Category: reading skills

Are Your Kids Going to Fall Behind this Summer?

Posted on | by KD Novelties
Kids are excited for the summer months, and chances are, you are as well. Barbecues, vacations and family outings are abound during this downtime and that can mean a lot of fun for the entire family. But that may also mean downtime from education and from reading. Since kids are not in school, they may not be prompted to read as much. Whether it is because they are too tempted to play outdoors, or because they don’t want to feel like they are in school, it is still important as a parent to make sure that kids continue to read.
Two months may not seem like a long time, but it absolutely is for kids. Their minds are constantly developing, absorbing information from the world around them and assimilating what they know and experience into usable knowledge. It is vital that kids continue to read over the summer in order to retain and increase their reading level come the following school year. Your kids may want to play outside more, but there are ways to entice kids to read that makes them forget they are even reading.
Reading in the park
The first thing you have to do is make the reading feel less like work. Kids who like to read for recreation have shown to have a significantly higher love of learning. This keenness to read also helps kids understand new concepts they learn in school and as they get older. If your child feels that reading is like “school work” then you can show them how fun reading really is by getting them their very own personalized story. Our personalized books for kids make each child the STAR of their very own story.
Plan family outings that are educational as well as fun. Visit historical landmarks, telling your children what they may find there and what happened. Have them read the historical plaques out loud and ask them what they think happened and why. Visit the museum and do the same. Making a day trip out of it can make learning seem more like fun than work.  Engage your kids in reading and critical thinking skills by asking them fun questions about what they did and learned on vacation.
Reading to them nightly can also be a great help. Have them read along and ask them questions about the story or each chapter before saying good night. This makes the act of reading not only a shared experience, but it seems more fun when they are being read to. Ask them to read parts to you. Asking them to answer questions about the story and about what parts they liked and didn’t like help their listening and reading comprehension skills, keeping it sharp for when school starts again.

Even engaging in arts and crafts activities can help keep kids engaged. A hands-on activity with an end goal in mind helps keep kids’ minds working and thinking. Ask them to write poems or blurbs about what they made and why. You can also have them write stories, whether they are about their vacations, what they did that day, or a story they made up entirely on their own. Writing skills are linked directly with reading and require an active imagination as well. Make learning and reading fun by crafting interactive things for your kids to do. It will not only keep them up to speed for the following school year, but it will also keep their summer days full and fun.

KD Novelties publishes personalized children’s books to make reading fun and create a unique experience for kids.  For more resources about reading for kids visit the KD Novelties blog and subscribe.

Reading Beyond Books

Posted on | by KD Novelties

Learning to Read Beyond Books
Teaching children to read can be taxing and time consuming. We often look to books aimed at first learners or visual programs that teach children the letters of the alphabet while playing games, singing songs and the like. But words are everywhere, and learning can be everywhere too. Kids aren’t just learning how to communicate, they are learning about the entire world around them. Words and language are everywhere, they help build the world around us and helping kids learn to read through pointing out the language in everything is important to their overall development. 

When you’re out with your kids, try pointing out signs in stores or on the road when you’re stopped in traffic. Sound out words for them, ask them what letters they see. While at the supermarket, ask your children to point out the items you usually buy, have them sound out the words and point out the letters on the box. Not only is this a great way to build a relationship with your child, but this helps your child build a better relationship with the world around them. Once they learn to spot letters, words, and language everywhere, the more they will pick up on speaking and reading skills on their own.
KD Novelties provides Personalized Books for Kids while encouraging them and building their self-esteem.  They also provide lots of reading tips and advice for parents and guardians.

The First Five Years

Posted on | by KD Novelties


Reading is a fundamental skill anyone needs in order to interact and function within society, and is a key focus in early education. While reading is a skill taught in schools, it is still vital that children grasp the concept of language and reading comprehension skills before they even begin school. Studies show that children who develop these basic skills with their parents before entering the school system are more likely to grasp other educational concepts more easily and develop a more diverse vocabulary that assists in this early learning. Additionally, it helps improve their confidence to try new things, understand new concepts, and develop socially within the classroom atmosphere. 

Personalized Baby Books
The first five years of a child’s life are the most important for developing healthy life-long habits. Aside from helping a child develop language and reading skills, (including introducing kids to foreign languages since their brains are more adept to naturally learning various dialects when young) it is also a great time to establish healthy eating and physical habits, foster emotional understanding through parent-to-child interactions and develop good motor skills. All of these factors help children when they enter an educational atmosphere and ensure that their minds are at their most optimal to absorb new information and develop lasting learning skills.

KD Novelties is a publisher of children’s books and provides children the tools of reading for a lifetime with their very own personalized book.