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Horizontal Parenting: How to Entertain Your Kid While Lying Down
Need a break . . . now? Horizontal Parenting offers 50 hilarious and effective activities designed to entertain kids while you lie down.
Children are exhausting! In the marathon of modern parenting, everyone needs a break—just 10 precious minutes to rest your body and tune out the chaos. Enter Horizontal Parenting, the super-simple parenting hack for everyone, everywhere. With creative and practical advice for overworked parents and caretakers who "just need a minute," this book includes 50 fun, effective, and hilarious games to play with toddlers and children while lying down. Activities include:
• What's on My Butt
• Hide and Seek-ish
• Don't Wake the Giant
• Railroad to Relaxation
• And many more!
Relax and let your little ones release some energy while you catch your breath (and maybe a few even a few z's). All you need is a comfortable surface, a few household items, and your child's imagination, and you too can master the sanity-saving art of horizontal parenting.
• 50 activities to keep your kids engaged and keep you lying down
• Entertaining ideas for children and toddlers
• No endless supply lists, screens, or batteries needed
• Perfect for long days at home
• Great gift for new (or seasoned!) parents
Perfect for: parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and caretakers of kids ages 2+
Children are exhausting! In the marathon of modern parenting, everyone needs a break—just 10 precious minutes to rest your body and tune out the chaos. Enter Horizontal Parenting, the super-simple parenting hack for everyone, everywhere. With creative and practical advice for overworked parents and caretakers who "just need a minute," this book includes 50 fun, effective, and hilarious games to play with toddlers and children while lying down. Activities include:
• What's on My Butt
• Hide and Seek-ish
• Don't Wake the Giant
• Railroad to Relaxation
• And many more!
Relax and let your little ones release some energy while you catch your breath (and maybe a few even a few z's). All you need is a comfortable surface, a few household items, and your child's imagination, and you too can master the sanity-saving art of horizontal parenting.
• 50 activities to keep your kids engaged and keep you lying down
• Entertaining ideas for children and toddlers
• No endless supply lists, screens, or batteries needed
• Perfect for long days at home
• Great gift for new (or seasoned!) parents
Perfect for: parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and caretakers of kids ages 2+
112 pages, Hardcover
Published October 26, 2021
16 people are currently reading
1949 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
October 3, 2023
Simply brilliant! Perfect for parents with chronic illness, caregivers who have limited mobility or low energy levels, or anyone looking to add new games or activities into their mix. Though I was impressed by the creativity of almost all fifty activities, my personal favorites are “What’s on my Butt?” (where I have to guess what objects have been placed on my butt while lying on my stomach) and “Sleeping Beauty” (where I pretend to be asleep while my daughter has all of her stuffed animals give me a kiss until one of them finally wakes me up with a kiss of “true love”). I’m grateful my daughter has enjoyed these activities as much as me!
August 3, 2021
Who didn't dream of letting the kids play while you relax 10-15 minutes? Like I'm gonna close my eyes a biiiig 5 minutes. only fiiiiveee - and then bam, 20 minutes later there's a crisis to unfold. With these incredibly imaginative games, that need almost nothing to play, your kids will be entertained while you nap, or, at least, relax. The touchs of humour throughout the book are priceless!
Many thanks to Chronicle Books for the complimentary e-copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Many thanks to Chronicle Books for the complimentary e-copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
November 16, 2025
Just having this book on the shelf gives me energy to get creative and strength to be patient!
July 27, 2021
Guys: I don't even know how to explain to you how validating this book is. I've been helping raise kids, while also living with chronic debilitating illnesses & disabilities for 27 years now. Very often, that raising occurs from a horizontal position, out of necessity. Oh, today we're have vertigo for no goddamn reason? Great day to play Auntie NTE is the troll under the bridge who won't let you pass. Oh, goodie, the treatment I had last week that was supposed to only have 1 day of side effects has going on 9+ now? Excellent: Lemme introduce you to a little game I like to call 'I'm going to watch you build a city out of literally anything you want, and then we're going to critique it together for its supervillain weaknesses.' That's just how much of my childrearing has happened, and there have definitely been times I've felt ... less than, or judged by other parents.
