Wet weekend? Home for half-term? Great Family Days In has got you covered with over 75 tried and tested activities that make the most of spending quality time together.

From Achievable Art and Whizzy Easy Science to Screen-Free Game Time, chapters are organized to help you easily find inspiration for activities that will fill your day with fun. Whether you’re creating your very own melted-crayon masterpiece or blizzard bottle, or conducting your first FamFest or mini Olympics, Great Family Days In is a one-stop shop for ideas, showing that you don’t need fancy plans or money to keep your family entertained at home.

These beautifully illustrated activities do not require any specific skills or hard to get resources. From thirty-minute time-fillers to ideas to last the whole afternoon, activities can easily be adapted to suit any age, interest or timescale, making it easy to enjoy and relax into the process of creating and building memories together, whatever the outcome.

In March 2020, Claire Balkind, also known as The What Now Mum, founded of the hugely popular Family Lockdown Tips & Ideas Facebook page which quickly amassed an engaged following of more than a million people. There, she and the community she helped build share fuss-free games, crafts, challenges and more that will keep children and adults of all ages entertained.

A Perfect Festive Gift for Young Fans of Milne's Classic Stories In this gentle tale perfect for wintery days, as the snow falls pitter patter down on the Hundred Acre Wood, Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends join together to sing their very own song for Christmas. In the story, Pooh and Piglet wrap up warm and struggle through the snow to share the song with their friends. By the time they reach Christopher Robin, who's ready and waiting with a lovely selection of festive treats to eat, the combination of their different singing voices and an interesting selection of percussion instruments enables them to perform the perfect Song for Christmas! This heart-warming story with beautiful illustrations full of festive touches will have readers thinking about their own Christmas traditions. Its shiny foil cover makes it a great present at Christmas. It's a lovely story to share with children of all ages in the cold winter months. Look out for more Winnie-the-Pooh stories: A Present from Pooh - 9780755501229 Pudding for Christmas - ISBN 9781405294621 A Tree for Christmas - ISBN 9781405286633 The Long Winter's Sleep - ISBN 9781405294591 The Great Heffalump Hunt - ISBN 9781405278300

Think fast with A.J. and Andrea from My Weird School!

Did you know that the biggest chocolate bar weighed over 12,000 pounds? Did you know that you can stop yourself from crying while chopping onions by holding a slice of bread in your mouth?

Learn more weird-but-true food facts with A.J. and Andrea from Dan Gutman’s bestselling My Weird School series. This highly illustrated series of nonfiction books features hundreds of hysterical facts, plus lots of photos and illustrations.

Whether you’re a kid who wants to learn more about food or simply someone who wants to know the average cost of lunch in 1915, this is the book for you!

With more than 23 million books sold, the My Weird School series really gets kids reading!

It's December 24th, and the old farmer settles down for a winter's nap, wondering how Christmas can come when there is no snow! It is in his dream that he imagines a snowstorm coming and covering him and his animals--named One, Two, Three, Four and Five--in a snowy blanket. But when the farmer awakens, he finds that it has really snowed outside, and now he remembers something! Putting on his red suit, he goes outside, puts some gifts under the tree for his animals, and presses a button near a Christmas tree, creating a most surprising musical treat for children everywhere.

"Few in number are the parents who have made it through their toddler's years on just one copy of Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Dream Snow has similar ingredients: a simple story, lively collage-like illustrations and a fun gimmick for little hands..." (Time)

"This is a simple, well-told story about a simple farmer.... Viewers...will want to get their hands on it." (The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books)

"Carle fans and toddlers learning the basics will...enjoy the gentle text and creative design features." (Booklist)

"The pictures are in Carle's trademark richly colored and textured collages that capture the snowy magic of Christmas." (Kirkus Reviews)

Introduce babies and toddlers to the Christmas story told through the eyes of little Lamb. Children will love listening to the story of Jesus's birthday and play with the adorable, plush lamb finger puppet. The Beginner's Bible Little Lamb's Christmas?brings the story of Jesus's birth to life from a new and fun-but-faithful retelling. Readers will follow little Lamb from the hillside to the manger, where he celebrates the arrival of God's only son. The Beginner's Bible Little Lamb's Christmas: Is perfect for children ages 0-4 Is a chunky, durable board book Includes a soft, plush lamb finger puppet for interactive storytelling Contains easy-to-read bible story of the Advent season ending with Jesus's birth Features engaging full-color illustrations on every page Makes a great stocking stuffer, Christmas gift, or holiday gift giving

