Family Fun

A month-by-month collection of 365 easy and enjoyable ways to connect as a family and explore life outdoors. These activities give families an idea for every day of the year, requiring little planning, no expertise, and relatively few resources (time, cash, or patience!), no matter where they live.

This book provides hundreds of entertaining toddler activities, songs, games, and art projects that stimulate cognitive development and encourage inventiveness.

Parents and caregivers will learn how to play with babies in ways that support their social, language, and motor development.

Video Duration: 16 min

With more than 250 songs, rhymes, and chants, this book is a fun way to enrich toddlers’ language experiences.

This book supplies 50 play-based developmentally appropriate activities for introducing STEM. All activities include extensions, inquiry questions, and tips on how to help parents strengthen children’s learning at home.

Taking a lighthearted approach to the serious business of parenting, This book offers new ideas for parents who are looking for fun and educational activities that they can do with their kids but that are also fun and interesting for the parents themselves.

A kit that encourages play between parent and child with different indoor and outdoor activities.

1. My First 100 Bug Words by Chris Ferrie
2. Underpants for Ants by Russell Punter & Fred Blunt
3. Play & Learn Toddler Activities Book: 200+ Fun Activities for Early Learning by Angela Thayer
4. Little Flower Yoga for Kids by Jennifer Cohen Harper
5. Bugs Matching Games Booklet and Game by Sam Smith
6. Let’s Learn More While I’m Four Flashcards by Redleaf Press

 A kit that encourages play between parent and child with different activities centered around dinosaurs.

1. Brian Wildsmith’s ABC by Brian Wildsmith
2. Rhyme Time Playtime by Fiona Lee
3. 125 Brain Games for Toddlers and Twos by Jackie Silberg
4. 30 Fun Ways to Learn with Clay and Squishy Stuff by Lorraine Frankish
5. Dinosaur Matching Games Booklet and Game by Sam Smith
6. Let’s Learn More While I’m Four Flashcards by Redleaf Press

A kit that encourages play between parent and child with different activities.

1. Bee Makes Tea by Lesley Sims & Fred Blunt
2. Seahorse’s Magical Sun Sequences by Michael Chissick
3. Art with Anything: 52 Weeks of Fun Using Everday Stuff by MaryAnn F. Kohl
4. Very First Book of Things to Spot by Fiona Watt
5. Under the Sea Booklet and Puzzles by Matthew Oldham
6. Balancing Brain Stimulation for Infants and Toddlers Flashcards by Redleaf Press

A kit that encourages play between parent and child with different zoo-related stories and activities.

1. Kangaroo at the Zoo by Lesley Sims & David Semple
2. Supporting Play: Birth Through Age Eight by Dorothy Justus Sluss
3. Plan for People Play by Fern Sussman & Elaine Weitzman
4. Z Is for Moose by Kelly Bingham
5. The Zoo Booklet and Jigsaw Puzzles by Sam Taplin
6. Play with Me While I’m Three Flashcards by Redleaf Press

A kit that encourages play between parent and child with different activities.

1. No Two Alike by Keith Baker
2. Racoon on the Moon by Russell Punter & David Semple
3. Creative Play for Your Toddler: Steiner Waldorf Expertise and Toy Projects for 2-4’s by Christopher Clouder & Janni Nicol
4. The Early Years Matter by Marilou Hyson & Heather Biggar Tomlinson
5. Woodland Booklet and Jigsaw Puzzles by Sam Taplin
6. Play with Me While I’m Three Flashcards by Redleaf Press

A kit that encourages play between parent and child with different activities.

1. The Sand Bucket List: 365 Things to Do With Your Kids Before They Grow Up by David Hoffman
2. Pedro’s Whale by Paula Kluth & Patrick Schwartz
3. Exploring Water with Young Children by Ingrid Chaluflour & Karen Worth
4. 1001 Pirate Things to Spot by Rob Lloyd Jones
5. Under the Sea Matching Games Booklet and Games by Kate Nolan
6. Let’s Learn More While I’m Four Flashcards by Redleaf Press

A kit that encourages play between parent and child with different activities centered around gardening and nature.

1. Mole in a Hole by Lesley Sims & David Semple
2. The Quite Book by Deborah Underwood
3. The Budding Gardener by Mary B. Rein
4. The Kid’s Guide to Exploring Nature by Children’s Education Staff at Brooklyn Botanic Garden
5. A Year in the Forest: Memory Game by Emilia Dziubak
6. Play with Me While I’m Three Flashcards by Redleaf Press

A kit that encourages play between parent and child with different outdoor and indoor activities.

