The big book of 100 outdoor activities

There are times when keeping your young children occupied and entertained can be a real challenge, no matter how super-organized or imaginative your parenting skills.

This is where The Big Book of 100 Outdoor Activities, a bumper book of boredom-busting fun, comes in.

The aim is to provide parents with loads of simple and quick activities and creative ideas, to engage and entertain their children and encourage them to learn more about their natural environment. Activities are grouped into eight handy sections: Wildlife Spotting, In the Garden, Messy Makes, Arts and Craft, Games, Rainy Day Activities, Outdoor Cooking, and Music and Dressing Up.

Each one is packed with things to do that range from spur-of-the-moment creative play, involving little or no preparation, to mini projects with step-by-step instructions.

No matter what your pre-schooler is into, there will be something to stimulate their senses.

These are just a few of the ingenious ideas: making a baking soda rocket, painting with fruit, growing your own pizza toppings, feather printing and making a bug hotel to cooking smores, pressing flowers, leaf rubbing and wildlife spotting. AUTHORS: Laura Minter and Tia Williams are two creative mums that started Little Button Diaries, their crafting and baking blog, in 2013 to show that having children doesn't mean you have to stop doing the things you love.

They have won awards for Best Craft Blog at the 2014 Mum and Dad (MAD) Blog Awards and a 2015 Brilliance in Blogging in the crafts section.

Laura and Tia also write craft tutorials for craft superstore Hobbycraft, work on blog projects with Paperchase, Cath Kidston and Laura Ashley, and are contributors to Mollie Makes and Creativity magazines. SELLING POINTS: . 100 original ideas brought to you by award-winning parenting bloggers. . Clear colour photographs of each activity and charming illustrations throughout the book. . Activities aimed at children from 3 years upwards and their parents. . Basic craft supplies explained, many of which are household items. . Mini projects designed for outdoor play and involve minimal preparation, materials or craft skills. . Companion title to The Big Book of 100 Little Activities.