In full disclosure, I was provided with the Usborne book My First Christmas Activity Book in exchange for my honest review.
For most families that celebrate Christmas, the significance of this holiday is often reinforced and taught by reading books to our children at night. We have always enjoyed books like “Polar Express” and “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” but I had not yet tried a holiday activity book. I was pleasantly surprised after my children interacted and played with My First Christmas Activity Book by Usborne. I never considered incorporating an activity book into our daily routine during the month of December but I was so happy when I saw how it brought a wonderful educational component to our day!
Usborne books are well-made and can withstand the strength of children’s hands. The graphics are bright and pleasant which attract the eyes of little kids which in turn increases attention and focus. My two toddlers had a great time playing with the My First Christmas Activity book as they have with all the Usborne books they have read so far. There are so many educational and developmental benefits for using this book this holiday season!
Here are 3 Reasons Mommy University recommends My First Christmas Activity Book:
Increases Eye-Hand Coordination
From front to back, this book is all about developing eye-hand coordination. The My First Christmas Activity Book consists of three sections (Stickers, Coloring, Doodles & Dot-to-Dots) which encourages children to improve their visual and fine motor skills. The stickers section has a colorful scene which the children are encouraged to decorate the stickers. The coloring section allows children to color various holiday images. Both sections, help increase fine motor control and awareness as well as visual scanning and perceptual skills.
The Doodles & Dot-to-Dots section may be the most challenging for my children but definitely the most interesting. In this section, children can follow the numbers to complete an image, trace a reflection to complete an image or draw their own patterns. The benefit of having different sections of the book is that it keeps the attention of preschoolers and offers them several opportunities to develop eye-hand coordination.
The children had so much fun talking about the ornaments and decorating the tree with the stickers.
Encourages Creativity
Personally, I am a big fan of Usborne books because they have great style. The design is not overwhelming and the images are pleasant (and fun). For example, the first section introduces iconic images associated with the season. My children enjoyed decorating their own Christmas tree with ornament stickers. It allowed them to tap into their own unique style and artistic creativity. It was fun to see how each child had a different creative take on this activity.
Later in the book, they are invited to color another Christmas tree. The drawings are not so detailed making it easier for children beginning to develop their coloring skills. When coloring, kids can decide which colors to use or what patterns they want to involve. They can decide to be symmetrical or random. The creative choice is their’s.
Increases Academic Knowledge
While completing each activity in My First Christmas Activity Book, my kids were expanded their basic knowledge and labeling skills. Kids can work on color, shape and object recognition. Vocabulary is also improved as kids can be asked to verbally describe their picture and explain what they want to do next. Receptive language and listening skills are also improved as kids are asked to follow directions and complete tasks their parents request of them to do.
As soon as I put the book on the table they climbed into their chairs and happily opened the book.
After using this activity book, I am definitely including in my kids’ afternoon routine when they get home from school. My First Christmas Activity Book is a great book to have at the table for holiday gatherings where children will be present. The different sections are good for various ages and can keep the kids entertained. This book is also the perfect gift for a preschooler. It is a sturdy book that can survive not so gentle hands but lightweight so that it can be carried by those same hands. It is seasonal, fun, and engages their minds.
My First Christmas Activity Book can be purchased for only $11.99. If you are interested in purchasing this book or any other Usborne books, check out their website!
Check out the other books we have reviewed from Usborne.