them, why not take a look at out our 10 Best Kids' Bookcases For Any Space? If you are looking for ways to keep your kids entertained in the garden instead, then our 12 Best Kids' Garden Toys The Whole Family Will Love is definitely worth a read too.

  • Price: £5.29
  • A broad range of mazes, puzzles, doodles, dot to dots and more
  • Great for car, train or plane journeys
  • 64 pages
Written By
Jade Scott

<p>Hailing from London, Jade now calls Lincolnshire home and enjoys the serene countryside that surrounds her. She has a wealth of experience as a primary school teacher, possessing a strong understanding of the curriculum, games, activities, and learning opportunities for children aged between 3-11. Jade is constantly on the lookout for new outdoor adventures and educational attractions to share with her two nephews. Her interests in science and crafts also enable her to provide fun, engaging, and educational activities for children to enjoy on rainy days. With a passion for discovering new experiences, she is always seeking out the latest deals and attractions to ensure a memorable time for all.</p>

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