Everything in its Place!: Library Books & Tips

image by flickr user wallyg

I'm sure you clever blogger types all do this already but going to the library each week is an awesome thing to do with kids. Our little routine goes as follows. We go to the library where I first pick all the magazines I wont subscribe to but want to read, then I drag my kid along the aisles of "mom books" that is, all books not in the kid area. Not only does this teach Daniel self-control because I make him whisper, but it also helps him learn to be patient and wait his turn. As a reading teacher I learned that when teaching good habits, the best tool is modeling. My son knows that reading all sorts of things is a very important part of my life. We then go to the kids section where he has to pick at least 5 new books and then he gets to play computer games while I read my magazines, which these days with a baby is hard to do since all the little girls want to touch and look at my baby. Afterwards we get lunch, usually McDonald's (I justify it by assuming that by association and subconsciously it will create good feelings about books) then, we go to the park and have our lunch on the picnic table and Daniel plays. We try to do this weekly and he loves it.

A good organization tip is to designate a library tote bag. Right now you can get one for $2.50 in the dollar section at target. At home we leave all the books in there so we don't loose them and at the library we use it to carry all the books around.

some of last weeks picks:
Bunny Williams' An Affair with a house. I will do a post later about something really great I read in there. Lovely book, and it has recipes, because really ,living well is about so much more than just decorating your home.

Dr. Seuss' The Lorax. If you haven't read this with your children DO IT! GET IT NOW! I'd been putting off reading the last of Dr. Seuss books, the ones that deal so beautifully with real issues, The Butter Battle Book and The Sneetches and all the rest..but I thought Daniel was ready. Anyway, my son seriously wanted to talk about this book for like an hour after we read it. He kept asking questions and finally said I get it mom, I get it. It was so AWESOME. This is why I read, why I want him to read and why I was a teacher.

Finally, Raising Boys by Steve Biddulph. Ive read this once before but it's such an easy read and really such an important book that I decided my husband and i needed to re-read this together. This book is a must read for those who have to deal with boys in any capacity.