How Many Books Do You Have Out?

My older daughter has a book shelf (age 6), but for my 3 year old we have plastic bins in her room for her books (different sizes for different sized books). She likes to have LOTS of books out at once, so we made the rule that she can have one bin of books out at a time, and she may not take out any more books until that bin is put back. So far, that has worked great... it's a simple, easy to understand rule, and she still gets to look at lots of books.

I'm probably not the best person to give advice because I have a book addiction and we literally have hundreds of books in our house!! Next to the chair I'm sitting in right now there are probably 75 books. Most of them are mine and most of them are just stacked on the bottom shelf of thecside table!!

Most of my kids' books are in baskets or small crates. I often pick up cute, little baskets and boxes in the dollar section at Target. It makes it easier forthe kids to pick up books or for me to pick up a stack of books and place them in a basket.

As far as getting rid of kids' books....I just can't seem to do it!!but, within the next year I am hoping to sort through all of our books and get rid of some of the baby books. If you have gently used books that you decide to get rid of, think about donating them to an organization that gives books to underprivileged kids--Kiwanis, a local preschool or elementary school, a local church, or other organization. I know they would greatly appreciate it!!

We have three very large bookcases (4-5 shelves each) filled with children's books...they take up almost an entire wall in our daughters' bedroom. (We have a six year old and a 17 month old.) They have been there and available since the birth of our first child (although the collection has grown...but a ton of them I had from when I was a child.)

When the stack beside the six year old's bed becomes tottery...I just made up a word, apparently...I have her put them away and pick new ones for night. My 17 month old has a basket of books in the living room (board books, lift the flap books, etc) but she regularly goes into their room, picks out a few books, and stands there "reading" them (i.e. she's in a room by herself, shouting at books...and it's so cute!!!!!)

Books overrun our house sometimes, but I just stack them up at night and put them away while I'm making beds and doing morning chores.

My kids are much older so my answer wouldn't help you much. But something you might consider is using baskets instead of shelves for your daughter to put her books in. They are easier for little ones to stick books in and not have to fight the shelf or other books falling over. I used to keep a book basket next to the chair in the nursery so I could read bedtime stories in the chair. Same in the family room.
hth

Use the "home library" system. Have her check out books from your bookshelf. If she wants a new one, she has to put back the one she has out.

Oh goodness, I have way too many books. I love books. I love to read and I love my kids to read and I love to read to my kids and it's a vicious cycle! ;) I know I have too many and it's rare when my kids ask for a book that I don't buy it, toys and candy are a different story, but I always buy books! I'm a sucker, don't even give me one of those Scholastic book orders!

About a year ago I finally had to weed out some books. My daughter is 4 and my son is 2 and I was forever keeping books that "someday" my son would read, but I had to let the dream go. Of course the classics and super favorites I keep and will probably keep a lot of them even as my kids grow up, but I had to start donating, because they keep coming in.

As far as keeping them organized, each kid has a shelf (my daughter has 2) in their rooms and we have two other designated book areas in the house. Books must be picked up and stored in one of these locations. Sometimes they get strewn about from general use, but we just pick them up when we pick up toys, etc.

I do know someone who groups her books by season and just rotates them every few months. That works for her, although I'm not that organized. Do what you have to do, but at least you're fostering a love for reading, right!? :)

I'm a book lover with literally hundreds of books in my home. As far as books and kids they can have out as many as they're using, just as with toys. I think I treat books as if they're toys. Books have to be picked up just like toys have to be picked up. On the same schedule and with the same consequences.

I'm easy going and don't mind toys or books out, on the floor or on the furniture as long as there are just a few. I'm a grandma without a routine for picking up toys. Often I let the kids play until it's time to leave because I don't mind picking up after them. They have a limited amount of toys here.

They do have loads of books but usually only take out a couple or so at a time. I don't weed out books because I have a 6 mos old granddaughter who will eventually use them. I do try to put books that the older kids have outgrown into a box and out of the way.

I am a book lover. I bought books that I wanted my "future" children to have before I ever even started having kids. When I found out I was pregnant I immediately started buying the chunky board book versions of kid books I adored. I read to my babies when they were still fetus's = )
I have books in nearly every room of the house, when they were little and I was still working on getting them to learn to pick up we would have big baskets and even the plastic milk crates that I would use to hold books. My now 4 year old is just now learning how to keep books on a shelf and we have talked from a very young age about how we treat books.
I think it is an individual decision and very much all that you are comfortable with.

Both kids have a small book case in their rooms (7 year old boy, 4 year old girl). Each night before bed they are both expected to pick up their rooms and put the books back on their shelves. I have cleaned out the shelves before when they've outgrown the books. My oldest gives books to my youngest. They also borrow from eachother occasionally.

I like the idea of a bin or box to put the books in easier. I always end up helping my 4 year old shelf the books since it's tricky for her.

She should have a bookshelf for her books (maybe a basket for board books), and when she is done reading books, they should get put back on the shelf. Or, if that is too hard for her, you should have a tub for her to put books in when she is done with them, and each night at bedtime you two can play "library" and reshelve them.

My son had a bookshelf in his room at that age. Now that he's 10- he has nothing in his room- no toys no books- because we are blessed to have enough space to relocate his stuff. I wish I had been able to do that earlier in life. Try to keep the bedroom for sleeping as much as possible especially when they are young. If they are not picked up- remove them to your basement.