Creating Printable Activities at Home: Is It Worth It?

Have you ever scrolled through TikTok or Pinterest and seen parents prepping printable activities for their kids? From colour-sorting games to alphabet puzzles, they make it look so fun and rewarding! Maybe you’ve thought, Could I do that too? Well, good news—it’s easier than you think and can be an affordable, creative way to keep your kids entertained and learning. But let’s be honest, creating activities at home does take time and a little effort. So, is it worth it? Let’s chat about why making your own printable activities can be a great choice, what you’ll need to get started, and how it compares to ready-made options.

Why Make Your Printable Activities?

1. Tailor Activities to Your Child When you create your own activities, you can make them perfectly suited to your child. If they’re obsessed with dinosaurs, why not design a counting activity featuring their favourite prehistoric friends? Or, if they’re working on fine motor skills, you can craft a cutting and gluing activity that’s just challenging enough for them.

   Homemade printables give you full control over the content, themes, and difficulty level, ensuring your child stays engaged and excited about learning.

2. Get Creative Designing printable activities is a great way to discover your creativity. You can play with colours, themes, and ideas. Even better, your kids can help out, ask them to help pick colours, themes, or even design parts of the activity. How fun is that?

3. Save Money Homemade printables can be much more affordable than store-bought resources or subscription boxes. Once you have a few basic tools (like a printer and some craft supplies), the cost of each activity is minimal.

   Free tools like Canva or Microsoft Word make designing activities simple and budget-friendly, and you can even find free templates online to get started. With a little effort, you’ll create high-quality activities without breaking the bank.

4. Add Interactive and Sensory Elements Making your own activities gives you the freedom to think beyond paper. Add sensory elements like playdough for shaping letters, textured fabrics for matching games, or pom-poms for counting exercises. These extras can make activities more engaging and provide added benefits like boosting fine motor skills or encouraging sensory exploration.

5. Instant Access No need to wait for delivery! With downloadable printables, you can start using them right away. Just download, print, and play. It’s that simple.

6. Eco-Friendly Options Want to go green? You can use recycled paper or reuse materials you already have at home to make your activities more sustainable.

   
   

What Do You Need to Get Started?

Making your own printable activities is easier than you might think! Here’s a quick checklist:

• Printer: A good-quality printer is key for creating bright, colourful printables. Honestly, I’d love to recommend the perfect one, but I haven’t found it yet. So far, I’ve been using a very basic Epson printer from Amazon. It works… most of the time, but let me tell you—it’s aged me. Every paper jam and ink refill has added at least a few grey hairs! If you’ve found a reliable, affordable printer that makes this process smoother, please share your recommendation—I’d be so grateful.

• Paper: Regular paper works fine, but thicker paper (like 120g paper) makes your activities sturdier if needed.

• Design Tools: Canva, Microsoft Word, or even free online templates can help you create your designs. If you're short on time or not confident using tools like Canva, there are plenty of ready-made options available. Activities from Little Activities or Etsy are professionally designed, easy to use, and ready to print—saving you both time and effort.

• Craft Supplies: Scissors, glue, a laminator (if you want durability—I got a very basic one from Amazon, and it works great!), Velcro dots for reusable fun (these are super affordable and come in bulk packs of 1,000 for just a few pounds), coloured paper to make activities pop, playdough for sensory elements, or even sensory materials like pom-poms and textured fabrics for an extra layer of fun. If you want to take things to the next level, I’m considering investing in a Cricut machine for creating exciting new options, like making your own stickers or other personalised crafts!

• Inspiration: Pinterest and educational blogs are goldmines for creative ideas.

Tips for Making the Most of Your Printables

1. Prep in Bulk

To save time, print and prep multiple activities at once. You’ll thank yourself later when you have a stash of ready-to-go fun for busy days.

2. Combine with Sensory Play

Use printables alongside sensory materials like playdough or pom-poms. For example, pair a counting worksheet with pom-poms your child can place on each number.

3. Think Long-Term

Consider creating activities that can grow with your child. For instance, laminate worksheets so they can practice writing letters over and over with dry-erase markers.

4. Stay Organised

Store your printables in binders or folders. Use dividers to separate themes or age levels, so it’s easy to find the activity you need.

At-Home Made Activities vs. Store-Bought Activity Books

DIY or Downloaded Activities

• Pros:

  • Fully customisable to match your child’s needs and interests

  • Affordable and allows for creativity

  • Reusable with options like laminating or adding sensory elements like playdough

  • Instant access with downloaded templates from places like Little Activities or Etsy

• Cons:

  • Takes time to design or assemble

  • Requires basic tools and some crafting skills

Store-Bought Activity Books

• Pros:

  • Ready-to-use with zero prep required

  • Often includes a wide range of activities in one purchase

  • Professional design and structure for quality educational content

• Cons:

  • Limited ability to customise or personalise

  • Can be more expensive than homemade options

  • One-time use and no interactive sensory options

Is It Worth It?

So, is it worth creating educational activities at home, either DIY or using ready-made printables, instead of buying store-bought activity books? Honestly, it depends on what works for you. For me, I absolutely love it because I enjoy crafting—so it’s like a 2-in-1 deal! I get to prepare educational material for my little one while also having fun with my hobby. If you want something customisable, reusable, and more affordable in the long run, printables are a fantastic choice. But if you’re short on time and just need something quick and ready to go, activity books can be a lifesaver. At the end of the day, it’s all about finding the balance that fits your family’s needs.

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