1. No Two Alike by Keith Baker
2. The Children’s Busy Book by Trish Kuffner
3. The Tree of Goodness by Andrew Newman
4. Outdoor Science Lab for Kids: 52 Family-Friendly Experiments for the Yard, Garden, Playground, and Park by Liz Lee Heinecke
5. A Year in the Forest: Forest Animal Puzzles by Emilia Dziubak
6. Balancing Brain Stimulation for Preschoolers Flashcards by Redleaf Press

A kit that encourages play between parent and child with different activities.

1. The Quite Book by Deborah Underwood
2. Seasons of Play: Natural Environments of Wonder by Rusty Keeler
3. Very First Book of Things to Spot by Fiona Watt
4. Hey Kids! Out the Door, Let’s Explore! by Rhoda Redleaf
5. A Year in the Forest: Big and Little Puzzles by Emilia Dziubak
6. Balancing Brain Stimulation for Preschoolers Flashcards by Redleaf Press

A kit that encourages play between parent and child with different activities, emphasizing stories about animals.

1. Hip, Hop by Catherine Hnatov
2. Cow Takes a Bow by Russell Punter & Fred Blunt
3. Made to Play!: Handmade Toys and Crafts for Growing Imaginations by Joel Henriques
4. My Daddy is a Pretzel by Baron Baptiste
5. On the Farm Booklet and Jigsaw Puzzles by Sam Taplin
6. Play with Me While I’m Three Flashcards by Redleaf Press

A kit that encourages play between parent and child with different activities.

1. My First 100 Space Words by Chris Ferrie
2. The Budding Chef by Kate Kuhn
3. Good Night Yoga: A Pose-by-pose Bedtime Story by Mariam Gates
4. I’m Ready! How to Prepare Your Child for Reading Success by Janice Greenberg & Elaine Weitzman
5. Nighttime Booklet and Jigsaw Puzzles by Sam Taplin
6. Play with Me While I’m Three Flashcards by Redleaf Press

Kit Includes:

• Hello, City Bus! by Marjorie Blaine Parker
• Busy Trucks on the Go by Eric Ode
• Science Play! by Jill Frankel Hauser
• Everyday Play: Fun Games to Develop the Motor Skills Your Child Needs for School by Christy Isbell
• Quick Reference Guides for Early Childhood Best Practices (Selected Guides) by Kathy Reschke
• Self-Calming Cards by Elizabeth Cary & Mits Katayama
• In Our Street 5 Piece Puzzle by Ravensburger Puzzle

Kit Includes:

• Find the Duck by Stephen Cartwright
• Dogs, Dogs! by Michelle Nelson-Schmidt
• First Art for Toddlers and Twos: Open-Ended Art Experiences by MaryAnn F. Kohl
• Reading with Babies, Toddlers, and Twos: A Guide to Choosing, Reading, and Loving Books Together by Susan Straub
• Quick Reference Guides for Early Childhood Best Practices (Selected Guides) by Kathy Reschke
• Self-Calming Cards by Elizabeth Cary & Mits Katayama
• In The Nursery 5 piece puzzle by Ravensburger Puzzle

Kit Includes:

• Hip, Hop by Catherine Hnatov
• Cats, Cats! by Michelle Nelson-Schmidt
• Everyday Early Learning: Easy and Fun Activities and Toys Made From Stuff You Can Find Around the House by Jeff Johnson
• Parents Ask, Experts Answer: Nurturing Happy, Healthy Children by Tina Nocera
• Quick Reference Guides for Early Childhood Best Practices (Selected Guides) by Kathy Reschke
• The In-Sync Activity Card Book by Joye Newman & Carol Kranowitz
• At the Pet Shop 5 piece puzzle by Ravensburger Puzzle

A kit that encourages play between parent and child with different activities designed to teach mindfulness, motor skills and cognitive ability.

Kit Includes:

• Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae & Guy Parker-Rees
• Up, Up, Up! by Susan Reed
• Games to Play With Babies by Jackie Silberg
• Science Activities A to Z by Joanne Matricardi & Jeanne McLarty
• Quick Reference Guides for Early Childhood Best Practices (Selected Guides) by Kathy Reschke
• Growing Mindful: Mindfulness Practices for All Ages Flashcards by Mitch Abblett & Chris Willard
• Zoo 5 piece puzzle by Ravensburger puzzle

A kit that encourages play between parent and child with different activities.

