Geek Dad: Awesomely Geeky Projects and Activities for Dads and Kids to Share

Geek Dad has a wide range of projects, from those requiring simple items you already have around the house, to a few that might inspire you to designate a piggy bank ahead of time. There are plenty of crafty ideas sprinkled in with electronics and robotics- even a crochet project! The instructions are easy to understand and adaptable for different skill levels, including non-geeks. Both my 10 year old and my 6 year old found projects they want to try ASAP. These projects offer kids a chance at hands-on experiments, something they frequently miss in today's test-focused school day.

Perfect for families looking for creative and amazing projects, Geek Dad had me bookmarking favorites to try right away. Many involve science in a fun, lightweight way. I can't imagine a child who wouldn't be excited by the prospect of some of these activities: the ultimate outdoor obstacle course, the light-up nighttime kite, the finger-painting with windup toys. The directions make each step simple and understandable. Each project has a table that describes the concept, lists the tools and materials needed, and gives ratings for cost, difficulty, duration and reusability. Costs are from $0 up to over $100. Difficulty levels begin with primary-school kids up to high school age. Duration is from 0 to 15 minutes up to 3 hours or longer. Reusability ranges from one-time-only use to "good forever." Throughout the book are drawings, maps, diagrams and tables. Everything's in black and white. Here's the chapter list: Introduction: About Being a Geek and a Dad Make Your Own Geeky Games and Crafts 1. Make Your Own Cartoons 2. The Coolest Homemade Coloring Books 3. Create the Ultimate Board Game 4. Electronic Origami 5. Cyborg Jack-o'-Lanterns and Other Holiday Decorations 6. Windup Toy Finger Painting 7. Create a Superhero ABC Book 8. Model Building with Cake 9. Pirate Cartography 10. Parenting and Role-Playing Games 11. A Never-Ending Demolition Derby Geeky Activities for the Great Outdoors 12. See the World from the Sky 13. Best Slip `n Slide Ever 14. Fireflies for Every Season 15. Video Games That Come to Life 16. Fly a Kite at Night 17. Build an Outdoor Movie Theater 18. The "Magic" Swing Awesome Accessories 19. Smart Cuff Links 20. Light-up Duct Tape Wallet 21. Crocheted Dice Bag of Holding Geeky Kids Go Green 22. The Science of Composting 23. Home Hydroponics Build / Learn / Geek 24. Build a Binary Calendar 25. Portable Electronic Flash Cards 26. Wi-Fi Signal Booster 27. Cool LEGO Lighting from Repurposed Parts Geeky Potpourri Ice Cubes Fit for a Geek Exploding Drink Practical Joke Afterword: Pneumatic Wiffle Ball Cannon -- Failure as a Project Appendix A: Resources and References by Chapter Appendix B: RPG Character Sheet Appendix C: Projects Listed by Rank

Hey I'm a geek and a Dad so right off the bat this book is full of win for me. The real test though is the kids. If the kids don't dig the projects then it's a geek book. In the words of my 10 year old daughter after flipping through the book "We are totally doing some of these projects". What more can a Geek Dad ask from a book of projects?

I've read a few chapters so far and I recommend this book whole-heartedly. I'll disclose I contributed to one of the chapters and received a gracious complimentary copy for that. It's an enjoyable read, infused with dry wit and winking geek culture in-jokes. The book is a great gift for Mother's Day, Father's Day, and pretty much any occasion with a kid involved. The projects it contains will be perfect for upcoming summer days, ways to forge family memories more lasting than video game high scores. My 10-year-old son, thumbing through it, exclaimed, "This is so cool. I love this book!" He already picked out the first project he wants to try, "Make Your Own Cartoons." That's the best endorsement you could want.

Great ideas for ways to spend quality, geeky time with your kids, packaged up in a entertaining read. The projects will get the kids to tinker right along with you, and maybe even learn something while they're having fun!