I found a great educational toy that gives learning to read a head start. E-ru-di-tion is a board game that focuses on the sight words, the primary words children need to recognize fast in order to learn to read fluently. It comes with a board and four sets of cards and can be played at different levels of ability for children between 4 and 7; 284 words and letters of the alphabet with combinations to entertain the different age groups and if you change the rules slightly it can also be fun for grown-ups. It follows the basic rule of learning through play that children respond so well to and parents also love.