Taking Kids to the Library

When I was younger I honestly don’t remember going to the city Library. I remember going to the school library and learning about the Dewy Decimal System, and I remember one project in junior high that took me to the library so I could work on a group project {that was a horrible experience and gave me anxiety about working in groups from that point on}

My parents probably took me to the library, I just don’t remember….

Having my own kids though, I want the library to be an active part of their childhood. So we are there a lot.

Before I give some tips for going to the library here are a couple funny stories…

Tommy wanted to know how to make fire… after he was told no to both a lighter and matches he thought of the next best thing… books… The next time we went to the library he got on the computer and looked up a book on how to make fire.  Checked it out and brought it home. I saw him reading it and really didn’t think anything of it, until I saw him outside rubbing a couple sticks together! He was outside working hard to make fire. {he never did… and he still never got the matches}

When Tim was about 2 {I only had the 3 boys at the time} we went to the library, kids were getting tired and hungry, so we were getting thing ready to go. I gathered up our books and boys and was ready to go. Tim wanted to walk so I put him down. He went running through the library screaming and giggling the whole way. He grabbed a random book that was on a table and then proceeded to throw it at the nice lady at the check out counter. She held up the book and asked if I wanted to check it out I sad no…. The book was “How to Raise a Toddler”….

So here are some tips when taking kids to the library…

*Get to know the staff! – The librarians that work in the children’s section are there {generally} because they love kids. They are so helpful and as long as it is kept in check don’t mind the noise {with in reason}.

*Teach kids to use the computers to look up books!  - As soon as we made the library a weekly thing I taught the boys to use the computer to look up books. We all gathered around the computer I showed them what to type in, and to make sure it’s at the library that we are at, and to check to see if is available. Then to write down the name of the book, and the call number or last name. Then we went to look for the book. I showed them the sections of the library and how to find the book with the call numbers, or author’s last name. It took awhile for the boys to get it, but now they can all look up their own books and know how to get them. If you are unsure how to do this ask a librarian, they will be more than happy to help you.

*Teach the kids to where to put unwanted books. – Nothing is more annoying than looking for a book that is available and not being able to find it. If you don’t know how to reshelf a book, don’t. Most of the time libraries {especially the children’s area} will have a place to put the unwanted books. Sometimes it’s a bin at the end of a shelf, sometimes it’s on a table, or even baskets placed around the library to put a book that was pulled off a shelf but not checked out. Teach your children to put the books there so they can be reshelved properly.

*Keep small ones in a stroller – {hear me out…} If you have one or even 2 kids a stroller may not be necessary. If you are just going for story time and leaving you may not need it. However if you are going to be awhile it’s easier to keep a small one with grabby hands in a stroller, that way you can hand them books to look at and not worry about a little one empting an entire shelf onto the floor. {ask me how I know…} We will go to the library, everyone will get what they need and then I’ll let the toddler out of the stroller for the last 10 minutes before we check out where I can just watch him. The others don’t need me so I’m not trying to do two things at once. And the more that you go the better it gets. About 2.5 they are well behaved enough so they no longer need the stroller… we are there enough so they learn the rules fast.  I no longer have to worry about my 4 year old pulling all the books off the shelf, it just comes with time and exposure.

*Be open minded! – You may not think that your 7 year old is going to want to read a certain book because it’s way above their reading level… but you won’t ever know unless you let them. We have had books checked out from the adult section about building construction,  George Washington, Snakes, and Anatomy. For me there really is little that is off limits, and that is due to content {because of their ages}, not because I don’t think that they can read the book. … remember the book on how to build a fire…. That was not found in the children’s section…. The library is a great place to find new interests, maybe your child just looks at the pictures, or maybe they read it and find a new passion and need something deeper than what the children’s section can offer. {with that though, remind them of the library rules as they are in the teen or adult section… a lot less noise is appreciated}

*Take advantage of what the library has to offer. – There are some awesome programs that the library offers! Things for children and adults. It goes WAY beyond just story time!

*Just GO!!! – I really can’t say that enough. If you want your children to love the library, you have to make it a habit. You have to take them. Maybe it starts out with story time only and then you go home, then maybe you work up to actually checking out books but are there only long enough to get the books and check out…. But if you don’t take your kids they won’t know how to behave in a library, even the little ones will learn with time but they have to be there.

I love the library! My children have learned so many great things from being within the walls of so many books.  And I have too. I enjoy the times that I can go by myself and really look at all the books. But I also love bring the kids and seeing the books that spark their interests, some days it pretty predictable in what they will pick, other days… not so much and they are able to find a gem and start a new series, or great new pictures of something.

