With 10 books and counting, the Spy School series, by Stuart Gibbs, keeps the formula fresh by constantly switching up the setting (think Spy Ski School and Spy School British Invasion)-they all sounded slightly like campy ’80s movies to me, and they all kept my kiddo negotiating for a later bedtime.Ī few years ago, my sister gifted my son tickets to see Dog Man: The Musical, based on Dav Pilkey’s ridiculously popular series about a cop with a dog’s head and a human’s body. The City Spies Classified Collection, by James Ponti, is moodier and more self-serious. Kid Spy books, by Mac Barnett, lean into clever humor and lively illustrations. But how the authors spin their yarns is where you’ll find the secret sauce. The premise is often the same-some variation on the theme of an otherwise totally ordinary elementary schooler getting suddenly plucked from obscurity and thrust into the high-stakes world of international espionage. He’d finish one series and then immediately move on to the next lucky for him, there’s no shortage of options out there. I witnessed this firsthand when my son was in the third grade and got hooked on the spy-kid genre. Between the art activities and the theatrical prompts, it’s a book our family refers to often to kick off authentic conversations that are both warm and thoughtful.īook series-with their compelling characters and familiar worlds-can do an especially good job of drawing kids in and getting them excited about reading. My teen took on one of Different Differenter’s more serious activities: making a one-minute anti-bullying video. My then 5-year-old son, whom we call a chef for his love of playing with food, often asks to make the book’s recipe for laddoo, a popular Indian dessert. Because it’s also an activity book, it’s full of instructions on how to learn and interact with children on these topics through play. The beautifully illustrated Different Differenter introduces children-pictured with different skin colors, body types, and physical abilities-to terms like melanin and genes, as well as cultural differences among families and family traditions. Different Differente r by Jyoti Gupta goes a step further, addressing a topic that, it turns out, is critical for kids to grasp before taking on racism: colorism. (Just keep in mind that kids develop at different rates, so all age recommendations should be taken with a grain of salt.) And please share your own best ideas in the comments below.įew books are able to eloquently tackle the subject of race for kids while also offering something for adults. We also have guides to gifts for tweens and teens. If you’re looking for more kids gift ideas, check out our guides to the best gifts for 1-year-olds, 2-year-olds, 3-year-olds, 4-year-olds, 5-year-olds, 6-year-olds, 7-year-olds, 9-year-olds, and 10-year-olds, as well as wonderful stocking stuffers for kids. We relied on input from experts and members of our staff to find all kinds of gifts that are likely to engage and delight the 8-year-old in your life. Art supplies, craft kits, and creative games can also be a key part of the mix at this age (many educational researchers have noted the importance of expanding STEM to STEAM, to include an emphasis on art, design, and humanities). Many engineering toys are recommended for kids age 8 and older specifically because they have the dexterity to manipulate small pieces, the logic and reasoning skills to follow instructions, and the ability to focus on tasks for longer periods of time. “So you want to capture their imagination.” (The research group reviews numerous engineering toys, kits, and games for its annual gift guide.) Opportunity plays a role here: Age 8 could mark the time of the “first spark,” when kids see and understand that it’s possible for them to become scientists or engineers, Moore said. Kids who end up pursuing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers may start developing those interests by age 8, said Tamara Moore, a professor of engineering education at Purdue University and the executive director of Inspire, a research institute in the university’s School of Engineering Education. A lot of 8-year-olds are playing team sports, getting involved in other clubs or hobbies, and tackling increasingly challenging projects on their own. At age 8, many kids are ready to level up to more-advanced toys and activities.
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