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?

Would he like either Roadblock or Rush Hour games?

www.amazon.co.uk/ThinkFun-Rush-Traffic-Logic-Girls/dp/B00000DMER/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=traffic+jam&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1571918214&sr=8-3

www.amazon.co.uk/Smartgames-SG-250-Road-Block/dp/B00RXR3XY8/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=road+block&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1571918405&sr=8-3

Does he like music? I got DS headphones and mp3 player for his 7th birthday and it was a huge huge hit.

Outdoor games? Swingball, badminton, roller blades or skateboard, bike accessories, cones. Kite. Glider. Boomerang. Binoculars.

Hamster?

Similar to rush hour but ‘smart games’ mystic dinosaur island is good and doesn’t need any reading.

Audible is great (dyslexic DH uses it).

Not necessarily for Christmas but has he tried the Project X phonic readers? DS has the Alien Adventures and CODE series - the latter is actually designed for struggling readers so does try to reflect the game between general maturity and ability, and reading level. They are well illustrated and have a story arc to draw the child in and kept them reading on to find out what happens next - DS finds them a bit more rewarding than Biff, Chip and bloody Kipper, and let's face it, if it's such a massive effort to try to read, you want the story and characters to be at least a bit worth it. Fair play, it's not Dahl or Cressida Cowbell (which he much prefers) but for a book DS can actually tackle, they could be a lot worse.

*Cowell, even

*gap not game. I give up!

Callisto game
32 Dice game

A Solitaire game. There are some lovely wooden ones around, and cheaper plastic alternatives.

This thread is great, I have a 7yo with suspected dyslexia (assessment booked), he can read ok by recognising whole words but struggles to break down/put together sounds and can barely write (and when he does the letters are often mirrored/upside down) but is great with maths and science. Anyway he loves Lego, electronic circuit kits, fidget type toys and I second Magformers. He also has a set of cogs that are aimed at younger kids, he's had them a couple of years now but still enjoys them (Gears Gears Gears I think it's called). He also enjoys anything thay involves making slime or "potions".

Story cubes, roll the dice and make up stories around the pictures rolled.

Geomag - the magnet toy. This kept my son amused for hours.

One of those football trainer things where you tie around the waist to learn skills. If he likes football that is

I got my 7yo a rubix cube too & connect 4

I was going to recommend the reader pen although I see pinky got there first
WE use the orange exam ones at school, the students can use them in their GCSE exams if they are eligible for a reader. The feedback has been brilliant, students have said it has given them independence, they can now fill in worksheets like their peers etc and wished they had had them when they were younger. There are several different ones, the exam one has limited functions as can't have a thesaurus or dictionary like some of the others. The user scans a sentence of text and the pen reads it back, the only Downside that I've heard of is that it is pricey and the voice is a bit robatic but perhaps that is different on other versions.

My boys used to love K'nex building sets. Audio books are good I got a child some on discs he could listen to on computer with head phones, one was The BFG. The Rush Hour game which you have to move the traffic about to get a car off the board. It is much better than it sounds and good for bright children as uses logic. Electronic chess set so he can play himself on beginner mold. Roller Coaster Tycoon game for computer as it involves lots of decision making and you can learn form experience.

Just coming on again to say big thanks, went back through the thread and now his Christmas presents are sorted.

Also great ideas/tips for books/presents/resources as he gets older too.