You’re not alone if you’re wondering what’s the difference between a workbook and an activity book. At first, I thought they were the same until I discovered a distinct difference between them. If like me, you love stimulating your kid’s growth, these two books will be among your favorites. But first, what makes them different?
Workbooks are more educational and cover specific topics, while activity books focus on an entertainment learning style. Workbooks tackle topics like the alphabet, math problems, reading, and identifying objects. Activity books include coloring activities, puzzles, and games.
Workbooks and activity books have one goal in common. They provide educational and interactive content for your child’s development.
- Benefits of Workbooks and Activity Books
- Top Workbooks and Activity Books for Your Child
- 1. Summer Big Fun Workbook by Highlights Learning
- 2. Phonics for Kindergarten by Carson Dellosa Education
- 3. My First Book of Baby Signs by Lane Rebelo
- 4. Paint by Sticker Kids by Workman Publishing
- 5. Wipe Clean: Giant Activity Book by Roger Priddy
- 6. My First Sticker by Numbers Books by Price Stern Sloan
Benefits of Workbooks and Activity Books
1. Enhancing Child Development
As a first-time parent, I was eager to improve my child’s motor skills, hand-eye coordination, problem-solving ability, and overall emotional intelligence. I figured if I equipped my child with basic learning skills, the transition into formal education would be easier. Workbooks and activity books were a lifesaver because the interactive learning mode ensures children tackle various development areas. So your child’s development will improve whether they’re solving a puzzle or identifying objects.
2.Develops Self-Confidence
Here’s the thing, children develop self-confidence from a young age, and it’s our duty as parents to boost their self-esteem. The workbooks and activity books play an integral role in developing your child’s confidence. When they complete tasks and solve challenging problems, it solidifies their independence and builds confidence. Ultimately, the confidence trickles into other areas of their life as they grow up.
3. Prepares Children for School
As mentioned earlier, I bought these books to prepare my son for school. I wanted him to blend in with ease and handle assignments seamlessly. The books provide a wide range of activities your child will encounter at school. Furthermore, these books will keep them engaged during the holidays so you can have some time to yourself. Wouldn’t you love that?
4. Improves Concentration
Whether your child is four or eight, you’ll agree that the concentration span is incredibly low. In fact, CNLD Testing and Therapy indicate that children between four to eight years have an attention span of fewer than 24 minutes. That’s not a long time. However, because the books are highly engaging, your child is more likely to spend more time concentrating on the challenges. My son rarely walks away from a puzzle until it’s complete, which is good for his attention span.
I could go on about the benefits of these amazing books, but I want to list books that have impacted my child’s development so far.
Top Workbooks and Activity Books for Your Child
1. Summer Big Fun Workbook by Highlights Learning
Highlights Learning has amazing workbooks for toddlers and preschoolers. You will find books that cover writing, reading, math, and experimentation. My favorite is the Summer Big Fun Workbook, which focuses on preparing your child for preschool.
It features activity-rich content that aligns with the standard school curriculum. Your child will practice the alphabet, colors, patterns, sorting, sight words, and math concepts. Moreover, the workbook offers several ideas for outdoor activities that make learning fun. My son loves the illustrations and ABC order because he gets to pick out a sticker after each task.
2. Phonics for Kindergarten by Carson Dellosa Education
This workbook was one of the first in my collection. My baby’s attention span was short, and I needed interactive yet simplified workbooks to ensure he was engaged. The workbook is 64 pages long and features precise content to capture your child’s attention.
Your child will enjoy colorful puzzles, games, consonants, short vowel sounds, and an incentive chart with 140 stickers. You can use the stickers to reward each successful task, encouraging him to do more. The best part of this workbook is the vibrant colors. Every image is a depiction of the real item.
3. My First Book of Baby Signs by Lane Rebelo
Before your child utters a word, they will use signs and sounds to communicate their needs. So, why not teach your child these signs from an early age? Thanks to the enthusiasm of first-time parenting, I purchased this book pretty early, and I don’t regret it.
When my son turned six months, we started perusing the book as I showed him how to ask for milk, toys, and other needs. As expected, it wasn’t easy at first, but with consistency, he eventually understood.
If your child experiences speech challenges or is deaf, this book is an excellent foundation. The ASL signs will help your child communicate well into kindergarten and adulthood. Although my baby can speak, I appreciate that he can communicate through sign language.
4. Paint by Sticker Kids by Workman Publishing
Paint by Sticker Kids is ideal for children between five and eight. The 34-page book features images that the child will “paint” using stickers that come with the book. It is great for enhancing hand-eye coordination and fine skills for your baby. There are only 10 images in the book, and your child will only require 30 minutes to an hour to complete the task.
5. Wipe Clean: Giant Activity Book by Roger Priddy
You need this activity book if your child is two years old or older. All the 112 pages are full of interactive activities that will keep your child engaged for hours. Moreover, it comes with a dry-wipe pen, meaning your child can repeatedly wipe the page and complete the tasks.
The colorful words, animals, objects, and letters enhance various learning skills and aid your child’s development.
6. My First Sticker by Numbers Books by Price Stern Sloan
If your kid is anything like mine, then they definitely love stickers. In fact, unleashing a book full of stickers is one sure to get my son’s attention. He loves to design creative artwork and match stickers to specific images or letters.
This book comes with over 650 stickers matched to specific numbers. The numbers will form creative designs, including cars, rocket ships, airplanes, flowers, and other unique designs. In addition, it’s only 24-pages, so it doesn’t take up much time.
There you have it. Workbooks and activity books are essentially the same, but the former is more educational, and the latter focuses on interactive activities. They both add value to your child’s development and are integral in preparing them for school.
You can find these books on Amazon, Walmart, Bookshop, or your local library. What’s more, they are affordable, meaning you can pick more than one. So have fun keeping your baby engaged, and let us know how the learning goes.
