150+ Screen-Free Activities for Kids Review & Giveaway {Best of 2014 Giveaway Hop}

What do you think is the best book of 2014? Over 100 bloggers are sharing their favorite book published or read in 2014 during the Best of 2014 Giveaway Hop. Hop around to discover some of the best books of the year and enter to win the ones you are interested in reading!

Remember the good old days when we don't have computer, smartphone or tablet but can still have tons of fun playing with everyday items plus our active imagination? Did you ever feel guilty of letting your TV, laptop, iPad, or smartphone babysit your child? Research has shown that too much screen-time harms children's well-being and increases anxiety. While parents and educators are increasingly concerned about how much screen-time kids get, they don't always know what to introduce as an alternative.

What I believe is the best book of 2014 that helps parents bring back playtime and rediscover the spirit of imaginative play is 150+ Screen-Free Activities for Kids: The Very Best and Easiest Playtime Activities from FunAtHomeWithKids.com! by Asia Citro, founder of the popular parenting blog Fun at home with kids,

The book features 150+ one-of-a-kind hands-on projects with step-by-step instructions and beautiful photos to help develop children's creativity and skills without the use of any electronics. Many of the activities are good for babies. Each project is budget-friendly and can be completed using items found at a regular grocery store. Most of the activities are designed to encourage multi-age/sibling play, and can be done with or without the assistance of parents.

Every sensory recipe/activity has any potential allergens clearly marked (Lots of gluten-free and dye-free recipes included!) and each recipe is also specially marked if it is taste-safe. About half the activities have never appeared on the blog. I love that each recipe comes with age recommendation, trouble-shooting tips, and possible variations. The author also offers helpful advice on how to manage messy play for easy clean-up.

This is the book I'd highly recommend to any parent who is looking to spend quality off-screen time with their kids!

About the Author

Asia Citro, M.Ed. (SEATTLE) was a classroom science teacher before deciding to stay home full time after the birth of her daughter. She lives near Seattle with her wonderful husband, two awesome children, and two destructive cats. She started writing the popular blog Fun at Home with Kids in February of 2013 and has since spent many late nights experimenting with new play recipes and sensory materials. Fun at Home with Kids has been featured on Babble, Red Tricycle, Disney Baby, Apartment Therapy, and MSN.com, among others. 150+ Screen-Free Activities for Kids is her first book and is jokingly referred to by family members as her third child. To read about her most recent late night discoveries or to see more photos of her adorable kids at play, visit www.funathomewithkids.com.

The Giveaway

The author has kindly offered to give one of my lucky readers a copy of 150+ Screen-Free Activities for Kids (ARV $18.99/CAN $20.99). You can find out how to create a DIY sensory kit to make an adorable gift basket for the book here. Giveaway is open to both US & Canadian residents. Please enter using the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!

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Disclosure: I received a free copy of the book to facilitate my honest review. No monetary exchange took place. All views and opinions expressed are my own. icefairy's Treasure Chest is not responsible for prize fulfillment.