10+ Best Activity Books for 6-Year-Olds w/ Exercises (2024)

Looking for the perfect way to keep your little one engaged and learning? You're in the right place! Our carefully curated list of Activity Books for 6-Year-olds is packed with fun and educational options that promise to captivate their curious minds. Whether you’re on the hunt for a birthday gift or just want to enrich your child’s daily routine, stick around as we dive into the exciting world of activity books tailored specifically for 6-year-olds.

Fun Activity Books for 6-Year-Olds

• The Everything Kids' Science Experiments Book by Tom Robinson
  • Genre(s): Science, Educational
  • Synopsis: This book provides a range of easy and exciting experiments that cover various aspects of science, from biology to chemistry to physics.
  • Why we recommend this book: It makes science fun and accessible, encouraging curiosity and a hands-on approach to learning.
  • Perfect for: Young scientists and curious minds eager to learn how the world works through practical experiments.

• My First Big Book of Coloring by Little Bee Books
  • Genre(s): Activity Book, Art
  • Synopsis: A large coloring book filled with a variety of fun and engaging images designed to entertain and engage young children.
  • Why we recommend this book: It helps develop fine motor skills and encourages creativity through coloring.
  • Perfect for: Kids who love drawing and coloring, and parents looking for a quiet activity that keeps their children engaged.

• Wipe Clean: Early Learning Activity Book by Roger Priddy
  • Genre(s): Educational, Activity Book
  • Synopsis: This activity book includes a variety of exercises that help children practice essential skills like writing, counting, and problem-solving.
  • Why we recommend this book: Features reusable pages that allow for repeated practice, boosting learning retention and confidence.
  • Perfect for: Preschoolers and kindergarteners who are beginning to learn basic academic skills.

• National Geographic Kids My First Atlas of the World by National Geographic Kids
  • Genre(s): Geography, Educational
  • Synopsis: An introductory atlas that provides children with easy-to-understand maps of the world and information about different countries and cultures.
  • Why we recommend this book: It introduces young readers to geography in a colorful and engaging way, expanding their understanding of the world.
  • Perfect for: Young explorers eager to learn about different places around the globe.

• The Ultimate Book of Planet Earth by Anne-Sophie Baumann (Illustrated by Didier Balicevic)
  • Genre(s): Science, Educational
  • Synopsis: This interactive book offers detailed insights into Earth's structure, natural phenomena, and environments through flaps, pop-ups, and pull-tabs.
  • Why we recommend this book: It engages children with interactive elements that make learning about Earth fun and memorable.
  • Perfect for: Kids interested in nature, science, and interactive learning experiences.

Educational Activity Books for 6-Year-Olds

• Brain Games for Clever Kids by Gareth Moore (Illustrated by Chris Dickason)
  • Genre(s): Puzzle, Educational
  • Synopsis: A collection of brain-teasing puzzles designed to challenge and entertain young minds.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Problem-solving, logic, mathematics, and memory skills.
  • Why we recommend this book: It provides a fun and challenging way for kids to sharpen their mental faculties and stay engaged.
  • Perfect for: Kids who enjoy puzzles and games that challenge their intellect.

• My Book of Easy Telling Time: Learning about Hours and Half-Hours by Kumon Publishing
  • Genre(s): Educational, Math
  • Synopsis: This workbook helps children learn to tell time by focusing on hours and half-hours using a variety of exercises.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Time-telling skills, understanding of hours and minutes, early math concepts.
  • Why we recommend this book: It uses a step-by-step approach that makes learning to tell time easy and enjoyable for young children.
  • Perfect for: Young learners who are just starting to understand time concepts.

• The Kids' Book of Wordsearches 1 by Gareth Moore
  • Genre(s): Word Games, Educational
  • Synopsis: This book contains over 150 word search puzzles covering a wide range of topics, designed to improve vocabulary and spelling.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Vocabulary, spelling, and pattern recognition.
  • Why we recommend this book: It helps enhance language skills in a fun and engaging format.
  • Perfect for: Kids who love word games and are keen to expand their vocabulary in a playful manner.

• 365 Science Activities by Various Authors
  • Genre(s): Science, Activity Book
  • Synopsis: Explore science every day of the year with activities that cover physics, chemistry, and biology in fun, practical experiments.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Scientific thinking, experimentation, and understanding of basic scientific principles.
  • Why we recommend this book: It makes science accessible and exciting, with a new activity for every day to keep the learning fresh and engaging.
  • Perfect for: Budding scientists who enjoy daily challenges and hands-on learning.

• Awesome Engineering Activities for Kids by Christina Schul
  • Genre(s): Engineering, Educational
  • Synopsis: Features 50+ exciting engineering challenges and projects, including building bridges, flying machines, and more.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Engineering principles, problem-solving, and creativity.
  • Why we recommend this book: It encourages practical learning and innovation through real-world engineering challenges.
  • Perfect for: Young engineers and creative thinkers interested in building and discovering how things work.

