Category: kids books

Are You Ready for Back To School?

Posted on | by KD Novelties

Back to school season is already upon us. Whether your children are starting school at the end of August or the beginning of September, the back to school flurry of activity can already have you in a tizzy – so how can you make the new transition easier? Here are some easy life hacks you can apply to your daily routine leading up to the first day of school and beyond to help ensure that you are prepared.

1. Attack the Lists. Whenever you get school supply lists, permission slips and other school forms, make sure that you tackle them ASAP. In regards to school supplies, certain items will sell-out fast, and waiting too long may only make finding certain things more difficult. Most schools release school supply lists around the same time, so try to make supply shopping a priority.

2. Pre-prep First Day (and First Week) Supplies.   From making sure that your child’s knapsack contains all of their classroom materials, setting out their first day’s outfit to prepping a week’s worth of breakfasts, there are plenty of things that you can do to make sure that the first week goes smoothly. The morning routine is the first thing that families often need to readjust to when school rolls back around after a long summer. As a parent, you likely have to get yourself ready first before the children, however, streamlining your morning routine, will at least let you rest easy knowing that the first, and often hardest part of the day is already taken care of.

3. Plan Ahead. Once you get your child’s new school schedule and the school calendar, try and post it somewhere noticeable and add it to the calendar on your phone or laptop as well. Set up reminders and alarms if there are events in the future that you need to be made aware of such as deadlines for permission slips, class trips, or if your child has a special activity, half-day or holiday in which you need to keep in mind.

Personalized Children’s Books

4. Make it a Habit. Planning ahead, staying organized and streamlining your routine can help you make the rest of the school year seamless. Many parents need some extra time getting started, but it can also be difficult to keep up with things as the year progresses. Therefore, make sure that you keep lists, begin morning prep after dinner or dessert for the next day, read notices and sign permission slips as soon as you see them, etc. Making habits of getting organized will make your life much easier, and it can even make breaking them more difficult!

5.    Set Rules/Procedures for the Year.  Set up a bedtime schedule, whether it be taking baths before bedtime, doing homework, setting up time for reading and enforcing a time that everyone should be in bed.  These rules however will take time to adjust as kids are so used to the summer time break.  We recommend implementing them a week or a few days before school starts so that the first day is not a shock for everyone.

Are eBooks Good For Kids?

Posted on | by KD Novelties

E-books have become increasingly popular over the past few years. While it has not deterred people from buying physical books, it has instead increased the sale of books altogether. People who already purchased and read books regularly have stuck with their habits, but the presence of e-books has encouraged these same readers to look at a wider variety of books than they ever have before. It has also enticed non-readers into purchasing and trying out books for themselves. The great thing about e-books is that they take up less space and, for many; they tend to cost less than their print counterparts. These factors have helped to sell bestsellers to infrequent readers but it has also made lesser known titles and authors far more marketable as well.

Why e-books?
Now, what does any of this have to do with children, you ask? Well, a lot of the same logic applies. E-books can be great alternatives for children who already love to read. As a parent, you can introduce more titles to your child than ever before. Since you will also be buying your child these books or lending them from the library in limited numbers, knowing that you can purchase cheaper e-books or even find some free online, can certainly put you at ease.

For the reluctant reader, e-books can be exactly what may help a child get hooked. In this day and age, tablets, phones and computers are a part of our everyday lives. It has gotten to the point where even kids demand a significant amount of screen time to watch their shows and play their games. As a parent, you can make a child’s screen time valuable by making sure that they are at least using a majority of this time to ply educational games and watch interactive and imaginative shows. The same goes for e-books. If a child is reluctant to pick up a book and wants to use their tablet instead, there are plenty of interactive e-books out there that can pique their interest. Some of these e-books feel more like games, especially if they are on a screen. Since many reluctant readers feel as if reading is a chore for them, introducing them to e-books can show them just how fun it can be.

For these same nonreaders, there are not only plenty of fun e-books out there, but there are even personalized e-books that make the experience even more exciting. KD Novelties has several personalized e-books that can feature your child’s name and make them feel like they are a part of the story.

Personalized eBooks for Kids

e-books and Comprehension
E-books can be great learning tools for avid and nonreaders alike. The interactive interface can make the material more engaging and exciting for them, which can be extremely helpful if you are introducing them to reading material that is more educational than fantastical. Reading any kind of book will help boost their reading comprehension and even their writing skills, but if you want to introduce your child to a more difficult subject or want them to read a more informational book, then using an e-book format can make it feel more fun for them. This can be especially helpful to parents who homeschool their children or parents who want to play a bigger role in their child’s education outside of school.