I love the wonder within the walls that libraries open up.

What tips do you have when you take your kids to the library?? Please share in the comments.

photo credit: Enokson via photopin cc

Cleaning Up Accidents

Oh the joys of potty training. Just when you think “Yeah!! They’ve got it!!” they surprise you and have an accident. {or 2.... or 5} {have you read my post on Potty Training?}

Here is something that I have found that works really well for cleaning up pee.

So far this has worked everywhere we have had an accident. As soon as you notice it try to blot up as much as you can. {I have found that hemp cloth diaper inserts work GREAT for this!! They absorb so much of the initial pee if you can get to it soon enough}

Any of the excess that you can get out is a good thing.

Then get Baking Soda. Just regular Baking Soda {we usually get it in bulk} and put it on the wet spot.

You don’t want a pile of it sitting on top of the wet spot, but more than a gentle sprinkle.

Then wait.

The wetter it is the longer the wait.

The baking soda will absorb the pee….. AND THE SMELL!!

When the baking soda is dry {you’ll notice that it’s kind of crusty} vacuum it up. If there is still areas that are still wet, just apply more baking soda to the area and do it again.

I have done this to beds, couches, floors, chairs, and rugs. And honestly once it’s all vacuumed there is no smell of pee.

It does take time for the baking soda to dry… and you do have to keep little hands out of it. The oh so tempting area of white looking sand….


What do you do to clean up accidents that happen at your house?

Kids and Bad Days

I wasn't looking forward to this.... the bad day.....

It really can come at almost any time.

I think I have narrowed down the three types of bad days.... the ones that you bring on yourself, the ones that happen to you, and the ones that involve someone else.

1- The ones that are brought on yourself are ones that include misbehavior, and well.... stupidity.

We have had a couple of these. There was talking in class. It kills my kids.... they are talkers! {they are their mother's child...} They are learning. But we have had bad days because of things that they have done. So far nothing to bad other than normal little kid stuff but I still like to try to end it quickly. We have talked about being respectful to teachers, and listening to others that are in charge. We have talked about attitude and how to not rub people the wrong way, and about proper tone in a voice when talking to people who are in charge. A reminder that chairs are for sitting and not for jumping off of, and running down the hall yelling "The muggles are coming" is not appropriate. So far things have been small and only a little reprimanding has been needed. I hope that is as far as it goes.

2-Then you have the one that happen to you.... You dropped your sandwich on the floor, you were running and tripped and everyone saw, you studied so hard and still didn't do well on a test.

These ones are a little harder. There really isn't anything you can change. More than just 'pay more attention.' For the boys I try to be a sounding board. There really isn't anything that needs to be fixed, they just need someone to listen to them, and be on their side. So I sit and I listen. I offer an opinion or suggestion when asked, and I usually try to follow these with a treat. On days like this I'm pretty sure a chocolate cookie will fix everything. If not I turn up the music and we have a dance party. That really is one way to get the boys to smile and laugh!

3-Then the hard one. The ones that involve someone else. With someone else being mean to your child.

So far we haven't had anything like this happen. So far the boys are making friends and loving school. But I worry for this day. I'm sure the Mama Bear in me will want to hunt the kid down that hurt my child and fix the problem. But well... So again.... I think the best thing is being there to listen. Listen and to be on your child's side. Ask them what should be done and take their lead. Give them ways to feel empowered. Let them know they are loved. {and point out people who are not directly in the family who love them.... because we all know that "my brothers are suppose to love me"} Check in often. I feel sometimes as a parent I want to fix what ever problem is going on and get past that. But I am learning that I need to step back and let the boys talk through the problem they are having and let them come up with solutions.  Sometimes when they say something I will repeat back to them what they have said and I get the look as "well that's clearly not going to work" {usually it involves a sword and some ninja skills they don't have} and then they are able to think it through again rationally. Kids need to know that no matter what they have a someone to be on their side.

Bad days are going to happen. It happens to everyone, and sadly some kids think it is the end of the world. It is our job to help them know that it's normal and that tomorrow will be a new day. We need to help them learn from the bad days and to take control to make better ones.

What are some ways you handle bad days?

Disclaimer:
Now please remember that my boys are young and do not have access to social media and right now their problems are small ones that are easy to work out. If your child is having a problem with bullies either in real life or online, go with your gut. You know what is best for your child, and while we may want to see them handle their own problems sometimes they get out of hand to quickly. Involve the police if necessary and even if it makes you and your child "uncool" never apologies for keeping your child safe!!