But this book? Is just ALLL the nonsense I taught my niblings & godchildren & random young children I was in charge of so that I could play with them from the most flat position possible, plus a bunch I didn't think of, that I am definitely going to cycle into usage after pandemic-time (I'm lucky the 15 year old still wants to play regular board games with me, I doubt she'd go this far). And it's not like you have to be disabled &/or chronically ill to find this book helpful: I'm sorry, but if you're a parent and you're going to try to tell me that you've never felt 1 billion times more exhausted than your child, I just ... somebody should be studying you in a lab somewhere, probably. I don't know anybody who hasn't laid down on the couch and let their kid take their fake blood pressure and listen to their 'Harm beeps*' for 15 minutes, just because letting them play doctor means you get to sit. still. Because every mom/dad/aunt/Grammy/caregiver I know? Wants a NAAAAAAP. Would sacrifice a succulent to Satan for just ten minutes of resting their weary bones. I don't know any kind of parent other than 'permanently exhausted': I'm not even sure they exist outside of legend.
Which makes Horizontal Parenting perhaps the most beneficial parenting book you could gift to a parent, ever. I mean, it's also funny, and it's got cute illustrations and it doesn't take itself too seriously, so it's got all that going for it, but let's be real: the selling points are the games. Tell us your secrets! Games like "Crime Scene" where you hand your kid a roll of painter's tape and sprawl out on the floor while they 'investigate' around you; extra bonus points for moms who've been listening to true crime podcasts with their littles in the car, because I absolutely can think of three kids off the top of my head (average age 10) who would play the shit out of this game. She's got a "Roll the Burrito" game that my kids and I used to play in pizza form (loosely based on the book Pete's A Pizza; Find you a burrito book, this one is also about counting, and now you've got three horizontal activities in one... you're halfway to a whole learning unit!) Play "Don't Wake the Giant" (you're the giant), and then after you've rested, dig out Don't Wake Daddy and let your kids know real, true anxiety. Go for the revenge play, and become the "New Baby" they have to care for. So! Many! Ideas! (Easily adapted for low energy days/middle energy days/high energy days.)
Got A Little Artist? Let them capture your good side.
I also love that the author refrained from calling this "lazy parenting", which I have no doubt is a judgey label that many would apply to this kind of behavior, but they'd be wrong. Do you know what your kids need from you? Love. Time. Attention. Can you give all those things while also being flat on your back/side/stomach? Absolutely. Don't let ableism and capitalism screw with your definition of what parenting - and especially good parenting - is. Paying attention to your kids while also meeting your own needs for rest, so that after you're finished being horizontal, you can be more fully engaged with whatever comes next? Is GOOD PARENTING, I promise.
In fact, in the spirit of community parenting, I'm just going to add in my niblings' favorite from my really exhausted days. Backwards Rolling Zoo. It means they have to transport literally every animal - stuffed, action figure sized, ginormous, who cares - into the room, one laundry basket at a time, past you, telling you about what kind of animal it is, and any facts they know about they animal. Heck let 'em make stuff up, tell you all about the Heffalump and Woozles - it doesn't matter, because all you're required to do is lay there, make agreeable noises as they parade past, and sometimes ask a question you know they know the answer to, because you've read them the books they're telling you the animal facts from, so you already know them too! My nephew called it the Backwards Rolling Zoo; his sister called it the Stuffie Parade, even though 3/4 of the animals weren't stuffies. It doesn't matter, because it buys you a good half hour/hour of stillness, because they have to gather the animals, and "good zookeepers would never let the animals wander, so they have to make sure they go back in their cages/homes" so they also have to put them away, and they get to show off how smart they are: Wins all around!
I acquired my copy through NetGalley, for an honest review, which is that this book is excellent, especially if you have an exhausted caregiver of young people in your life. In fact, I'm mad it doesn't come out til September. I need copies to give out now.
Also, I'm using this as the Self Care Square for Cannonball Read 13 Bingo Card; Start in the middle, makes sense.
*My oldest nephew, who turns 25 this year, holy shit, used to call heartbeats "harm beeps". Ugh. Growing up is stupid.
