Baby Days: Activities, Ideas, and Games for Enjoying Daily Life with a Child Under Three

Baby Days starts the new parent off with activities for their new baby and continues giving ideas to occupy toddlers. The book offers many creative alternatives to television for those of us who aren't so creative ourselves. Her ideas are simple and easy to do, which is what I most appreciate about it. I have twins so I don't have alot of free time to create fancy playthings and crafts. The author reminds us that children find great delight in the simple things in life, like pretend cooking in the kitchen and helping Mom clean the house. Although not complex, I never would have thought of half this stuff myself! A great buy for new parents as well as a gift for expecting ones.

This book is exactly what I needed - its full of fresh, creative, and wonderful ideas of things I can do with my child. I pull it out on those days when we are both bored and driving each other crazy - I don't know how I would survive without it now that I have a busy, curious, and easily bored two year old around! We have so much fun with this book and I highly recommend it to every parent out there!

Baby Days is a record of the author's life with her daughter Anna during their first three years together. Barbara Rowley has made a career out of devising great ways to have fun with kids. The terrific thing about this book is that it's organized by type of activity and age. What harried parent hasn't thought, "oh sure, finger painting is wonderful, but what I really need is something to keep her busy while I'm cooking dinner." That's where Baby Days comes in. There are chapters for leisurely morning activities, meal and naptime ideas, and even sections on what to do in the car or on the plane. Each chapter's activities are also grouped by age, so it's easy to find something that will work for you and your child. Add to that the "prep time" and "messiness quotient" listings and you've got a recipe for success! Best of all, many of the activities only require a little energy and imagination or items usually found around the house. There's truly something here for everyone. This book inspired me to set up a reading nook (it's SO much more fun to read in a tent while lounging on pillows!) create a special hideaway and an activity box and put together a craft cupboard, among many other things, big and small. If those long days at home have got you down, it's time to get out of the baby daze and get this book!

I want to be like Barbara Rowley whose book Baby Days is a record of her life with her daughter Anna during their first three years together. Barbara has made a career out of devising great ways to have fun with kids. The terrific thing about this book is that it's organized by type of activity and age. What harried parent hasn't thought, "oh sure, finger painting is wonderful, but what I really need is something to keep her busy while I'm cooking dinner." That's where Baby Days comes in. There are chapters for leisurely morning activities, meal and naptime ideas, and even sections on what to do in the car or on the plane. Each chapter's activities are also grouped by age, so it's easy to find something that will work for you and your child. Add to that the "prep time" and "messiness quotient" listings and you've got a recipe for success! Best of all, many of the activities only require a little energy and imagination or items usually found around the house. There's truly something here for everyone. This book inspired me to set up a reading nook (it's SO much more fun to read in a tent while lounging on pillows!) create a special hideaway and an activity box and put together a craft cupboard, among many other things. If those long days at home have got you down, it's time to get out of the baby daze and get this book!

I'm a fan of Barbara Rowley's articles in FAMILY FUN magazine, so I rushed out to buy this book. I don't know where she comes up with these all these ideas -- but they're greaaat. Just what you need to have on hand when the playdough runs out. I'm buying copies for all the moms in my play group!