5 DIY books kids will prefer over their gadgets

While it’s amazing that children nowadays are digital natives, educators and child psychologists also advise parents to encourage their kids to engage in old-fashioned physical play and making things from scratch.

Physical play develops dexterity and allows children to engage and interact with nature and the people around them. Creating things from scratch builds their creativity, helps improve emotional strength, and gives them a sense of accomplishment. Below are five DIY books for kids filled with building activities that are fun and engaging.

1. Awesome Engineering Activities for Kids: 50+ Exciting STEAM Projects to Design and Build (Awesome STEAM Activities for Kids) by Christina Schul

A step-by-step instruction book that makes engineering fun and easy for kids, this is ideal for children ages 5 to 10 years old as it introduces different real-life concepts based on science, technology, engineering, art and math.

Must-try features: Establish your own homemade toothpick tower, a pizza box solar oven, and a tube suspension bridge made out of only cardboard. The possibilities for creativity are endless.

Wow factor: Spark your future engineer’s imagination with the experiments in this book.

2. Easy Paper Projects: 60 Crafts You Can Wear, Gift, Use, and Admire by Maggy Woodley

This 192-page book can help your kids transform paper into all sorts of things! All you need are three materials to do the projects: paper, scissors and glue.

Must-try projects:Kids can build their own paper pendants, origami lucky star bracelets, polar bear ornaments, 3D paper accordion flowers, kite birds, and many more.

Wow factor: Your kids can create whole new masterpieces with just paper!

3. Friendship Bracelets 101: Fun to Make, Wear, and Share! by Suzanne McNeill

With this step-by-step instructional book, your child will learn how to make the most colorful and creative bracelets.

Must-try features: Create bracelets using different techniques: braiding chevron, stripes, waves, zigzags, diamonds and many more.

Wow factor: Their creations can be given as gifts to their friends or relatives or even sold.

4. The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book (from The Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series) by Jeff Kinney

This book invites children to be the writer, illustrator, and lead character of the story, and encourages their creativity.

Must-try features: Loads of interactive pages and lots of space for your child to write his own version of life’s events.

Wow factor: It’s a book that children can fondly look back on when they’re older.

5. The Unofficial Disney Parks Cookbook by Ashley Craft

Bring the magic of Disney right into your home and kitchen. This 240-page book has over 100 Disney-inspired recipes. You can take this opportunity to teach them about money too when you shop for supplies in the supermarket.

Must-try features:Recreate the famous Mickey Pretzels from Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the Dole Whip from Adventureland, the Beignets from the New Orleans Square, and many more.

Wow factor:Experience the fantasy of Disney with your homemade meals.

Getting kids involved in projects is good for their mental development and wellbeing at every stage. Just as you prepare for this, so should you for their health and financial future. FWD Babyproof is designed for your child’s needs, from life protection and investment to hospital and ICU allowance. This investment-linked insurance plan consists of either Set for Life or Manifest with RecoveryPro and SurePro for owner. Consult an expert by clicking here.