But this book? Is just ALLL the nonsense I taught my niblings & godchildren & random young children I was in charge of so that I could play with them from the most flat position possible, plus a bunch I didn't think of, that I am definitely going to cycle into usage after pandemic-time (I'm lucky the 15 year old still wants to play regular board games with me, I doubt she'd go this far). And it's not like you have to be disabled &/or chronically ill to find this book helpful: I'm sorry, but if you're a parent and you're going to try to tell me that you've never felt 1 billion times more exhausted than your child, I just ... somebody should be studying you in a lab somewhere, probably. I don't know anybody who hasn't laid down on the couch and let their kid take their fake blood pressure and listen to their 'Harm beeps*' for 15 minutes, just because letting them play doctor means you get to sit. still. Because every mom/dad/aunt/Grammy/caregiver I know? Wants a NAAAAAAP. Would sacrifice a succulent to Satan for just ten minutes of resting their weary bones. I don't know any kind of parent other than 'permanently exhausted': I'm not even sure they exist outside of legend.
Which makes Horizontal Parenting perhaps the most beneficial parenting book you could gift to a parent, ever. I mean, it's also funny, and it's got cute illustrations and it doesn't take itself too seriously, so it's got all that going for it, but let's be real: the selling points are the games. Tell us your secrets! Games like "Crime Scene" where you hand your kid a roll of painter's tape and sprawl out on the floor while they 'investigate' around you; extra bonus points for moms who've been listening to true crime podcasts with their littles in the car, because I absolutely can think of three kids off the top of my head (average age 10) who would play the shit out of this game. She's got a "Roll the Burrito" game that my kids and I used to play in pizza form (loosely based on the book Pete's A Pizza; Find you a burrito book, this one is also about counting, and now you've got three horizontal activities in one... you're halfway to a whole learning unit!) Play "Don't Wake the Giant" (you're the giant), and then after you've rested, dig out Don't Wake Daddy and let your kids know real, true anxiety. Go for the revenge play, and become the "New Baby" they have to care for. So! Many! Ideas! (Easily adapted for low energy days/middle energy days/high energy days.)
Got A Little Artist? Let them capture your good side.
I also love that the author refrained from calling this "lazy parenting", which I have no doubt is a judgey label that many would apply to this kind of behavior, but they'd be wrong. Do you know what your kids need from you? Love. Time. Attention. Can you give all those things while also being flat on your back/side/stomach? Absolutely. Don't let ableism and capitalism screw with your definition of what parenting - and especially good parenting - is. Paying attention to your kids while also meeting your own needs for rest, so that after you're finished being horizontal, you can be more fully engaged with whatever comes next? Is GOOD PARENTING, I promise.
In fact, in the spirit of community parenting, I'm just going to add in my niblings' favorite from my really exhausted days. Backwards Rolling Zoo. It means they have to transport literally every animal - stuffed, action figure sized, ginormous, who cares - into the room, one laundry basket at a time, past you, telling you about what kind of animal it is, and any facts they know about they animal. Heck let 'em make stuff up, tell you all about the Heffalump and Woozles - it doesn't matter, because all you're required to do is lay there, make agreeable noises as they parade past, and sometimes ask a question you know they know the answer to, because you've read them the books they're telling you the animal facts from, so you already know them too! My nephew called it the Backwards Rolling Zoo; his sister called it the Stuffie Parade, even though 3/4 of the animals weren't stuffies. It doesn't matter, because it buys you a good half hour/hour of stillness, because they have to gather the animals, and "good zookeepers would never let the animals wander, so they have to make sure they go back in their cages/homes" so they also have to put them away, and they get to show off how smart they are: Wins all around!
I acquired my copy through NetGalley, for an honest review, which is that this book is excellent, especially if you have an exhausted caregiver of young people in your life. In fact, I'm mad it doesn't come out til September. I need copies to give out now.
Also, I'm using this as the Self Care Square for Cannonball Read 13 Bingo Card; Start in the middle, makes sense.
*My oldest nephew, who turns 25 this year, holy shit, used to call heartbeats "harm beeps". Ugh. Growing up is stupid.
June 6, 2021
This is a funny read for the very tired parent who just wants a way to get a bit of rest. I was surprised to find some ideas that were actually games that kids will enjoy. It will make a great gift for expectant parents, especially if it's their second or third.