Engagement
For many kids, looking at a screen is far more engaging than looking at a page. On a technical level, these two activities are identical, but to a child whose world is increasingly becoming more and more digital, it may be the thing that helps them interact with books and reading more in general. Even if your child is not reading an e-book per se, even encouraging them to use their tablet for educational games and other activities means that they are learning how to become more computer literate. In the fast-growing technological world, this sort of skill can be vital. So many children these days know how to better navigate the settings of an app than their parents do. Computer literacy also means that they are developing their general literacy as well. As kids learn how to go through the motions of menus and sidebars, they learn how to read some things on their own out of their own inherent interests.

As far as e-books go, some kids may feel more of a sense of engagement and accomplishment when reading in this format as it sometimes provides additional visual cues that physical books cannot offer. While reading does require visual skills, not all visual learners are good readers. Depending on what you use to read e-books, some devices provide in-system dictionaries to help with words that kids may not recognize. Some also allow for the reader to highlight sections and use the Internet to ask questions or find related sites to the books they read. Even the counter on the bottom of most books telling the reader just how far they’ve gotten can help keep kids motivated as it may feel a bit like a video game.

How to Read an e-Book with Your Child
Reading an e-book is a lot like reading a traditional book. If you are trying to get a reluctant reader to read, reading aloud and often with them can help encourage them to read on their own. If you are reading with an avid reader, then you can ask them to read to you instead.

As a parent, you will want to read e-books with your child before letting them read them on their own. This way you can help them learn how to operate the device and how to use everything they have available. Showing them how to read on their own will encourage them to be responsible when they do so alone.

8 Tips to Keep Kids Engaged This Summer

Posted on | by KD Novelties
8 Tips to Keep Kids Engaged During the Summer

School’s out! For some anyway, and for others your kids are probably counting down the days!  Kids are sure to be happy to have the next few months to themselves. As relaxing as the summer holidays are meant to be, it is still important that kids stay sharp so that they can continue their education without a hitch once the new school year starts in August or September. There are plenty of ways in which parents can do this without giving their kids homework or making them feel like they have a lot of work to do. In fact, there are some fun ways to keep kids engaged while also making sure that they’re having a good time.


1. Encourage kids to keep a journal. Keeping a journal can be fun, and it can make a great keepsake for you and your kids for years to come. While kids are writing about their summers or even writing stories of made up adventures, they are also exercising their writing and reading comprehension skills. Writing in a journal has benefits when it comes to memory as well, and can help kids remember more things with accuracy.

2. Plan fun (and educational) trips. Summertime is the most popular time for families to go on vacation, but integrating something educational and interesting into your summer plans can be both fun and informative. Even if you can’t fit a big trip into your budget, make weekly trips to the library, to local landmarks and other places that can offer a lot for kids and adults alike.

Lemonade Stand for Kids
3. Start a lemonade stand! Encourage your kids to get active and get motivated to make money. Whether they sell lemonade on the sidewalk, help with a garage sale or simply pick up some chores around the house, doing so will help give kids an incentive to take on responsibility. Encourage them to manage their money, too, so they can practice some math while they’re at it.

4. Go outside and explore. Getting outdoors is great. Fresh air and activity are integral for staying healthy and childhood obesity is quickly becoming a major problem, so making sure that kids stay plenty active and spend some time away from screens and computers can be beneficial. Going outside, going to parks, going on hikes or simply exploring your own backyard can also help spark a child’s imagination and help them develop a relationship with nature.

5. Make time to read every day. Some kids are happy reading as a pastime, but other kids may need some coaxing. Make it a routine or a tradition to share a book or two every night. Read aloud, play book-inspired games, or even act out your favorite scenes! Reading will help keep kids’ reading skills sharp, and playing games can help foster their creativity and confidence, as well.

6. Take advantage of free, online learning. Whether your kids are playing an educational flash game or partaking in an online course, kids may be more inclined to want to learn when it involves the family computer or tablet. There are plenty of educational apps and free online schools that can teach kids valuable skills without feeling like its work at all.

Kids Crafts During the Summer

7. Make some arts and crafts. Inspiring kids to create and use their imaginations can help their critical thinking skills more than you might realize. Creativity can help kids learn how to solve problems, weigh their options and make difficult choices, whether it involves figuring out how to solve a math problem or how to accomplish riding a bike. Being creative can inspire some great art, but it can also encourage out-of-the-box thinking that can help boost general problem-solving skills, too.


8. Don’t be afraid to relax! Rest and relaxation are actually important for mental and emotional development, so don’t forget to get plenty of it. As important as it is to keep kids active, don’t forget about valuable down-time either. Finding a balance between activity and reflection is important, so make sure to let your kids relax and do a bit of what they want this summer, too.

KD Novelties is publisher of personalized children’s books making children the stars of their very own stories.  Personalized Reading promotes literacy while building self-esteem.  Subscribe to our blog for more reading and family friendly tips.