The Gift of Reading
Literacy Gifts for Kids with Disabilities
According to LD Online, 80% of students with learning disabilities have been described as reading disabled. Very often, these kids are anxious to use materials to improve their skills. They want to be good readers. They want to be able to understand words in print as comfortably and successfully as their non-disabled peers. While word-oriented gifts cannot magically make a reading disability disappear, they can build skills and boost confidence. Here are some things to consider when purchasing reading oriented gifts.
Child's Reading Level
Purchase items on the child’s reading level. Books and word games that are a child’s functional reading level will more likely be used than those that are way above what can enjoyed or used independently. A child's teacher can help determine an appropriate reading level for books.
Purchase items in the child’s interest range. Not only should a child (or teen) be able to read the material, it should be of interest to the child. For example, a tween with delayed reading skills may be reading at the second grade level. That does not mean that he will be interested in the same things that a second grader would. Shop for books that are “hi/lo” – that is high (age) interest level but low (age) reading level. Librarians, teachers, and booksellers are able to assist shoppers in finding appropriate hi/lo materials.
Audio Books
Books on tape or audio books offer a reading encouragement for below level readers. These can be purchased through book stores as well as special catalogs. Some children and teens qualify for tapes from the National Library Service or Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic -- free lending services which also provide audio players that can be adjusted for the speed of the reading.
Build Reading Skills
Purchase items other than books that build reading and language skills. Here are some gifts that can build reading skills:
- Sidewalk chalk
- Shower paints
- Memory games
- Magnetic letters
- Alphabet puzzles and blocks
- Magazines
- Computer games
- Board games that use word skills
- Dictionary
- Thesaurus
- Hand-held spelling games
- Hand-held spell checkers
- Calendars
- Planners
- Awesome writing paper
- Cool pencils, pens, markers, or crayons
- Word activity books
- Crossword puzzles
- Dry erase boards
Activity Gifts
Consider literacy gifts that involve activities. These are not wrapped-up-under the tree kinds of gifts. Rather, think along the lines of gifts of time that will encourage struggling reader. Here are some no-cost reading gifts:
- Weekly trips to the library
- Parent-child attendance at story hours
- For older children: parent-child attendance at a children’s book club
- Nightly family reading time
This year, why not pick out a few good reader gifts for those kids with special needs on your Christmas list?
Literacy Gifts for Children with Disabilities
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