This unbiased review is based on a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
This unbiased review is based on a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
September 3, 2021
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
I am not a parent myself, but I have done lots of babysitting, I worked at daycares and other places. So while I don’t know what it is to have kids 24/7, I do know that kids can tire you out. Haha. This book looked really interesting and I am really happy I was able to read it!
So, you are a parent, or you work with kids, and you want to play a game, but you are just too tired. Well, this book is perfect for you! Because all you have to do is lie down. Yep, it is that simple. Either on the floor or couch, just lie down. You may need some small things to go along with, but some of these fun ideas don’t need that and require the kids to get you items or use the toys they have. The ideas were so much fun to read and at times I just loved how creative they were and how much fun they were. Not just for the kids btw, but also for the parents.
Some of my favourite games from this book are: Secret agents (you are the spy boss and you give your kid a series of tasks), Horizontal Hokey Pokey (aka dance while lying on the floor), Roll the Burrito (use a blanket, lie in the middle, let your kid add ingredients (toys etc.) and then roll it all up), Couch fishing (I remember doing that when I was young, so much fun). And there are many other games that sounded like a delight to me!
The book is also full with illustrations to go with the fun exercises/things to do and I really love their style, they really made it even more fun~
All in all, Highly Recommended! I am sure this book will be used a lot, I just love that parents can take a bit of a rest and still have fun with their kids.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I am not a parent myself, but I have done lots of babysitting, I worked at daycares and other places. So while I don’t know what it is to have kids 24/7, I do know that kids can tire you out. Haha. This book looked really interesting and I am really happy I was able to read it!
So, you are a parent, or you work with kids, and you want to play a game, but you are just too tired. Well, this book is perfect for you! Because all you have to do is lie down. Yep, it is that simple. Either on the floor or couch, just lie down. You may need some small things to go along with, but some of these fun ideas don’t need that and require the kids to get you items or use the toys they have. The ideas were so much fun to read and at times I just loved how creative they were and how much fun they were. Not just for the kids btw, but also for the parents.
Some of my favourite games from this book are: Secret agents (you are the spy boss and you give your kid a series of tasks), Horizontal Hokey Pokey (aka dance while lying on the floor), Roll the Burrito (use a blanket, lie in the middle, let your kid add ingredients (toys etc.) and then roll it all up), Couch fishing (I remember doing that when I was young, so much fun). And there are many other games that sounded like a delight to me!
The book is also full with illustrations to go with the fun exercises/things to do and I really love their style, they really made it even more fun~
All in all, Highly Recommended! I am sure this book will be used a lot, I just love that parents can take a bit of a rest and still have fun with their kids.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
March 22, 2023
Very thankful for this book. Definitely gonna keep it out for a while to inspire ways to be the “fun” parent even while my back is out. I also appreciate that guilt-free permission to lay down while hanging with your kid.
June 25, 2024
"why on earth is aqilah reading a parenting book" you thought - but ermzzz who say u cannot read parenting books even if ur not a parent !!!!!! 😚😛
+ who would have thought that there will be a book that features 50 activities that parents can do to entertain their kids while lying down.........yes, you read it right - while lying down 🤣
quite enjoyed this, 👶👶👶/5 !!!! idk if this would end being very useful for parents but most of the ideas just felt silly to me whenever i think about them happening irl LMAO and thats probably why i enjoyed this book overall cos i love nonsense HAHAHAHA i giggled sm!!!! so hilarious and relatable as an exhausted auntie myself entertaining my lil nephew - sometimes i just wanna take a break & lie down while tryna to keep him occupied 🙃
v short and fun read which is SO parent friendly obvs esp if u barely have a lot of time to read 🥲 but generally this is one of those books where i felt like it could come out as satire as well ((like tbh i still donno if its supposed to be a serious one or not)) so anyone looking for an entertaining read can just pick this up anytime.
