Looking for ways to keep children busy over their holiday break from school? Borrow a book filled with kid-friendly activities from the Lititz Public Library.
Christmas Unwrapped: A Kid’s Winter Wonderland of Holiday Trivia by Amy Shields
Fun quizzes reveal interesting facts behind holiday traditions.
Nifty Thrifty Math Crafts by Michele C. Hollow
Use inexpensive materials found at home to make an origami hat, a piggy bank, a dream catcher clock and more.
Kids in the Holiday Kitchen: Making, Baking and Giving by Jessica Strand and Tammy Massman-Johnson
Kid-friendly projects include easy entrees, sweet and savory appetizers and fantastic crafts to display, wear or give.
Junk Drawer Jewelry by Rachel DiSalle and Ellen Warwick
Introductory information and tips are followed by instructions for projects of varying difficulty including bracelets, necklaces, rings, and wristbands.
Awesome Foam Craft: Quick and Easy Kids’ Projects by Margaret Riley
Patterns, including refrigerator magnets, masks, jewelry and vehicles, make it easy to show children how to create crafts from sheets of foam.
The Kids’ Winter Fun Book: Homespun Adventures for Family Fun by Claire Gillman and Sam Martin
Instructions for art projects, games and recipes get the whole family involved in projects such as how to grow rock candy, make perfect pancakes or build a snow fort.
This Book Made Me Do It by John Woodward
A collection of activities for budding artists, scientists, sports stars and chefs provide step-by-step instructions for projects like making a barometer, panning for gold or doing the Moonwalk.
Trash Origami: 25 Paper Folding Projects Reusing Everyday Materials by Michael G. LaFosse and Richard L. Alexander
Make folded paper projects from throwaway materials like glossy brochures, dog food bags, catalog inserts and gum wrappers.
Super Simple Art to Wear: Fun and Easy-to-Make Crafts for Kids by Karen Latchana Kenney
Simple language and how-to photos introduce a variety of projects like painted shoe laces and circle purses.
The All-New Woodworking for Kids by Kevin McGuire
Over forty projects present easy instructions for projects like a doggie diner, adjustable stilts or a box featuring a secret drawer with sections on tools, materials, techniques and safety.
101 Things You Gotta Do Before You’re 12 by Joanne O’Sullivan
The list includes exciting and educational activities like suggestions on great classics to read, a list of crazy competitions, and how to trace family roots.
Generation T: 108 Ways to Transform a T-Shirt by Megan Nicolay
With just a needle and thread kids will learn how to cut, fold, gather, embellish and reassemble second-hand T-shirts.
Learn to Sign the Fun Way!: Let Your Fingers Do the Talking with Games, Puzzles and Activities in American Sign Language by Penny Warner
Lively, self-guided book uses games and activities that go beyond the manual alphabet to share signs that appeal to youths.
Super Little Giant Book of Secret Codes by David Lambert and the Diagram Group
Learn to create secret codes using symbols, dots, lines or rearranged letters.
Girl’s Best Book of Knitting, Sewing and Embroidery by Virginie Desmoulins
Encourage creativity by showing kids the fundamentals of three basic handicrafts with simple projects that include embroidered T-shirts, knitted flowers and sewn hair bands.
Make and Take for Kids: 50 Crafts throughout the Year by Marie LeBaron
Share fifty unique and simple-to-produce projects centered around a holiday or season.
Originally published on December 13, 2013 in the Lititz Record Express.