16 Activity Books To Keep Your Kids Occupied This Winter
by Jennifer Garry
The dead of winter is most definitely my least favorite time of year. Here in the northeast, it’s gray and cold and sometimes icy. While I’m all for trying to get the kids outside as much as possible, sometimes 20 minutes is all their rosy cheeks and frozen extremities can handle. That leaves a whole lot of hours in the day to fill. Come February, we can really use a little help in the indoor fun department.
These 16 activity books for kids are a fun way to keep them busy and entertained in wintry weather.
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The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Coloring Placemats
Available from:Keep your child occupied during mealtimes with these interactive placemats featuring your favorite caterpillar. This oversized book contains 40 placemats for little hands to color while waiting for and eating their food. The familiar characters make this a popular choice for tiny artists everywhere.
(Ages 3 – 5)Also available from: -
Time to Play!: A Sticker & Activity Book
Available from:Fans of the Australian hit TV series Bluey will love joining Bluey and Bingo as they play their favorite games. With a wide variety of activities like coloring, mazes, and stickers, there's no shortage of fun to be had.
(Ages 3 – 5)Also available from:
RELATED: All the Best Bluey Books for Young Fans of the Show
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Dr. Seuss: Green Eggs and Ham Painting Book
Available from:Young artists will love painting the scenes from one of the most iconic and beloved Dr. Seuss books. It comes with sixteen watercolor wells and a paintbrush so kids can dive right in!
(Ages 3 – 7)Also available from: -
Paper Adventures
Available from:Let’s go on a paper adventure! Follow along as two explorers meet a cast of friendly animals and even dive to the bottom of the sea. But in each spread, there is something missing and it is up to little ones to help make the sun brighter, add a trunk to the elephant, or give the crocodile more teeth. Luckily, with pages of colorful paper in the back of the book, small hands can rip and glue shapes to the spreads to complete each scene.
(Ages 4 – 8)Also available from: -
Wreck This Picture Book
Available from:This book will blow kids’ minds. Unlike a typical book, readers are encouraged to explore this picture book through imaginative play. From bending pages to smelling them, the book encourages a reading experience that engages all five senses.
(Ages 5 – 8)Also available from: -
The Met Where Did Van Gogh Go?
Available from:Fans of art history and Where’s Waldo? will love searching the scenes in this book to find Van Gogh and other items. Each illustration is inspired by a different artist’s artwork, culture, and location. Readers will search scenes from Japan, New York, and France (among others) to find specific objects.
(Ages 5 – 9)Also available from: -
Color with Stickers: Dinosaurs
Available from:Creative kids will love coloring with stickers to complete these pictures of dinosaurs! Each picture is created by matching the numbered stickers in the back of the book to the numbers on each picture. Along the way, kids will also learn dozens of fun facts about each dinosaur. Each exciting scene can then be torn out along the perforated edges so kids can showcase their work in their room, on your fridge, or in a gallery!
(Ages 5 – 9)Also available from: -
Joke Puzzles Big Fun Activity Pad
Available from:Get ready for some major laughs with this Big Fun Activity Pad! Each laugh-out-loud puzzle and giggle-inducing activity ends in a punchline and will keep kids entertained all winter long.
(Ages 6 – 9)Also available from: -
Cute Cat and Dog Puzzles
Preorder from:Seek and find every item in this adorable hidden pictures puzzle book from Highlights! Animal lovers of all ages will enjoy searching through and coloring these cute scenes of dogs and cats as they find hidden objects.
(Ages 6 – 9)(On sale: 12/31/2024)
Preorder from: -
How to Make a Picture Book
Available from:Aspiring picture book authors will find everything they need to create their first book! With creative exercises, tips, and advice, children will learn how to write and illustrate a picture book in this step-by-step guide.
(Ages 6 – 9)Also available from: -
Rainbow Neon Hidden Pictures
Available from:Use the included neon markers to color each magical sticker and scene in this hidden picture book! With silly illustrations and vibrant colors to use, this book is the perfect quiet-time activity for kids.
(Ages 6 – 9)Also available from: -
How to Be a Fashion Designer
Available from:Little fashionistas will find plenty of inspiration and instruction in this updated how-to book. Kids will learn how to put together an outfit, accessorize, and embellish their wardrobe. With lots of hands-on activities and advice, this book is perfect for kids wanting to dive into the fashion world.
(Ages 7 – 9)Also available from:
RELATED: Unique Workbooks To Capture Every Kid’s Attention
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LEGO Minecraft Ideas
Available from:Break out your block collection because these Minecraft-inspired building ideas will keep your kids busy for hours. With the instructions in this book, kids can create characters and scenes from the game, like a roaming zombie, a tiny library, and a micro sky island.
(Ages 7 – 9)Also available from: -
Learn to Letter with Luna the Llama
Available from:In this creative book, Luna the Llama and friends teach kids the basics of lettering and calligraphy with traceable worksheets and fun projects. Eight- to 12-year-olds will improve their handwriting and learn a fun way to make homemade cards, signs, and school supplies a little bit fancier.
(Ages 8 – 12)Also available from: -
Try Not to Laugh Mad Libs
Available from:I dare you not to laugh as you fill in the blanks in these hilarious stories! This rib-tickling edition will have you in stitches as you read and act out jokes and silly stories. It’s the perfect way to pass the time on a cold winter day.
(Ages 8 – 12)Also available from: -
Brain Booster Stars and Planets
Available from:The Brain Booster series is a fantastic way for kids to explore the world around them as they learn through doing. Each page of this book covers detailed information about our solar system and features a space activity, including puzzles, code-breakers, matching games, word searches, and more. Don’t miss the other books in this series that cover topics like dinosaurs, volcanoes and earthquakes, and the human body!
(Ages 8 – 12)Also available from:
You might also like:
- Boredom-Busting Activity Books for Kids
- STEM Activity Books for Your Middle Grade Brainiac
- 19 Chapter Books With Free Printable Activities
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2020 and updated in 2024.