parenting books generally have those serious textbook vibes so im really glad that i came across this book like yay!!!!!! finally a fun parenting book to read!!!!! 🤓
"why on earth is aqilah reading a parenting book" you thought - but ermzzz who say u cannot read parenting books even if ur not a parent !!!!!! 😚😛
+ who would have thought that there will be a book that features 50 activities that parents can do to entertain their kids while lying down.........yes, you read it right - while lying down 🤣
quite enjoyed this, 👶👶👶/5 !!!! idk if this would end being very useful for parents but most of the ideas just felt silly to me whenever i think about them happening irl LMAO and thats probably why i enjoyed this book overall cos i love nonsense HAHAHAHA i giggled sm!!!! so hilarious and relatable as an exhausted auntie myself entertaining my lil nephew - sometimes i just wanna take a break & lie down while tryna to keep him occupied 🙃
v short and fun read which is SO parent friendly obvs esp if u barely have a lot of time to read 🥲 but generally this is one of those books where i felt like it could come out as satire as well ((like tbh i still donno if its supposed to be a serious one or not)) so anyone looking for an entertaining read can just pick this up anytime.
parenting books generally have those serious textbook vibes so im really glad that i came across this book like yay!!!!!! finally a fun parenting book to read!!!!! 🤓
May 24, 2021
Gosh, I needed this book this week. While my kids are a bit older than the targeted audience, this book was a nostalgic look at the challenges of the younger years and a reminder that no matter how old they are, parenting is exhausting, and you can use all the tips!
The idea is so clever and we may even have since implemented some of these suggestions with our bigger kids. This book would make the perfect baby shower gift (or maybe 1st birthay gift for the parents...when they actually never stop moving!!)
Thank you to the publisher for my gifted copy. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
The idea is so clever and we may even have since implemented some of these suggestions with our bigger kids. This book would make the perfect baby shower gift (or maybe 1st birthay gift for the parents...when they actually never stop moving!!)
Thank you to the publisher for my gifted copy. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 21, 2021
I think this book will end up getting marketed along the lines of a silly novelty, and it kind of is, but it's also a really good resource. When you're exhausted -- especially if you're a parent with chronic illness -- it can be hard to think of creative ways to play with your kids in a way that doesn't exhaust you more. This book is packed with cute, clever ideas, some of which my three year old son absolutely adored. The illustrations are adorable, and the games are easy, fun, and totally doable.
October 5, 2021
This book had me laughing and saying "oh! great idea!" throughout. It is full of page after page of humorous and practical activities for young kids where the caregiver can lounge on the couch or floor. I will be employing this during the winter with my kids! Look to this book to bust cabin fever.
November 27, 2021
This book is amazing! I would highly recommend it to parents of young children. It's a hardcover book with lots of bright pictures, and most importantly, it's got page after page after page of games and activities you can use while lying down (getting some of that much-needed rest) to keep your kid occupied. Hence, Horizontal Parenting.
January 5, 2023
As my three month old gets closer to getting mobile I have a feeling this book is going to be extremely useful! It was a delight to read and actually made me smile, thinking about things to do with my son 😊
June 10, 2025
10/10. Clever and fun
Wish I had it when my parenting days were at their exhaustive peak. Great for grand parenting too.
Wish I had it when my parenting days were at their exhaustive peak. Great for grand parenting too.
June 8, 2021
A clever book with a lot of games that kids would actually want to play with you when you need to just lay down for a while. Most of the ideas are genuinely very smart and the descriptions of the ideas made me laugh a number of times.
It's good to see that there are helpful books for parents as worn-out as me, sometimes.
It's good to see that there are helpful books for parents as worn-out as me, sometimes.
May 21, 2021
As the parent of a four year old and a newborn, this was right up my alley. I would love nothing more than to play with my toddler without moving, and/or play with him while engaged in feeding the new one! Therefore, this book and all of its suggestions on activities for seated or laying down parents to entertain small children was equal parts hilarious and completely practical. I can’t wait to try out some of the suggestions!
March 29, 2024
New games to play with children that take little to no effort yet keep a child busy are IMPORTANT and NEEDED because those people who have kids need a BREAK.
Games include: How Tall Am I?, Couch Fishing, Held Captive, and The Claw will all captive and entertain a child for (hopefully) the next five minutes.
This book is full of glorious sarcasm, parenting tricks, and real-world knowledge of children.
*Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!*
Games include: How Tall Am I?, Couch Fishing, Held Captive, and The Claw will all captive and entertain a child for (hopefully) the next five minutes.
This book is full of glorious sarcasm, parenting tricks, and real-world knowledge of children.
*Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!*
April 26, 2021
When I was a mother to a toddler, I would come home from work, after picking her up from daycare, and just want to sleep. There was a computer program that would read a story to her, so I would set that up, and fall sleep beside her for the twenty minutes that the story read to her.
That is what this book is about. Giving you those spare 20 minutes so you can nap, or at least close your eyes, and your kid can still be entertained.
Not sure if these techniques actually work, so your milage may vary, but the ideas might keep kids entertained a few times at least. There are such ideas as sitting still while your child plays hide and seek and you yell out where they might be.
There is lying on the floor and having the child play crime scene, and do a chalk or tape drawing around your fallen body.
And there was a suggestion to lie on the floor and have the child measure you with beans or carrots etc.
If nothing else, you can laugh at the ideas, and perhaps even try them out.
Because young parents really need their rest.
Thanks to Edelweiss for making this book available for an honest review.
That is what this book is about. Giving you those spare 20 minutes so you can nap, or at least close your eyes, and your kid can still be entertained.
Not sure if these techniques actually work, so your milage may vary, but the ideas might keep kids entertained a few times at least. There are such ideas as sitting still while your child plays hide and seek and you yell out where they might be.
There is lying on the floor and having the child play crime scene, and do a chalk or tape drawing around your fallen body.
And there was a suggestion to lie on the floor and have the child measure you with beans or carrots etc.
If nothing else, you can laugh at the ideas, and perhaps even try them out.
Because young parents really need their rest.
Thanks to Edelweiss for making this book available for an honest review.
May 4, 2021
I really could have used this book when my kids were toddlers for sure! There are plenty of activities older kids that won't get out of your face for all the candy in the world would enjoy, too. My 5 and 7 year olds would love don't wake the giant, lotion painting, cave spelunking, and change of scenery, for sure! Full of laughs and some actually good activities, any parent of small children will love this book. The illustrations are great, too, and feature a variety of people and families.
There are a couple of activities that might be better in theory than practice, though. I don't think I'd recommend packing peanut snow angels (the MESS OMG).
Several of these would be great for getting the kids out of your hair for a while, too, like Sort of Hide and Seek (Oh no, I just cannot figure out where you are!) and the Snail Race (I'll just be the judge...from over here...on the couch...).
Don't forget to try to earn your bonus points!
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go pretend to be Sleeping Beauty for a while.
*I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
There are a couple of activities that might be better in theory than practice, though. I don't think I'd recommend packing peanut snow angels (the MESS OMG).
Several of these would be great for getting the kids out of your hair for a while, too, like Sort of Hide and Seek (Oh no, I just cannot figure out where you are!) and the Snail Race (I'll just be the judge...from over here...on the couch...).
Don't forget to try to earn your bonus points!
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go pretend to be Sleeping Beauty for a while.
*I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 28, 2021
Have you ever watched Bluey and wondered how to be as fun of a parent as them? Well, this is filled with ideas of silly activities and games that you can do WHILE laying down! This would be a great gift for the tired parent in your life!
I couldn't tell if this was intended to be serious or satirical, but in the end, it provided a nice blend of both. I giggled while I nodded and filed some ideas away for later. I know my kids will love "Don't Wake the Giant" (kids creep around trying not to wake the giant who comes to life with a roar), "I Lava You" (parent lies with pile of pillows on them and occasionally erupts), "Construction Site Night Night" (lay on stomach, kid uses parent's legs as crane), and "The Claw" (parent lays on couch holding tongs, kid gives directions to parent like in a claw game to try to grab prizes on the floor below).
The activities just needed random household items. Some of the activities weren't especially restful or would be kind of messy, but I appreciated the variety. The illustrations were super cute and added to the fun vibe of this book.
Thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for this eARC!