Kit Includes:

• Fast and Slow by Britta Teckentrup
• Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site by Sherry Duskey Rinker & Tom Lichtenheld
• Bite-Sized Science: Activities for Children in 15 Minutes or Less by John H. Falk & Kristi S. Rosenberg
• Parents Ask, Experts Answer: Nurturing Happy, Healthy Children by Tina Nocera
• Quick Reference Guides for Early Childhood Best Practices (Selected Guides) by Kathy Reschke
• Self-Calming Cards by Elizabeth Cary & Mits Katayama
• On the Go Vehicles 12 piece puzzle by Melissa & Doug

A kit that encourages play between parent and child with different activities.

Kit Includes:

• Llama Sounds? by Debbie Buttar
• A Farmer’s Life for Me by Jan Dobbins
• The Book of Gardening Projects for Kids: 101 Ways to Get Kids, Outside, Dirty, and Having Fun by Whitney Cohen & John Fisher
• Everyday Early Learning: Easy and Fun Activities and Toys Made From Stuff You Can Find Around the House by Jeff Johnson
• Quick Reference Guides for Early Childhood Best Practices (Selected Guides) by Kathy Reschke
• Chat Pack for Kids Cards by The Question Guys
• Farmyard 10 piece peg puzzle by Hape

This book is a collection of screen-free, traditional games and activities for young children that require nothing more than people and their brains to play. All games and activities are adaptable according to the age of the children, their interests, and their abilities.

This book presents 52 open-ended activities to help you engage your child in the outdoors. No matter what your location—from a small patch of green in the city to the wide-open meadows of the country—each activity is meant to promote exploration, stimulate imagination, and heighten a child’s sense of wonder.

This book will tempt families to cook up some physics, chemistry and biology in their own kitchens and back yards. Many of the experiments are safe enough for toddlers and exciting enough for older kids, so families can discover the joy of science together.

This book provides basic crafting lessons for children of all ages.

Screen-Free Fun offers over 400 ideas to disconnect from tech devices and reconnect with our families in a healthier way. This book has 400 ways to have fun as a family: DIY projects, outdoor adventures, easy daytrips, etc. are all examples of possible activities in this book.

This book teaches you how to stimulate speech using everyday play. It makes learning to talk fun and engaging for your child using easy-to-follow activities.

Whether the goal is for a child to sleep better, concentrate before a big test or game, or enjoy some much-needed relaxation, this guide helps anyone who loves and plays with children to introduce them to the many benefits of meditation.

This book is the perfect companion for any busy parent who wants to stop stressing over mealtime and find a creative, playful solution to make this family ritual relaxing and fun.

From stomping around in mud boots in the spring to gathering around the woodstove in winter, the activities in this book naturally change from season to season—from the rhythms of the seasons comes the rhythms in our homes, our hearts, our families, and our every day.

This book features simple, practical gardening advice, including how to design a play-friendly garden, ideas for fun-filled theme gardens, and how to cook and preserve the garden’s bounty.

This book includes dozens of activities for grandparents and grandchildren, including scavenger hunts, fruit cobblers, bath-time fun, and more.

This book explores what we learn and can gain as parents and families by encouraging and experiencing creativity and nature exploration with our children, the seasons can provide us with a rhythm that brings us close to the earth, and closer to our children.

Whether it’s simple, silly, selfless, or an aspiration, this book is the ultimate handbook for reimagining quality time and creating magical shared experiences as you go.

This book offers parents a fresh approach to feeding a toddler by providing tips and tricks for quick shopping, easy recipes, and nutrient and supplement needs.

This book explains heuristic learning–discovery by trial and error–and how to encourage this type of learning to boost development. Teachers will learn how to set up treasure baskets that encourage heuristic play: containers filled with easy-to-find items that support explorations in emergent language, math, and science skills.

This book provides ways for parents to introduce yoga to their child and the benefits that come with participating in yoga.

“Using everyday activities and household items, the book helps caregivers create literacy-rich experiences for pre-readers. Written to be shared between an eager new reader and their favorite grown-up, the book emphasizes simple, multi-sensory games, recipes, conversations, and actions to help a child learn to recognize, pronounce, and write the alphabet.”

Young children use their sense of touch to explore and understand the world in which they live.

This resource from the National Center for Families Learning provides a month’s worth of family literacy activities and practices designed to inspire family memories rooted in imagining, playing, and learning together.

This comprehensive list includes links to many ideas that families can use to incorporate fun activities into their day.

These simple activity ideas will keep your kids engaged and learning, with smiles all around.

Parents and caretakers play an important role in assisting with their children’s early learning and finding low-cost or no-cost places to play and learn together can sometimes be a challenge. Libraries and museums of all kinds are all welcoming places where you can borrow books, learning backpacks, and other materials to use at home.

This webpage offers tips and activity ideas to play with your toddler indoors. Includes a free downloadable tip sheet PDF.