Reading doesn't have to be boring. There are many ways that you can get your child into reading and enjoying spending time with books! Please find some of our ideas and reading games for kids below.
It's not easy to get a kid into reading and writing. Unfortunately kids don't consider reading as a fun activity, so it can be difficult sometimes getting them into opening a book!
To make kids enjoy reading, we recommend that you start with comic books. Most parents don't consider comic books as serious reading. It turns out that there are excellent comic books available that are both entertaining and instructive as they can help children develop their reading skills and learn about different subjects. Comic books can be invaluable reading tools in a world dominated by video games and movies. We recommend that you start with Disney comic books. Firstly, Disney comics are children friendly and they do not contain violent graphics. Secondly, both parents and children tend to enjoy them. We prefer the older Disney comics (including the ones by Carl Barks) because they tend to be better written and they contain adventures in different parts of the world.
We also recommend TinTin comic books. Why? First of all the adventures and stories are enjoyable. Tintin is a reporter who gets into many adventures. He's joined with other characters: his dog Milou, Captain Haddock and others.
Second of all, the stories are smart, they take places in different parts of the world (so this increases your kid's knowledge of the world) and they contain plenty of historical references. Finally, TinTin comics are easy to read and quite well-written!
PS: We also recommend that you take a look at our section regarding reading activities involving picture books and reading toddler activities. For children who struggle with a reading disability, we also have a section on reading disabilities.
Children's encyclopedias are a great way to get kids into reading. They are also fantastic educational books and they are specifically designed for children. They contain lots of images and they are usually easy to read. Another great aspect of children's encyclopedias is that they can help with the schoolwork.
Kids tend to enjoy these encyclopedias and don't be surprised if your kid spends hours reading and learning about different subjects. One of the children's encyclopedias that we recommend is the DK First Encyclopedia (ages 4-8). It is full of well-researched information, quizzes and reading games for kids, and it is beautifully illustrated. It also includes games that boost learning and capture children's imagination.
Sentence building kits can help children practice their reading (see kid toys). They can help improve language and reading, but also writing and spelling skills.
Kids learn to place adjectives before nouns and to move verbs around. Reading kits are available in many forms (for instance roads or magnetic sets) and they are fun. Usually sentence building kits are designed for children ages 7 and above and can be played by a group of kids.
We recommend the Word Building Dominoes made by Educational Insights. These reading games for kids are designed for children ages 6-7. Children will enjoy forming sentences using the magnetic tiles. Furthermore, the magnetic tiles can be used on magnetic boards, file cabinets or on fridges. Perfect if you want your child to start reading and forming sentences! Your kid could have a lot of fun leaving short messages on the fridge in the kitchen.
We also recommend word building puzzles. Word building puzzles are fun reading games for kids and they can help children improve their spelling and vocabulary and even their grammar. They are usually very cheap and designed for kids ages 8-12 years old. Don't hesitate to get them online here.
For free reading games for kids to help improve their phonic reading skills, check out Shelterwood Books' reading games for kids.
Other reading games for kids that we recommend include board games. There are two types of board games that we recommend: vocabulary and spelling board games.
Vocabulary board games
There are fun word board games in which kids can expand their vocabulary by forming words horizontally or vertically (by combining prefixes, common roots, and suffixes). These games can usually be played in teams of 2 to 4 children. They are a fun way for kids to expand their vocabulary and reading games for kids that help them understand the composition of the words that they are using!
Apples to Apples is one of our favorite word board games. Designed for ages 8 and above, it helps kids develop their vocabulary and literacy skills Furthermore, the game received numerous awards including the "Mensa Select" prize, the "Party Game of the Year" award, and the National Parenting Center's seal of approval.
Spelling board games
There are many reading games for kids that focus on spelling and that children can play in teams. They are usually available from primary to intermediate grades. Players usually use an extensive list of spelling words to play the game.
Boggle is one spelling game that we recommend. It is a fast-paced and addictive game, designed for kids ages 8 and above. It helps children familiarize themselves with words and improve their spelling. Players compete to find as many words as possible using a plastic grid of lettered dice while a three-minute sand timer works its way down. The game is compact and ideal if you travel.
Which books should you pick for your child? Parents can help their kids develop a love for reading and should encourage them to read from an early age.
Parents should also pick quality books and have children reading books. Books that are both enjoyable to read and that can increase children's literacy skills.
There are also many books available at any bookstore designed to help your kid develop new vocabulary, learn to speak in complete sentences, respond to questions and interpret illustrations, etc..
We also recommend books that contain crossword puzzles, analogies and decoding messages. There are books for all ages and they can help children improve language skills, increase their vocabulary, but also have them learn interesting facts from cross-curricular topics.
Finally, there are also books focused on improving grammar skills. These books usually provide activity-based lessons which include properly using parts of speech, using punctuation for correctness and clarity, and developing composition skills.
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Teach a Child a Language
Children learn language in different ways. One of which is through games. It has been shown that learning through having fun, is more productive than other less entertaining forms of education. Learn how to teach your child or your students a language and how to read, either through games or more traditional methods. Plus learn about teaching English and traveling around Japan and the rest of Asia. Please visit: http://www.how-to-teach-english-in-japan.com
comic books. Why? First of all the adventures and stories are enjoyable. Tintin is a reporter who gets into many adventures. He's joined with other characters: his dog Milou, Captain Haddock and others.
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