I couldn't tell if this was intended to be serious or satirical, but in the end, it provided a nice blend of both. I giggled while I nodded and filed some ideas away for later. I know my kids will love "Don't Wake the Giant" (kids creep around trying not to wake the giant who comes to life with a roar), "I Lava You" (parent lies with pile of pillows on them and occasionally erupts), "Construction Site Night Night" (lay on stomach, kid uses parent's legs as crane), and "The Claw" (parent lays on couch holding tongs, kid gives directions to parent like in a claw game to try to grab prizes on the floor below).
The activities just needed random household items. Some of the activities weren't especially restful or would be kind of messy, but I appreciated the variety. The illustrations were super cute and added to the fun vibe of this book.
Thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for this eARC!
July 5, 2021
Horizontal Parenting: How to Entertain Your Kid While Lying Down by Michelle Woo is a how-to book on how to play with your kids, even if you are tired. By allowing parents to lay there, kids are encouraged to use their imagination in a variety of ways. Examples including pretending to be a road so your kids can drive their cars around your back or posing as a model so your child can paint your portrait. Many of the ideas are simple, don't require many supplies are easy for even smaller children to participate in. I also enjoyed the Bonus Points section for making the activities more interesting or challenging for older kids.
The book features sweet illustrations by Dasha Tolstikova that add great dimension and instruction for the activities they portray.
With over 50 activities included, this book would be a wonderful gift to a new parent but is also a great book for anyone looking for easy, simple activities to do with children that don't require a lot of energy or space.
Note: I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
The book features sweet illustrations by Dasha Tolstikova that add great dimension and instruction for the activities they portray.
With over 50 activities included, this book would be a wonderful gift to a new parent but is also a great book for anyone looking for easy, simple activities to do with children that don't require a lot of energy or space.
Note: I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
June 22, 2021
Rating: 5
Re-Read Factor: Yes
In Horizontal Parenting: How to Entertain Your Kid While Lying Down, Michelle Woo creates innovative ways to keep children occupied, stimulated, and learning all while lying down-- on the floor, cough, bed, wherever. The convenient tactics she lists in the book are effective not only for parents but also for babysitters, cousins, and more. It is near impossible not to have off days when taking care of children, so why not match (exponentially) those days with your child's energy? Even lazy days can be fun ones, and Woo undoubtedly demonstrates that sentiment here.
Re-Read Factor: Yes
In Horizontal Parenting: How to Entertain Your Kid While Lying Down, Michelle Woo creates innovative ways to keep children occupied, stimulated, and learning all while lying down-- on the floor, cough, bed, wherever. The convenient tactics she lists in the book are effective not only for parents but also for babysitters, cousins, and more. It is near impossible not to have off days when taking care of children, so why not match (exponentially) those days with your child's energy? Even lazy days can be fun ones, and Woo undoubtedly demonstrates that sentiment here.
May 5, 2021
This book is a riot! My brother has a 2 year old and 5 year old and lives in a 900 SF apartment in Chicago and we are a year into the covid pandemic. I've been reading a page or two a day and communicating the "game of the day" to him. Michelle Woo is so creative and down-right hilarious! The illustrations are perfect. So very entertaining, even if you don't have kits!
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher (Chronicle Books), Michelle Woo (author) and Dash Tolstikova (illustrator) for the opportunity to review Horizontal Parenting, in exchange for an honest review. Publication date is August 17, 2021.
I'll be ordering this book. Someone's review mentioned that this would be a perfect shower gift, absolutely!
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher (Chronicle Books), Michelle Woo (author) and Dash Tolstikova (illustrator) for the opportunity to review Horizontal Parenting, in exchange for an honest review. Publication date is August 17, 2021.
I'll be ordering this book. Someone's review mentioned that this would be a perfect shower gift, absolutely!
July 13, 2021
Horizontal Parenting is a hilarious tongue in cheek guide for tired worn out parents.
It is full of fun and clever ideas on how to entertain your kids while lying down and resting.
While this is obviously ideal for most tired, run down, worn out parents, I do believe this actually beneficial for those caregivers who are on bedrest or otherwise laid up and still wish to have fun with their kids.
So pick up this book for its comedic factor, but stay and actually try some of these games! You might find brand new ways to connect with your kids, grandkids, or any other bored small humans in your life!
It is full of fun and clever ideas on how to entertain your kids while lying down and resting.