Challenging Activity Books for 6-Year-Olds

• Math Riddles for Smart Kids by M. Prefontaine
  • Genre(s): Math, Puzzle
  • Synopsis: This book contains a series of challenging math riddles and brain teasers designed specifically for children to enhance their mathematical thinking.
  • Why this book is challenging: It introduces complex problem-solving techniques and encourages logical reasoning beyond typical classroom activities.
  • Why we recommend this book: These riddles help sharpen a child’s math skills and cognitive abilities in a fun and engaging way.
  • Perfect for: Kids who enjoy puzzles and want to challenge their math skills.

• The Kid's Awesome Activity Book by Mike Lowery
  • Genre(s): Activity Book, Creativity
  • Synopsis: Filled with games, puzzles, and doodle spaces, this book encourages creative thinking and problem-solving through a variety of activities.
  • Why this book is challenging: It requires kids to use their imagination and creativity to complete tasks that are open-ended and varied.
  • Why we recommend this book: It’s a fantastic way to keep children engaged while fostering creativity and an innovative mindset.
  • Perfect for: Creative kids who love drawing, solving puzzles, and inventing their own games.

• Logic Puzzles for Clever Kids by Molly Lynch
  • Genre(s): Logic, Puzzle
  • Synopsis: A collection of intricate logic puzzles that challenge children to use deductive reasoning and critical thinking skills.
  • Why this book is challenging: These puzzles are designed to push the boundaries of a child’s problem-solving abilities and improve logical thinking.
  • Why we recommend this book: It helps develop important cognitive skills in a fun and challenging way, preparing kids for more advanced problem-solving tasks.
  • Perfect for: Youngsters who thrive on solving complex puzzles and developing their reasoning skills.

• Super Mazes in Space! by Rolf Heimann
  • Genre(s): Mazes, Space, Activity Book
  • Synopsis: This maze book takes children on an interstellar adventure, navigating through intricately designed space-themed mazes.
  • Why this book is challenging: The mazes increase in complexity throughout the book, requiring more advanced spatial awareness and strategic planning.
  • Why we recommend this book: It combines the fun of space exploration with the cognitive challenge of mazes, enhancing problem-solving skills.
  • Perfect for: Kids fascinated by space and those who enjoy a good navigational challenge.

• The Incredible Math Games Book by DK
  • Genre(s): Math, Games, Educational
  • Synopsis: This interactive book includes a variety of math games and puzzles designed to make learning math concepts fun and engaging.
  • Why this book is challenging: It covers a wide range of math topics and incorporates them into games that require strategic thinking and advanced math skills.
  • Why we recommend this book: It makes math enjoyable and directly applicable through interactive play, helping children learn without feeling like they are studying.
  • Perfect for: Young mathematicians who love games and challenges that stimulate their minds.

Exercises to Develop a Good Reading Habit

When it comes to nurturing a love for reading in kids, activity books are a fantastic tool, especially for 6-year-olds who are just getting comfortable with reading on their own. Below are some exercises that can be incorporated into daily routines to help these young readers develop good reading habits.

• Picture Story Analysis
  • What it is: Look at a picture and tell or write a story about what might be happening.
  • How it helps: Enhances imagination and helps in understanding context and storytelling.
  • Tips: Encourage your child to describe as many details as possible and ask open-ended questions to expand their thinking.

• Match the Sentence
  • What it is: Match sentences to corresponding pictures or scenarios in the book.
  • How it helps: Improves reading comprehension and vocabulary.
  • Tips: Start with simple sentences and gradually introduce more complex ones as your child's skills improve.

• Character Role Play
  • What it is: Act out scenes from a book with your child, each of you playing different characters.
  • How it helps: Helps with understanding character emotions and actions, enhancing empathy and reading comprehension.
  • Tips: Use costumes or props to make the role-play more engaging and fun.

• Story Map Creation
  • What it is: Draw a map or a sequence of events from a story they’ve read.
  • How it helps: Aids in understanding the structure of stories and sequences of events.
  • Tips: Keep colored pencils and markers handy to make the activity more interactive and visually appealing.

• Read and Draw
  • What it is: Read a passage and then draw a scene described in the text.
  • How it helps: Reinforces visualization skills which are important for reading comprehension.
  • Tips: Discuss the drawing with your child to ensure they understand what they've read.

• Silent Reading Time
  • What it is: Set aside a specific time each day for quiet reading.
  • How it helps: Encourages discipline and the habit of reading independently.
  • Tips: Create a cozy reading nook that your child can look forward to spending time in.

• Book-Based Question Cards
  • What it is: Create question cards about the story and discuss them after reading.
  • How it helps: Promotes critical thinking and detailed understanding of the text.
  • Tips: Tailor questions to be open-ended to encourage more thoughtful responses.

Incorporating these exercises into your child’s routine can make reading a more dynamic and enjoyable experience. Not only will these activities keep them engaged, but they'll also build foundational skills that are crucial for their academic growth. So, grab an activity book and let the fun and learning begin!