Mending and Respecting Books

Aidan has always had a shelf full of his own books that he can access himself, even when he was a mobile baby.  It wasn't just a way to introduce language to him, but how to respect books as well.  I've helped his hands turn the pages gently.  I've showed him how to put books back on the shelf to keep the pages and the cover protected.  I wanted to teach him early on how to care for something he enjoyed so it would last a long time.

We did what a lot of parents do; use sturdier board and cloth books during the baby and toddler years, then switch in more hard cover and paper back books as he got older.  Aidan takes care of his books very well, but he still had accidents; trying to shove a book on the shelf in a hurry and bending back pages in the process, or tearing a page as he turns it.  He realized what the natural consequences were when this happened, so I help him fix the pages.  He knows where the book mending supplies are, they are his books, therefore his responsibility.

Well used books need help too sometimes, especially childcare center books.  Many more eager hands pass over those pages.  Keeping the needed supplies all in once place so any child can take on the responsibility of helping to mend a book, is just another way of teaching children respect for them.   
   

A list of suggested supplies...

• Scotch tape (For basic tears)
• Erasers (For pencil markings)
• White out (For any markings that cannot be erased)
• Clear Contact paper (For larger tears and torn bindings)
• Scissors (To cut off excess contact paper)
• Bookmarks (To deter page folding)

Use any box you may have handy, label it, and let your children know where it will be kept so they are involved in the fixing process.  

Do you have any other supplies you would add to a book mending kit?  Please share!

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