May 1st, 2009 Rotating books play activity-really? Posted by Melitsa in Education, play activities, Thought of the week

We know we should  but do you rotate your children’s books?

We have a lot of books in the house. To keep them remaining special and exciting we box them up in put them out of sight. We do the same with the audio books and stories. Every 6 weeks to a month when I remember I get out the box.

The boys developed a system. I told them these new books need to come out and onto the shelf and those books on the shelf need to come into the box. Why? Why not tell them what to do.

Problem solving and cooperation are play skills too. How they get to the end…books on the shelf is upto them. They get more efficient each time. Watching them handling relationships, ordering the books on the shelf ( They will fall over ) overcoming frustration all for a purpose.

They realised the point of spine pointing out themselves. The MO pointed out that all the big books should go on the bottom because of more space ( Good thinking) It didn’t work out that way as he got distracted but the thought was there.

Naturally, they get all excited about the ‘new’ books. They stop to thumb through and set out books for me to read. There’s an excitement about the ‘new’ books again. The great thing is those ‘old’ books the ones in the box… the same thing will happen to those in a few months time.

Young children need to problem solve, negotiate, sort for a purpose just like they need to fine tune their language and motor skills. The independence of learning what looks right, ownership of the books, keeping them well all begins to matter as they manipulate their books.

Find some boxes. Sit by your bookshelf and give it a try. Even the very young get in on the act.

This is not a quiet activity or an easy activity as it involves making mistakes, trying new ideas when your first idea failed, negotiating with a sibling.  All actions that we have learned lead to tears, anger and frustration. The great thing is over time this activity is easier. They are learning. We are learning.

We’ve tried failed schemes like books in a pile like a pyramid but when the all fell off the shelf trying to recover the one in the middle there was a complete shelf redesign. Both boys were proud to have ‘fixed’ the problem.

We don’t have perfect bookshelves, look at the picture! Yes I find the MO will skate with the hardback books all day if he could. There are books in heaps everywhere but when they clean up the books usually make it back- without me doing it.

Do you rotate your books? How do you do it ? You or them? Share your ideas

Melitsa Avila is a former teacher, mother of three boys and military wife who talks about living an intentional play lifestyle using practical and everyday play activities to do with the under 5s. She publishes related ebooks & newsletters. Melitsa is the host and producer of a weekly Early Childhood radio show: Raising Playful Tots bringing parents and carers together with Early childhood practitioners. Thanks for reading!

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