Literacy Gift Ideas for Parents

Families often appreciate simple, inexpensive gift ideas
that provide “scope for the imagination”

Here is a list of some gift ideas for your child:

-Magnetic letters – (especially lower-case) to put on the refrigerator
-An art sketch pad and set of thin marking pens
-Magnetic Write/Erase Board
-A large set of Berol Prismacolor pencils (wonderful water color pencils)
-Children’s books (see enclosed lists of favorites) – you can often get real bargains at local second-hand book stores
-CDs of classical music and children’s folk songs – traditional English and Spanish
-Etch-a-Sketch
-Mommy, It’s a Renoir! (art postcards)
-An illustrated children’s cookbook (see sample recipes from Kids in the Kitchen)
-Open-ended building toys: Lego blocks
-Blank journals, notepads, stationery, envelopes, postcards, and stamps
-A disposable camera
-A playdough kit with several colors of playdough, rolling pin, cafeteria tray, cookie cutters, and plastic animals
-Books on how to draw simple animals and objects; a variety of pencils
-Old dress-up clothes (ask Aunties and Grandparents to help gather)
-A collection of different adult hats (shop garage sales and Goodwill)
-A set of Lincoln Logs

Taken from Parents as Partners in Kindergarten and Early Literacy: Family Connections that Multiply our Teaching Effectiveness, by Nellie Edge © 2007. Updated 2009.

This is from the monthly newsletter from the Nellie Edge Excellence in Kindergarten and Early Literacy site. For more information and resources visit http://www.nellieedge.com/ .