Fun DIY Activity Kits for Kids

Day at the Office Kit

So your little pal is joining you at work today? These time-fillers will keep him occupied—and you gainfully employed.

 

• Lincoln Logs. Considering all the horn-tooting toys out there, it’s no wonder this classic has quietly endured. Your lumberjack will build for hours with no help from you.
  
  To buy: $40, backtobasicstoys.com.
  
  
• Tinker Toys. Noticing a trend? Good old Tinker Toys, also devoid of sound effects, can be emptied onto your office floor and modeled into endless robots, spaceships...
  
  To buy: $36, backtobasicstoys.com.
  
  
• Fractiles-7 travel set. She’ll arrange these magnetic tiles into all kinds of kaleidoscopic designs on the black steel board. Later, make a color photocopy to post on your wall.
  
  To buy: $27, sears.com.
  
  
• Puzzlemania books. When his short attention span reaches its outer limits, hand him any book from this series. All are chock-full of secret codes, puzzles, and other brain teasers.
  
  To buy: $7, barnesandnoble.com.
  
  
• Laptop Buddha Board. Inside the sleek, businesslike case is a mat on which your child can “paint” a picture with water. After the image fades, the mat can be painted again.
  
  To buy: $35, amazon.com.
  
  
• The Super Colossal Book of Hidden Pictures. Take this Highlights-magazine collection, add a box of crayons, and dial into that conference call without fear that you’ll be interrupted.
  
  To buy: $10, barnesandnoble.com.