Q: I'd like to find some educational, yet enjoyable, non-techie gifts for kids on my list, as I'm sure their parents will get them "Star Wars" and video game-type stuff. The kids range in age from 1 to 12. Are books still cool? Do you have any suggestions?

A: Books are still cool, and essential. In the age of tablets, kids still love to own "real" books. And they benefit academically by growing up in what educators call a "print rich" environment. This boosts kids' love of reading, develops their curiosity and encourages family sharing and discussion.

A 2014 study published in Oxford's Social Forces journal researched families in 42 nations and found that having a growing home library has a strong positive influence on a child's academic success. So continue stuffing those stockings with good reading.

Just remember these rules of thumb when selecting books, suggests Carl Harvey, an elementary school librarian in Noblesville, Indiana.

For the very young, consider board books, pop-up books and picture books. Choose books that promote "cuddle time" and introduce kids to the rhythms and sounds of language as parents read them. Some board books feature sound or textured pages, adding to the reading experience.

For early readers, consider picture books with universal themes or those that promote early learning skills, such as the alphabet or number concepts. Look for books with colorful illustrations and text that repeats or rhymes and tells a story that explores a childhood theme, such as Eric Carle's "The Very Hungry Caterpillar." There are many "best picture books" lists, and most bookstores have a large selection to browse before you buy.

As children become proficient readers, they start to appreciate favorite authors and themes, so ask a parent or a teacher about the kids' fiction preferences. Better yet, says Harvey, give the children gift cards and let them choose their leisure reading.

Nonfiction books are always a good bet. They can boost a child's growing interest in a topic. A doodler might enjoy "Go: A Kidd's Guide To Graphic Design" (Workman, 2013). A "Star Wars" fan might like "Space: A Visual Encyclopedia" (DK Children, 2010). A young chef might love "Cooking Class: 57 Fun Recipes Kids Will Love to Make (and Eat!)" (Storey Publishing, 2015). A budding marine biologist will appreciate "Ocean: A Photicular Book" (Workman, 2014).

Kids' almanacs -- from National Geographic and Scholastic to the Farmers Almanac for Kids -- are packed with "weird but true" facts the whole family can enjoy.

Children's poetry collections are fun for the whole family as well. There are hundreds to choose from, ranging from "The Random House Book of Poetry for Children," illustrated by Arnold Lobel (Random House, 1983), to those organized around themes, such as "National Geographic Book of Nature Poetry" (National Geographic Children's Books, 2015), and "Amazing Places" (Lee and Low Books, 2015), featuring poems about America's great treasures.

Workman Publishing, Klutz and DK offer a rich range of "fun between two covers" for kids, says Rachelle Levy, a Florida educator. "These rainy-day books spur curiosity, discovery and laughter. You'll find books of games, puzzles, mazes and riddles; kits that introduce hobbies; books that take kids places, teach storytelling or card games.

"Half the fun in giving is shopping for them."

(Do you have a question about your child's education? Email it to Leanna@aplusadvice.com. Leanna Landsmann is an education writer who began her career as a classroom teacher. She has served on education commissions, visited classrooms in 49 states to observe best practices, and founded Principal for a Day in New York City.)

Q: We're sticking close to home during holiday break. What family activities can we plan to keep my elementary-age kids and their cousins constructively and inexpensively occupied, i.e., off the couch and out of malls?

A: Great idea, Mom. Family time is something your kids probably won't put on their Christmas lists, but research shows that "one thing kids -- even teens -- really want is more time with parents," says youth counselor Marissa Gehley, the founder of California-based consulting group KNOW (Kids Need Our Wisdom).

With that in mind, try these memory-making activities with your family:

-- Celebrate traditions. Do you have traditions that you want your kids to pass on to future generations? If so, take pictures and post them to a photo-sharing service; you can also create a holiday handbook, video, blog or scrapbook. Include recipes, songs, games, readings and other things that make your holidays special. As the kids get older, they won't put out cookies for Santa, but they can still enjoy the magic of holidays past.

-- Archive family stories. Add to the family tree with memories, anecdotes and photos from grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles. Websites such as StoryWorth.com make it easy for everyone to contribute to the archive.

"The immigration debate caused my young sons to ask why people want to build a wall with Mexico, so over Thanksgiving we talked about our own family's immigrant history," says Houston mother Luisa Sanchez. "We started to record my parents' and grandparents' recollections and preserve their photos. We described their accomplishments. The kids loved it. It helped them understand their heritage as citizens in a country created by immigrants."