Learning loads of facts is boring, right? Not with this book! Get your quiz on to become the ultimate expert on sport. This book is the ultimate combination of facts and fun. Each chapter has loads of fast facts followed by a short quiz, which makes it the perfect tool for revising for a test or for becoming the quizmaster of the universe. It covers a huge range of topics, from kite surfing to karate, takes a look at some famous sporting moments and iconic stars, and dives into the speed, skills, moves and acrobatic feats that make sports so exciting to read about. These books are designed as a companion resource for children studying core curriculum topics. Illustrations, timelines and graphics work with captions and extended texts to challenge the reader's skills in memory, comprehension and reading. Kids will barely realise they are learning when the competitive element takes over as they aim to become the Quizmaster. The books contain loads of information, but as the quiz sections are spaced evenly throughout, it can make the challenge less overwhelming. Readers can choose to read a section and then answer those questions, or read the book and then attempt the whole quiz in one go. It can be used to test themselves, test their friends or as a ready-made resource for teachers in need of a pop-quiz for their class. Suitable for children aged 8+ who are studying Space as part of the Key Stage 2 curriculum. Also perfect for sport-mad kids who smash facts like world champions smash records. Titles in this series: Around the World Dinosaurs Human Body Outer Space Science Sport

This very original game-book is certain to entertain children of all ages as well as their families! In its practical big-book format, eight traditional board games are recreated in a Christmas version with splendid illustrations. Children can detach and assemble the cardboard figures at the back of the book to play The Game of the Goose in the Gift Factory or to race to Santa's house after throwing the dice. Claudia Bordin's precious, colourful illustrations depict suggestive fantasy scenarios that will transport both the young and the old to the most magical atmosphere of the year.

"Most of the magic tricks presented here are easily understood and appear to be simple to learn and to execute with ample practice. Disappearing coins, rope tricks, a genie in a bottle, and many others provide interesting stunts to amaze and mystify one's friends." SLJ.

Children love making these beautiful shapes which are such fun to decorate. Each model is printed on crisp white paper ready to cut out and glue together. There are at least 12 hours of enjoyment in each book and the finished models make a fine collection. There are plenty of suggestions and ideas for coloring and decorating.

Master one of the world’s most fascinating games — chess!

Learn how to play chess through this fun, illustrated chess guide! A board game like no other, chess challenges young minds to think strategically about moves by applying the principles of chess to their club games, tournaments and championships.

Take your skills even further by gaining a deeper appreciation for the aim of the game and tactics. The chess book for kids age 9 and older includes:

• Chessboard graphics that show how to apply the principles you learn in real-life game situations
• A breakdown of the value, importance and role of each piece
• A history section provides background on the game and its origins, reflecting the latest changes in the game and how it’s played

International chess master and tutor Michael Basman show you everything you need to know to improve your tactics and win more games. Go from beginner chess player to chess champion by following the expert advice in Chess for Kids. Soon you’ll know the difference between chess pieces (your bishop from your knight!) and how to use them strategically, when to use the castling move and how to counter the Queen’s Gambit.

Dive into the history of chess and learn from the greatest players and games. Before explaining techniques, the book builds your fundamental knowledge of chess and boosts your understanding of its value, power and importance. Chessboard graphics illustrate different scenarios so you can visualize different chess moves and their potential outcomes and learn the best move to make in any given situation.

Using every day objects, daring magician Justin Flom (434K Facebook followers and 153K subscribers on YouTube) will teach kids all they need to know to perform 30 amazing and how-did-you-do-that magic tricks at the turn of a hat. Featuring step-by-step instructions and illustrations, Everyday Magic for Kids will give budding magicians all the tips they need in order to wow their friends and family, whether at home, at school, or on the go. Tricks will vary from card tricks to tricks with coins and other small objects to tricks that can be done with friends/family members. The book also includes introductory material about how to act like a magician and the basics of performing magic in front of an audience (be it a friend or a room of people).

