Top 10 Activity Books To Boost Creativity In Kids (Ages 6–12)

Creativity is not limited to people who have artistic talent, although art can be a vehicle for creativity. Rather, it is a process, a movement that doesn’t start in the art room but in the classroom, the lab and the workplace. 

For children from 6 to 12 (the primary-school through preteen years), activity books are a no-brainer, screen-light way to develop imagination, focus, fine motor skills, real-world thinking and a launch pad for further experimentation. Here are 10 varieties of activity books that pack an educational wallop — along with what they teach, how to use them at home and tricks for holding children’s attention.

Pro tip: Pair each book with easy and low-prep activities (a timed challenge, a mini project or a family game), to help keep your strong rhythm steady.
 

1. Easily-Created Drawing & Colouring Books 

Why it matters: “Drawing helps to develop visual thinking, patience and hand-eye coordination.” Colouring is a powerful educational tool to give your child, and your child's brain, a little break after school!
What to seek out: Books that marry step-by-step drawing with open-ended prompts (for example, “Draw your dream city”).
How to use: Schedule 10 minutes of “daily doodling”; try weekend themes (nature, superheroes, celebrations).

2. Puzzle, Quiz & IQ Books

Why they matter: Puzzles sharpen logic, spatial thinking, and even endurance — all great for ages 8-12.
What to look for: Mixed formats including mazes, riddles, Sudoku, crosswords, and visual reasoning.
How to use: Make it social: “solve & explain” rounds where kids teach back the solution.

3. STEM (Science & Tech & Engineering & Math ) Workbooks

Why they matter: STEM books turn curiosity into experiments — employing basic physics tricks, kitchen chemistry, coding logic, and math games.
What to look for: Clear directions, family-friendly supplies and notes about security.
What to do: Schedule a dedicated day of the week (let’s call it “STEM Saturday”) for your STEM projects. Write up results as a science journal for practice in writing skills.

4. English Skills 4 – Grammar, Vocabulary, and Writing Prompts

Here’s another post in this series. You can find the others, including the 4.

Why they matter: Language activity books take grammar off the page with games, story starters, synonym hunts and “fix the sentence” challenges.
What to look for: Short, self-contained activities with age-appropriate activities (10-15 minutes each).
How to use: Start a “Writer’s Corner” — children choose a prompt, write for 8-10 minutes and then share what they’ve written.

5. Math And Brain Teaser Workout Books 

Why they matter: Math is fun when it’s puzzles and patterns, or real-life problems (time, money, measurement).
What to test: Mathy riddles and visual puzzles, activity sets that ramp up in difficulty.
How to Use It: Start “math missions” with small rewards; keep track of streaks to boost confidence.

6. Art & Craft Project Books

Why they matter: Craft promotes design thinking and creativity and strengthens fine motor skills.
What to look for: Projects that use everyday materials — boxing paper, glue and string and the recyclables.
How to use: Weekend craft clubs — children design, construct, and parade with one creation every week.

7. Books on Environment & GK for Kids

Why they matter: The best activity books give kids a sense of connection to the world — maps, natural habitats, festivals, inventions, “how things work.
What to search for: Fact-plus-activity formats (quizzes, label-the-diagram pages, scavenger lists).
How to use: Use reading + A burst of research—“3 facts about rainforests” + quick sketch.

8. Books About Logic Games and Strategy

Why they matter: Strategy puzzles encourage planning and multiple-step thinking — important skills for big kids (9–12).
What to look for in problem books: Levelling up, answer keys and “hint” sections to reduce frustration.
How to play: Create a “logic ladder” — kids must move up one rung every time they match a class.

9. For World-travellers: Travel, Culture, And Festival Activity Books

Why they matter: Geography + culture books foster empathy and a connection to the world.
What You’ll Find: Map challenges, “stamp the country,” food & costume quizzes, festival crafts.
How to use: Plan a “country of the month” — reading, crafting, cooking a simple dish, and marking the map.

10. Project Journals: Document And Track Your Everyday And Yearly Habits.

Why they matter: Light frames can model goal-setting, reflection and accountability — all concepts that are ripe for preteens.
What to look for: Weekly goal and gratitude lists, mood/reading trackers and places to doodle.
How to use: Each week, complete a 10-minute check-in; celebrate the mini-victories.

Selecting an Activity Book (Ages 6–12)

• Match level + interest: Ages 6-8(galore with colouring, basic logic, early grammar/math); ages 9-12(delightful, deeper puzzles, STEM projects and creative writing).
• Mix formats: Switch out art, puzzles and STEM to ensure high engagement and the development of more than one skill.
• Look for bite-sized tasks: 10-20 minute changes help to reduce procrastination and improve task completion.
• Prefer open-ended prompts: Pages that ask children to picture, design or explain build creativity more than do fill-in-the-blank exercises.
• Pair with real-world mini-projects: The Best Memories Are Made of Hands-On Learning. From paper bridges to kitchen science, hands-on activities help learning “stick.”

Smart Study Routines That Work

1. The 20-Minute Rule Quick, focused workouts clock in and out, and easily slide between the school run and meals.
2. Family Challenge Night: Choose a puzzle/ activity and challenge each other to finish it. Kids LOVE to “beat” the parent!
3. Show Result: Set completed artwork or solved puzzles on a board — seeing your own progress add up can be motivating.
4. Reward Consistency, Not Perfection: Measure how often you do something correctly, not the “correct answers”.

How to use this

Select one book from each category below, and alternate the books you read each week to create a powerful at-home learning kit:

• Activity Books – Pick a little of this and a little of that.
• Puzzle & Quiz & IQ – logical, reasoning, and lateral thinking.
• Colouring & Drawing Books – the power of seeing colours and using the fingers.
• Art & Craft Books – design, making and ideas.
• School Books / English & Math – just where those fun teachers are.

FAQ

Q1. How many activity books should a child be doing at once?
2 – 3 is cool (creative/art/colouring, logic/puzzles, skill/math/English, etc.)

Q2. What if my child gets bored?
Flip the format (from puzzles to a craft), change the length of a session or add a social component (parent/peer challenges).

Q3. Activity books – what role do they play when we are preparing for exams?

Yes — logic puzzles make kids think, language prompts build clarity of thought, and math workbooks reinforce fundamentals that enhance classroom performance.