-- Do for others. When families volunteer together, children learn the intrinsic value of giving. "More than ever, it's important for families to reach out and care for their communities," says Shirley Harden, a retired educator who volunteers with her grandchildren.

Four guidelines can enrich this experience, says Harden.

For starters, "find volunteer opportunities kids can relate to," she explains. "While you may want to sing for seniors, kids may find it more rewarding to collect blankets and food for an animal shelter."

Second, make sure children are welcome and can do the work.

"Don't show up at a busy soup kitchen with kids in tow unless you've checked ahead of time," Harden says.

Third, discuss in advance what you'll be doing and how your work will help others.

Fourth, "talk about the experience when you get home to give children a chance to reflect on why their efforts mattered," says Harden.

To find appropriate places to volunteer or organizations in need of volunteers, call your local United Way or social services agency. You can also contact churches, synagogues or mosques.

-- Plan a family field trip. Take advantage of early bird or after-5 p.m. prices at local museums, zoos and science centers, suggests Harden.

"With lower gas prices, drive around local neighborhoods to enjoy the holiday decorations," she says. "Top it off with pizza at a local eatery. Make a point to share observations when you get home. This type of family talk deepens channels of communication you'll want to keep open as your children grow older."

(Do you have a question about your child's education? Email it to Leanna@aplusadvice.com. Leanna Landsmann is an education writer who began her career as a classroom teacher. She has served on education commissions, visited classrooms in 49 states to observe best practices, and founded Principal for a Day in New York City.)

Q: Our kids love their teachers and want to buy Christmas gifts for them, but our district discourages it. Doesn't that stifle the generosity we're trying to instill in our kids? What is the appropriate thing to do?

A: Few topics spark more lively discussions at PTO meetings than whether or not to give a teacher a gift for the holidays. Some districts and states attempt to answer it with policies banning or restricting gifts to teachers.

But when kids love their teachers and parents wish to show appreciation, a "no gifts" policy is unenforceable. Kennewick, Washington, educator Brenda Mehlenbacher learned this when she was an elementary school principal. In consultation with her staff, she sent letters home two years in a row, "thanking parents for their loving generosity, but asking them to contribute to a charity in their teacher's name rather than send a gift. They contributed to the charity and brought gifts anyway."

Mehlenbacher adds, "We realized that bringing gifts to teachers was important to the kids, and it was futile to try to stop it."

Instead, she explains, they put the focus on "simple gifts from the heart" and discouraged anything expensive. They told parents that gifts are not expected and that a "card a child made or a note of appreciation is one of the best gifts of all."

To reinforce the spirit of the season, Mehlenbacher started a "Giving Tree" tradition. The school counselor writes items she knows that children in less-fortunate families need on paper ornaments. Children who wish to participate choose an ornament, buy the gift and place it under the tree.

"No one knows who participated," Mehlenbacher says. "Something like this is a good way to promote the message that Christmas is about love, not shopping."

One Maryland mother, Janelle Perkins, channeled kids' desire to give into service opportunities that pay tribute to teachers and help others.

"Maryland schools require community service, so we volunteer time for local charities in teachers' names," she says. "It's a nice way to bring families together. We create a card for the teacher with the message that the Perkins family will volunteer four hours collecting goods for Open Cupboard, for example, in her honor."

If your kids want to give a more traditional item, keep these guidelines in mind, say teachers:

-- No food; you don't know who has allergies or other food restrictions.

-- Nothing personal, such as perfumes, soaps or clothing.

-- Forget the mugs "and all things with an apple," says Jenny Foster, a Texas elementary teacher who has "more apple paperweights than I'll ever use!"

The most useful gifts, say teachers, are certificates to stores where the recipient may purchase something for the classroom.

If you have time, consider coordinating a class gift with other parents, suggests Sharon Paul, a Massachusetts mom who has been a classroom teacher.

"It removes the pressure of everyone feeling like they have to do something big," she says. "If people chip in a few dollars -- and everyone can give what they wish -- you can give a great gift certificate from the entire group."

(Do you have a question about your child's education? Email it to Leanna@aplusadvice.com. Leanna Landsmann is an education writer who began her career as a classroom teacher. She has served on education commissions, visited classrooms in 49 states to observe best practices, and founded Principal for a Day in New York City.)