For kids, imagination is a skill that needs practice every day. "Play is children’s important work," says Highlights Editor-in-Chief Christine Cully. "Creative play is essential to children’s social and cognitive development, and toys can offer great opportunities to encourage it."

In honor of National Young Readers Week, taking place November 7-13, Highlights magazine has provided five techniques to encourage adults to read to children and share their own reading experiences with their kids. Adults can use these simple tactics to engage children in stories and plant the seed for life-long enjoyment of language.

In our annual State of the Kid survey, we give kids a national platform to share their thoughts. The past two years, we asked kids many questions about themselves and their preferences, worries, and aspirations. This year, the issues we asked them to comment on—bullying, their parents’ worries, and gender roles—speak to how they view and interact with others. Our hope is that adding kids’ voices to the conversation about these topics will enrich and deepen the dialogue and help those who work to make children’s lives better.

This June, Highlights magazine, which has delighted generations of children and their families with features like Hidden Pictures and Goofus and Gallant, celebrates 65 years of bringing children “Fun with a Purpose.” The magazine is noting its anniversary by awarding its first Smiling H Awards to eight contributors who have forwarded the magazine’s mission to help kids become their best selves -- curious, confident, creative and caring.