New reading skills are kind of magical, aren’t they? Sure the reading is slow and belabored and requires a bucket load of parental patience, but also – magic.
When my kids were in the window of new reading, and I still have one still there a little, I found myself doing everything I could to encourage them. Encourage them without
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10 Gifts to Encourage New Reading Skills
Below are Christmas Gift ideas (or birthday gift ideas) that will encourage kids who are new readers. Gifts for new readers need to be fun, while also encouraging this new reading skill development. The next ten items are tried and loved new reader books, collections, games and more in our home.
1. Audio Books
We love listening to books on CD during Quiet Time and when we travel. You can buy a lot of books with CDs or borrow them from the library. Buy a couple favorites to enjoy year round in the car or at home.
Our favorite for Christmas time is the audiobook of The Polar Express. It is brilliantly narrated by Liam Neeson.
Also Read: Awesome Audiobooks for Kids
2. Ukloo
Games are such a fun way to build literacy skills. We have a stack of word based kids games, like this fairytale mix-up game to My First Bananagrams, but our absolute favorite is Ukloo. It is scavenger hunt-like that seamlessly encourages early reading skills without your child even realizing it. It is simple and so much fun. My kids never tire of Ukloo. Best for 4+
3. Very First Reading Set
I got this for my twins when they were about 4. It has cute stories that slowly build up reading skills from read with me, where the child reads a couple easy words and the adult reads the majority of the story, to the child reading entirely independently. For older kids or more advanced readers, consider one of these illustrated early chapter books.
Also Read: Bookish Baby Shower Gifts for New Moms
4. The Reading Game
I wish I had found this game sooner. It is a sight word builder game that has been a huge confidence builder for my daughter. I don’t know if I’d say it can “teach your child to read in just one week” as the box claims, but it has helped her develop word skills and confidence.
5. Silly Sentences Game
This is another game for building sight word recognition. My kids love any excuse to be silly and this is a good one. Combine sight word practice with silliness because you are quite simply combining words to make sentences that are silly as you can.
6. Magnetic Page Markers
Once my kids could read beyond the super short new readers they often found even slightly longer books overwhelming at first. Having a cute clip that we could stick in there when they needed to take a break helped them feel less frightened by the number of words ahead of them. When they progress even further, these work great in chapter books as well.
7. Book Log
A cute book log can be a fun gift for new readers. We started keeping track this Summer and my kids were very proud of how much they were able to read in a few short months. These can range a lot. If you’d like a little bit more a reading journal then I recommend THIS ONE, if you want one that’s more of a straightforward log of what you’ve read then I like THIS ONE.
8. Book Basket
I love book baskets for new readers because you can separate out books from your home or library stash that are perfect for their reading level. Teachers do this in classrooms all the time, but it works well at home too. My kids both have a basket like this in their bed that has books that they can read independently. When we go to the library every week I always pull a few books to rotate into these books so they always have something different to read.
9. Books!!
Of course your new reader needs books! It can be hard to find great books for kids who are just starting to read. I have a great starting place for you though:
Books New Readers Can Actually Read
2020 New Children’s Book Gift Giving Guide
More Gift Ideas
KBN Holiday Gift Guide 2018
Rad Gifts for Tween Girls from The Moments at Home
Gifts for Teen Girls from KimspiredDIY
Best Train Set for Toddlers from Play Trains!
Best Board Games for Kids and Families from All Done Monkey
Gifts for Kids Who Love Outside Adventures from Bambini Travel
Best Games for Teens/Tweens from Nouveau Soccer Mom
The Best Toys and Games for Kids to Play Together from Mosswood Connections
Creative Books for Kids that Inspire from Thimble and Twig
The Most Magical Unicorn Gift Ideas for Kids from Projects with Kids
Gift Ideas for Teenage Boys from EverydaySavvy
Gifts for Messy Play from In Our Pond
15 Best Arts and Crafts Gifts for Kids from The Joy of Sharing
Girl Power Gifts for Girls of all Ages from Seaside Sundays
Gifts Siblings of Different Sexes will Love! from Heart of Deborah
Inquisitive Detective Gifts for Kids from Castleview Academy
Gifts for Kids that will Inspire Creativity from Creative K Kids
Robots, Rockets, & Tech Toys for Kids that ROCK! from Our Family Code
Seriously FUN Sensory Toys and Games from B-Inspired Mama
Gender Neutral Frozen-themed Gift Ideas from Fab Working Mom Life
Gifts for 8 Year Old Girls from What’s Up Fagans?
What a fun list, We love reading at our house. Thanks for the great gift ideas!
Thanks Shelah! I hope you got a couple fun ideas you can use.