Gifts for a bright boy who can't read?

[Methenyouplus4]

Our 7 year old DS is smart as a whip but still can't read (dyslexia assessment pending). Trying to think of gifts he can play with himself that don't require the ability to read. He has bike, scooter etc, it's more things for before bed/ lazy afternoon where normally you might pick up a book.

In the past he has had:

1. Lego (loads from older sibling)
2. Electric Circuits
3. Board games (is incredible at them, happily plays ones aged 14+ as long as no writing)

So far this year I have thought of:

1. A good maze book
2. Find it type books (Where's Wally, I Spy etc)
3. The 'Journey' trilogy by Aaron Becker (story with no words, he already has one called 'The Arrival' which is similar). Be grateful for any other recommendations of books like this.
4. Find it toy (shaker where you have to find tiny pieces hidden in beads).

Any other ideas gratefully received. I did think about some sort of device to listen to audio books on?

Is he interested in arts and crafts or drawing at all? We got dd a desktop easel similar to this in lidl and swopped out the paints and brushes for age appropriate materials. Keeps things tidy but has been used for sketching on her lap in bed on occasion. She also loves step-by-step drawing 📚

Are puzzle books like sudoku an option? Sorry, I’ve no idea if dyslexia would preclude this.

Audio books?
Rubix cube?
Something like the parking challenge game (spatial awareness type thing) - have you looked on the Smart Games website? On phone and can’t link, sorry.

‘How To Draw...’ books
Klutz Star Wars thumb doodles www.brightminds.co.uk/collections/kids-art/products/klutz-star-wars-thumb-doodles
Scra-Fitti ttps://www.crafts4kids.co.uk/crafts-for-kids/foil-and-scratch-art/alex-toys-scra-fitti-so-cool
Djeco foil art robots www.crafts4kids.co.uk/crafts-for-kids/foil-and-scratch-art/djeco-foil-art-robots
Jigsaw puzzle -
Rush Hour game www.argos.co.uk/product/8506771
Chemistry set
ThinkFun Gravity Maze marble run www.amazon.co.uk/ThinkFun-Gravity-Marble-Logic-Girls/dp/B00IUAAK2A?tag=mumsnetforu03-21
Electronics set www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-partners-electronics-set/p231303519

Electronic chess set where he can play against the computer?

If he enjoys building things, how about the Fischertechnik sets as a change from lego?

BrightMinds is a good online store for ideas.

I've got my 7yr old a 3/4 sized acoustic guitar! He's delighted 😁

The Teifoc building sets are great for a rainy afternoon. They are real(but miniature) bricks and cement. With the sets the instructions are pictures rather than written, My 8 year old loves his set and we will probably get him another. @

www.amazon.co.uk/Teifoc-55-Blocks-Castle-Colour/dp/B06XK753DN/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=teifoc&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1571839808&sr=8-3

Lego, it's still nice to open up a new box of your own. Esp if he says there is something he actually wants.

I have a nearly 6 year old who's similar (too young for diagnosis but signs and family history point that way).

It's not possible to have too much Lego! What about Technic Lego, given his age?

DS gets a lot of mileage from story cubes - try Rory's story cubes, or this brand www.amazon.co.uk/Space-Travel-Dice/dp/1856699498/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_3/258-1166393-5942413?psc=1&pf_rd_p=31fcc995-2418-43ae-a37c-f1ef453a46b3&_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_wg=kSERi&pf_rd_r=NTP7KRMD8X989HGFZ3MY&pd_rd_i=1856699498&pd_rd_w=KW5RR&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&refRID=NTP7KRMD8X989HGFZ3MY&pd_rd_r=b93fe48b-7c26-45f6-a32d-7f4a8071ed5f. Doesn't require reading skills to spin a good yarn.

Art and craft supplies?

Audio books? Or a well-illustrated factual book on a topic of interest which an adult can narrate for him (the DK Eye Witness series - not the travel ones, the children's books on Dinosaurs, Volcanoes, Reptiles etc - is good). DS can't read but he loves and is surrounded by books.

Does he like maths or shape or pattern puzzles?

A camera? Gives a way of expressing his ideas and creativity without written words.

Intellimass slime

Marble run? I have a Hape one (it's MINE I tell you MINE) and DS who doesn't yet read for pleasure loves it.

Audio books of Me Gum.

There's an excellent and very advanced strategy board game which doesn't involve reading called Latice which he might love. I can only see it being sold on eBay at the moment though, although the company's new version (Latice Hawaii) is available on Amazon.

This is excellent, I had it as a child and DC love it https://www.amazon.co.uk/22266-Happy-6-pack-cardboard-Puzzle-difficulty/dp/B0013JFYZ8/ref=mpssa112?keywords=happy+cubes&qid=1571853883&sprefix=happy+cubes&sr=8-2

Does he have a good atlas? An illustrated atlas might be fun.

There is a beautiful but very simple game called Tsuro that might fit the bill too, it's not for one player though so isn't something he can be doing by himself.

My DS is dyslexic too, he loved Hot Wires, you have to follow instructions but they’re visual so no need to read anything. He also loves audio books.

My DS has just had Gravitrax for his 6th birthday and is really enjoying it.

My DS loves these

www.johnlewis.com/magformers-standard-30-piece-construction-set/p3315018?sku=237079190&s_kwcid=2dx92700047021114038&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gclsrc=aw.ds&&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjc6llYiz5QIVEkTTCh0GtgxOEAQYAiABEgKUPvD_BwE

My brother was dyslexic and similarly super bright, your DS will get there. One thing my mum was great at was just getting him to read anything he wanted, didn’t care if a carton/corn flake box, he was reading awesome (not just books).

Ooh, Rush Hour too.

I was coming on to say Gravitrax too. I have the opposite problem - 7 yo with ASD who can read (I.e. decode words) really well but has no comprehension of the overall meaning, so effectively can only read books where he already understands the simple story.

He loves the Gravitrax, and it’s very visual /tactile but also good for developing his own design /problem solving skills. And expandable, so we can get extra bits for Christmas to build on the set he got for his birthday.

I'll pop back on and respond fully, but just wanted to say a massive thank you. Some of these we already have but lots of great things I've not come across.

Feeling all warm and excited with Christmas cheer now.[santa]

How about a microscope and preloaded slides? I'm buying it for my soon to be 7 yo DD this Christmas, think she'll be fascinated!

@Methenyouplus4 re other wordless picture books, there's Flotsam by David Weisner- great story but also really good for developing inference.

Audio books.

Science experiments (age appropriate of course)

Art easel and paints, etc

Sketch book and pencils

'How to draw' books and colouring pencils

Something like the Roald Dahl audiobook collections surely!

Electronic keyboard with visual guide - casio.

Dress up costumes.

Puppet theatre.

Children with dyslexia and associated learning difficulties often find it easy to become adept at the arts and science.