_______________ The 50 Fantastic Ideas series is packed full of fun, original, skills-based activities for Early Years practitioners to use with children aged 0-5. Each activity features step-by-step guidance, a list of resources, and a detailed explanation of the skills children will learn. Creative, simple, and highly effective, this series is a must-have for every Early Years setting. 50 Fantastic Ideas Inspired by Famous Artists uses well-known art as a visual inspiration to develop expressive art and design skills in the Early Years. It is much easier now to access art online and to bring inspirational pieces into a setting without having to buy postcards or visit an art gallery. Drawing on these readily available online sources, Judith Harries presents 50 ideas featuring a range of diverse artists from Lubaina Himid and Friedensreich Hundertwasser to Mary Delany and Picasso, and famous art including pop and street art, sculpture and portraiture. Using art supplies easily found in and outside the classroom such as paints, clay, pipe cleaners and natural resources like leaves and flowers, the interactive activities found in this book are ideal for inspiring creativity and fun at the same time!

Walk the Dog, Rock the Baby, and perform the Robin Hood, Sky Rocket, and Eiffel Tower This entertaining book features 50 of the most popular Yo-Yo tricks, along with an illustrated history of the toy and its variations. Helpful diagrams accompany the easy instructions, and you'll also find tips for keeping your Yo-Yo in top condition.
Author Harry Baier is the creator of the internationally acclaimed Moonstar and Mondial, the Rolls-Royces of Yo-Yos. His complete guide to Yo-Yo tricks can be enjoyed by readers of all ages.

LEGO Harry Potter Visual Dictionary is the definitive guide to LEGO Harry Potter, packed with spellbinding, minifigures, and magical accessories, with an exclusive LEGO Harry Potter minifigure! Meet all the classic LEGO Harry Potter characters - from Hermione to Hagrid. Discover amazing details of fan-favourite sets from Hogwarts Express, 4 Privet Drive, Diagon Alley, and the epic 6000+ piece Hogwarts castle. Learn how these magical sets are created in a behind-the-scenes chapter, which features an interview with the award-winning LEGO Harry Potter team. Whether you see yourself as a brave Gryffindor, a loyal Hufflepuff, a clever Ravenclaw, or a cunning Slytherin, find out everything you need to know about LEGO Harry Potter in this must-have book. This Visual Dictionary is updated and fully expanded and features LEGO Harry Potter sets from 2018 to the latest release in 2024

25 brilliant ways to bend, fold and twist balloons! Amazing ideas for blow-up creations such as a parrot on a perch, an acrobatic aircraft, a teddy bear, a twirly hat, a bunch of tulips, and even a pair of handcuffs! It includes instructions on how to inflate, tie and decorate your balloons. It is ideal for 8- to 12-year-olds, with basic twists for beginners, and more sophisticated projects for older kids. It features simple stage-by-stage guidance and more than 200 photographs show you what to do every step of the way. Twist, twist, bend, bend, stretch, twist...pop! No, it's not a new dance, nor a new breakfast cereal. It's you after you have read this book and caught the balloon-bending bug. With this brilliant book you will be able to create a whole world of furless dogs, hairless monkeys, rubbery rabbits, wibbly hats and wobbly houses. Confused? Well, you need not be for very much longer. Once you have grasped the basic techniques, which are clearly explained at the beginning of this volume, you will start making models for fun, then for your family and friends. Finally you will be making them at parties, while waiting for a bus, or even at school (not that we encourage that kind of conduct, you understand). Before you know it, you won't just have become mad, you will have become...a balloonatic! Well, what are you waiting for? Grab a bag of balloons and let your imagination take over...

Keep children occupied and entertained in the car with this write-in activity book's impressive variety of puzzles and games. There are amazing mazes, things to spot, challenges of logic, engaging word puzzles, and inventive games for one or more players. This book will keep boredom at bay - no matter how long the journey - and make the question "Are we nearly there yet?" a thing of the past.

It's the classic, world's bestselling paper airplane book, grounded in the aerodynamics of paper and abounding with fun. "The World Record Paper Airplane Book" raises paper airplane making to a unique, unexpected art. This new edition boasts four brand-new models: "Stiletto," "Spitfire," "Galactica," and "Sting Ray." Added to its hangar of proven fliers--including "Valkyrie," "Hammerhead," "Vortex," "Condor," "Pterodactyl," and, of course, the famous "World Record Paper Airplane"--that makes twenty airworthy designs. Each is swathed in all-new, attention-grabbing graphics and is ready to tear out, fold, and fly. There are at least five models for each design and all-important instructions for how to adjust and throw each plane for best flight.
But the planes are just the beginning. The book features tons of cool information on aerodynamics, competitions, and designing your own high-performing models. Readers will learn why paper airplanes fly (and why they crash), the history of Ken Blackburn's world record, and how to organize and win contests. Also included is a flight log and pull-out runway for practicing accuracy.