Low-cost Summer activities for kids – i-SPY books

Over the next few weeks I’m going to be sharing some low-cost ideas for keeping the kids busy over the Summer holidays. I’ve already written posts about painting and hiding painted rocks, and playing with bubbles. Today I wanted to share our love for i-SPY books!

Do you remember them from when you were growing up? They are A6 pocket sized books, each one on a different subject. Pick a topic and I bet you will find a book for it. Then find the objects and tick them off as you go along. You score points for each spot and if you reach 1000 points you can send off for a certificate and badge.

My children have a few i-SPY books. They only cost £2.99 each so I am always happy to buy them. I noticed that WHSmiths had them on BOGOF over half term.

We had a few road trips recently and my kids each had their own to keep them occupied. They are a great way to break up long car journeys and we keep a few in the car for days out. My daughter loves dogs so was happy to find i-SPY Dogs and my son has been learning about cars so has the Cars and Car Badges ones. It’s definitely a family affair and we all enjoy the satisfaction of helping them find something. they are clearly laid out which means even our 6 year old is capable of reading them with a little help.

Limited collector’s edition badges

i-SPY are celebrating their 70th year in 2018. To celebrate 70 years of i–SPY Collins are giving away limited editions of i–SPY badges to customers who complete their i–SPY guides. This will be an exclusive limited run of 500 collector’s edition badges.

The certificate is emailed to you and a paper version is posted out along with your badge shortly after. My 8 year old has already got his limited edition collector’s badge and my daughter is working her way through her i-SPY Dogs book so she can collect her badge too.

There are currently over 50 i–SPY books, including new guides for 2018 – i–SPY at the shops, i–SPY garden birds, i–SPY butterflies and moths and i–SPY In the city. i–SPY books are co-published by Collins and Michelin and are available at £2.99 from collins.co.uk and all good booksellers.