While this is obviously ideal for most tired, run down, worn out parents, I do believe this actually beneficial for those caregivers who are on bedrest or otherwise laid up and still wish to have fun with their kids.
So pick up this book for its comedic factor, but stay and actually try some of these games! You might find brand new ways to connect with your kids, grandkids, or any other bored small humans in your life!
October 13, 2021
Where has this book been all my parenting life?? Seriously, having 4 kiddos is exhausting most days, would I change it?? Heck no!! But I love having tools that help make things easier at times. My kiddos love to play games, so this book has 50 fun activities. Some of our favorites were Dead Fish, Roll the Burrito, Belly Bass Drum and Don’t Wake The Giant!
Thank you to @tlcbooktours , @woopics, and @chroniclebooks for this fun tool in our parenting tool box! Also thank you for understanding that quality time with our kids doesn’t have to always be us running around crazy, sometimes it’s laying on the ground and guessing the letters your kids draw on your back!
Thank you to @tlcbooktours , @woopics, and @chroniclebooks for this fun tool in our parenting tool box! Also thank you for understanding that quality time with our kids doesn’t have to always be us running around crazy, sometimes it’s laying on the ground and guessing the letters your kids draw on your back!
May 11, 2021
This book is so what I needed. I have a 2 year old son and am also 23 weeks pregnant and have several Autoimmune issues that cause me to be fatigued even when not pregnant. I love this book and all the ideas of how to keep your child entertained when you just need to sit or lay down. It's rough some days. Since my son is only 2, some of the ideas in the book wouldn't be realistic at this age because he wouldn't understand but I'll be keeping this book around so in 2 years when I have a 2 and 4 year old, I can rest 🤣
May 12, 2021
A parenting book which is a must for all and will surely be a favourite!!
This book gives us a funny take on how parents can find some time for themselves by providing some useful tips/ games/activities for the kids to do in the meantime.
Some are so cool and hilarious that surely toddlers will get a kick out of doing it .
There are about 50 of such activities so lot of options for parents to choose from in rotation.
Some of my favourite ones are
How tall and I?
A portrait of Rest.
RailRoad to restoration.
Whats in my butt?
This book gives us a funny take on how parents can find some time for themselves by providing some useful tips/ games/activities for the kids to do in the meantime.
Some are so cool and hilarious that surely toddlers will get a kick out of doing it .
There are about 50 of such activities so lot of options for parents to choose from in rotation.
Some of my favourite ones are
How tall and I?
A portrait of Rest.
RailRoad to restoration.
Whats in my butt?
September 26, 2021
Book received for free through NetGalley
Just requested this book an hour or two ago and read it in, almost, one sitting. It’s hilarious. My kids are five and six now and I could still see implementing some of these if needed. I don’t know if it would be a good baby shower present (for a first kid) as you may need to live through a bit of toddlerhood first but definitely a great present for any parent or guardian having a second (or more) or welcoming a toddler that won’t stop moving. Hilarious. Informative. Adorable.
Just requested this book an hour or two ago and read it in, almost, one sitting. It’s hilarious. My kids are five and six now and I could still see implementing some of these if needed. I don’t know if it would be a good baby shower present (for a first kid) as you may need to live through a bit of toddlerhood first but definitely a great present for any parent or guardian having a second (or more) or welcoming a toddler that won’t stop moving. Hilarious. Informative. Adorable.
October 20, 2021
I was reading Horizonal Parenting last night and laughing out loud! It’s an entire book of entertaining your kids all while lying down. Games from Dream Charades, Couch Potato and Don’t Wake the Giant are all things you can do while sitting on the couch. Is it just me or is this idea genius? It’s might sound lazy but what I love about it, is that it’s a creative way to play. There are no screens or batteries needed, so your child can use their imagination and these are the types of games that help with problem solving and not losing to a video game.
May 1, 2021
This book is hilarious! And genius! Horizontal Parenting is the guide to entertaining your kid while you relax and rest. I was laughing out loud, not only at the ideas, but also at the bonus tips and illustrations. I showed a few to my husband and he agrees this just might be the best parenting book around. I know that it will be my go-to gift for all future baby showers! Thank you NetGalley and Chronicle Books for this gifted ARC.
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