Name: Great Homeschool Conventions (Columbus)
Start: 2025-04-24T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-04-26T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Columbus, OH

This topic has 4 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 14 years ago by Sara B..

Viewing 5 posts - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)

Author
Posts
February 15, 2011 at 10:35 pm
MamaE
Member
How do you teach respect for books to toddlers. So many great, wonderful books around here are being ruined behind my back!
February 16, 2011 at 12:00 am
RobinP
Participant
For toddlers, I’d put the good ones out of their reach. Then get some board books and have lessons. Show them how to turn pages (from the top right, not flipping across the middle or turning from the bottom middle.) Then work up with a junk paperback and let them practice. Whenever you or an older child has a book, teach by example and make a big deal about how special books are and how we need to care for them. Let them see you doing that. One of my library patrons has done a wonderful job of teaching her 2yo how to care for all books, but especially “Mrs. Pack’s books.” She knows they receive extra-special care!
February 16, 2011 at 1:42 am
LindseyD
Participant
I think Robin hit the nail on the head!
Another thing I might do is show your toddler one of the books he has torn or ruined. Tell him how sad it is that such a nice book was torn because it can no longer be read or because it looks ugly or whatever. Tell him we have to take care of our books to keep them nice.
When my kids were smaller, I would (in a half-disappointed voice) say something like, “Oh dear! Look at how you tore this page. How sad! We won’t be able to read this book anymore.” I would usually be met with big, teary eyes and a quivering bottom lip. A few times of that disappointment was all it took for them to begin taking better care of our things.
Blessings,
Lindsey
February 16, 2011 at 4:33 am
MamaE
Member
Thanks for the tips! She’s definitely getting a little better… But I’m having problems all the way around with them pulling out books and leaving them on the floor.

I have to admit, I’ve never been a book “lover”. So, I don’t hold them to as high of regard as I should and want them to do. So, there is room for improvement there.
February 16, 2011 at 11:56 pm
Sara B.
Participant
Oh, my children are wretched with this, and I am an avid book lover! I am finally learning (with #4) that NO books except those that absolutely cannot be torn (I am thinking of those “plastic” or “vinyl” or cloth types) can be in his room. Even board books can be torn apart, as my 4 children have done as toddlers/preschoolers. I keep all other books on careful guard. This is facilitated by keeping Mr. Trouble with me at all times, or at least within earshot, or with one of my older daughters who can see what he is doing. We have very few tearing incidents with these rules in place and kept up with.
HTH,
Sara 🙂