Knowing the Possible Signs of Dyslexia

Posted on | by KD Novelties
Understanding Dyslexia

Reading, reading comprehension and writing are all integral skills that kids must have to be successful in the traditional American school system. These skills are taught and encouraged at a very young age. Some kids take to it easily while others are reluctant. While kids do not need a reason to be reluctant, some children face difficulties with reading because of actual learning disabilities like dyslexia.
Dyslexia can be difficult to identify, especially if a parent or teacher is unsure of what to look for. Unfortunately, dyslexia can very often and very easily go unnoticed or undiagnosed until the child’s reading impediment is significantly progressed or they are at an older age where help may be more difficult to administer. If parents, teachers, caregivers and others know the signs of dyslexia, the condition can be properly identified and treated as soon as possible so that kids can learn to read at their own pace and have their own needs addressed and met successfully.
1.  One of the first signs of a child that might have dyslexia is a late talker. Kids that take a longer time to begin speaking may have difficulty with language in general.
2.  Pronunciation problems may also indicate dyslexia.
3.  Trouble rhyming words may indicate that kids have difficulty understanding the composition of words and how they work, sound or read on paper. This may alert a problem with visualizing or hearing the words that they read, hence, having difficulty comprehending words and their sounds.
4.  Issues with learning other things like numbers, colors and the alphabet may also be an indicator.
5.  Small, specific issues may also be a sign of dyslexia, such as confusing the sounds of the letters “b” and “d” with one another.
What words look like
If kids have any issues with learning or understanding concepts, it is always best to seek help just in case. If dyslexia goes undiagnosed and unaddressed, kids may continue to have significant issues with reading, writing, handwriting, spelling, solving word problems and other common tasks that are required of them in school. All of these issues may be further signs that point to dyslexia or other reading comprehension or learning problems. The more adults, parents, teachers and caregivers know, the better they are at helping such kids learn to cope with their learning needs and overcome them.
www.KDNovelties.com specializes in building self-esteem in children by providing them books where they become the stars of their very own story. 


Never Too Young to Write a Book

Posted on | by KD Novelties
Writing a novel is a big achievement. Many adults aspire to write a novel one day but rarely find the time or the right story to tell. Kids have imaginations that run wild, so why not tap into those novel writing aspirations early on? Kids can be picky about books, but they may be more likely to pick up new ones if they know that they have written one themselves.
Child drawing pictures for her book
Working on a book with your kids can be beneficial. Not only will kids be able to exercise their creativity, but they will also be actively exercising their writing and communication skills with the help of their innate creativity. Writing a book is a great artistic activity for kids of any age. Craft and retail department stores usually have all of the materials that you need: blank books or journals, crayons or markers, glitter and glue, you name it. Some may even carry book making kits with all of the materials that you might need included along with some fun guides, suggestions and additions. A great website with great book making materials for kids is http://www.barebooks.com.
Once you have all of your ingredients, kids can begin brainstorming about what they may want their book to be about. They can retell a story of something that happened to them in the past year, such as a fun family vacation or an exciting achievement at school. Encourage them to use photos but drawing pictures can also work, allowing them to be expressive and imaginative. Kids can also write about fantastical stories. They can make up their own fairy tale, write about an adventure that they would like to have someday, or write about characters that they have thought up on their own.
If kids are looking for inspiration, they can look to books and stories that they already love. Even researching for ideas can open them up to new material. No matter where the inspiration comes from, their final product will be something that they can be proud of for years to come. Not only that, but it can serve as a great piece of memorabilia from their childhood as they get older.  You can even pitch their stories to independent publishers such as http://www.KDNovelties.com.

Tying in activities with key learning skills can be easy. Writing and crafting a book cannot only unleash a child’s imagination but it can help them learn how to best use their skills and improve them all while having fun.

5 Fun Things to Do With Your Kids on St. Patrick’s Day

Posted on | by KD Novelties

St. Patrick’s Day is upon us, and what better time to get kids excited about the spring months to come than by celebrating the holiday with some fun activities? Kids may be eager to get on their feet and to get outside, and whether the weather is permitting or not, some of these St. Patrick’s Day activities can help them celebrate all things green and lucky in preparation for the warm weather to come.
Leprechaun Hat Garland

1.  Arts and crafts always make for a great holiday activity. Kids and parents can join together and make a variety of decorations, pictures and even items that you can dress up in for the occasion once they are finished. You can cut out and string together your own four-leaf clover garland! Drape it over your doorways or along the walls for decoration and good luck! Construction paper leprechaun hats and beards can make for funny costume accessories that you can wear throughout the day, as well.

2.  Baking is an activity that parents and kids can always find a way to make appropriate to fit a holiday and St. Patrick’s Day is no exception! You can have fun with shapes and scenes by creating four-leaf clovers, pots of gold, gold bits, rainbows and other items that you and your kids can dye with food coloring or decorate with frosting and sprinkles!

St. Patty’s Day cupcakes

3.  The weather may still be a bit chilly for some today but spring is still around the corner. Reading can still prove to be an exciting activity and personalized books, can encourage and excite kids about all of the activities they will soon be able to do outdoors when the weather gets warmer.  Books such as “My Fishing Adventure”, “My Camping Adventure” or “My Tea Party” can help inspire kids to move their activities outdoors and enjoy the fresh air.  You can also have a St. Patrick’s Day themed tea party outside or catch some fish to accompany a St. Patrick’s Day dinner!

4.  Take it outdoors, enjoy the fresh air and go on a scavenger hunt! If the snow (for those on the North East) allows it and has melted enough, you may be able to look for four-leaf clovers in your backyard, neighborhood or local park. If going outside is too difficult, make some extra four-leaf clovers when you make your paper garlands to create an indoor scavenger hunt, with additional chocolate coins and rainbow items thrown into the mix!
5.  No matter what sort of adventures you’ve had today, encourage kids to write and illustrate their own St. Patrick’s Day adventure book! They can write about an imaginary adventure or they can write about all of the fun things they did earlier today – or they can write about a mix of both!  Having kids write their own book can help boost their writing skills and their interest in reading. It will also give them a final product that they’d be proud of and that that they can share for years to come.

St. Patrick’s Day Tea Party