This post was updated in November 2021.

“We have enough books!” my husband said to me when I asked him for ideas on what to get the kids for the “Something to read” category of Four Gifts of Christmas. This sparked a search for some “outside of a book” ideas. Ssshh…don’t tell them these are educational, you don’t want to spoil the fun. 😉

Regardless of reading ability: If, like us, you don’t live within city limits of a library a Library Membership would be a great gift idea! Or a membership to one of the following apps:

Get Epic! is a FAVORITE in our household – seriously it got one of my kids who doesn’t enjoy reading to start reading!

Audible has been fantastic for road trips and down time in their rooms with an alexa.

The whole goal is to think outside the box. Last year, our daughter was learning how to play piano and read music. So her “something to read” was actually this Note Quest music reading activity book.

But if you’re looking for more “traditional” reading activities, I’ve got you covered!

Want to jump ahead?

Pre-Readers

Early Readers

Young Readers

Avid Readers

 

PRE-READERS
Violet or Scout can read to your child with LeapFrog Story Time Buddy

Wipe Clean: Early Learning Activity Book offers endless learning opportunities as you can wipe it off and do it again

Kids loves mail! How about a monthly Highlights High Five subscription?

Begin letter recognition with Osmo Little Genius Starter Pack for Ipad

Hot Dots Beginners Phonics Card Set can be used as flash cards or with any Hot Dots pen.

Help your child learn new words with these Wooden Reading blocks

How fun and colorful is this Read to Me Tot Tower?! And bonus in my book…non-toxic inks!

Thinkfun Roll and Play Board Game comes with pictures but can grow with your child as they learn how to read the instructions

Early Readers

They won’t even realize they’re practicing reading skills while playing this fun Super Why ABC Letter Game

What a fun way to practice reading with the uKloo Early Reader Treasure Hunt Game

My First Bananagrams is great for children just learning to spell

The BYJU’S Magic Workbooks: Disney powered by OSMO takes your child on a guided adventure combining the magic of Disney storytelling with interactive learning activities.

Zingo Sight Words is a twist on bingo

Building words is fun with Lunchbox Letters

Let your child create their own book that is professionally bound with Lulu Jr. IlluStory Junior

Highlights For Children will be a monthly “highlight” (I’m here all week) in the mail.

A twist on an old favorite Boggle Junior Game

Hot Dots give your early reader autonomy and fun while playing Let’s Master Kindergarten Reading

Learning phonics is fun while playing Sequence Letters

Silly Sentences keep your child engaged in the fun of reading

Your auditory or visual learner will love Alphabet Bingo Game

Scrabble Junior is a great way to learn and recognize letters

Help little ones make the connection with an object and its name in MengTing Alphabet Game

Young Readers

Even short words like at, of, and zoo, can lead to a win in Quiddler

If you have a kid that loves to know what’s going on in the world, The Week Junior could be a great gift for them!

Dabble is a fast paced word game for the whole family!

Spark creativity with 642 Things to Write About: Young Writer’s Edition

Cricket is more monthly happy mail

Your reader can write and publish their own book with Lulu Jr – My Awesome Book

Ok, so yes Brain Games for Kids is a book, but it is packed with crossword puzzles, word searches, math puzzles, mazes, picture puzzles, and more

National Geographic Kids Subscription provides educational fun in the mailbox each month

Christmas Fun Mad Libs would make a great stocking stuffer!

The higher you stack, the higher you score in Upwords

Sports Illustrated KIDS for your sports fan

Avid Readers

Bananagrams is fast, portable and fun (this would be great to keep in the purse to play while waiting at restaurants…speaking from experience)

Finish This Book gets the creative juices flowing in story telling

Play On Words is an extra clever mind-expanding card game

A favorite Magazine Subscription

Mad Libs can be fun at any age (be aware that some can be racy)

Wreck This Journal: Now In Color has become a favorite in our household! Really, all of the journals by Keri Smith provide lots of fun and creativity!

399 Games, Puzzles & Trivia Challenges Specially Designed to Keep Your Brain Young…enough said

A Crossword Book provides hours of brain games

The Imaginary World Of… Yet another creative Keri Smith journal

Get the creative juices flowing with 642 Things to Write About

How fun is this Magnetic Scrabble Set?!

Daily fun with Word Search Desk Calendar

Scrabble Slam Cards is a high-speed game promising loads of fun

Learn a new word each day with 365 New Words-A-Year Page-A-Day Calendar

 

Comment below with any other suggestions for “Something To Read” gifts that aren’t books.