Blog Archives

Rotating Books - The How & Why

7/18/2022

Toy Rotations are all the rage. It’s so smart though right. Pop a few toys away, and after your little babes lose interest, bring a few out and tuck away the others. There is significant research that shows children do better with less. Not only does it decrease clutter, make clean up easier and save you money, it can foster creativity and increase the amount of time your little babe likes to play.
   So what about your books? It works with some of the same principles! We’ve all been there, you’ve told your little to grab a book off their shelf, and they stand there humming and hawing because they have too many options. Keeping a simple shelf of a few books helps eliminate the stress (and time) it takes them to make a choice. Highlighting a few key favourites at a time, increases the likeness that reading is enjoyable and less like a daunting task.
   When move books around our house, or choose some new ones from our hidden away pile, all of a sudden the stories have found new excitement. An old favourite reappears, a new story becomes a top interest pick, and excitement has been generated. The best part? You can easily see what books they are enjoying and what books they are avoiding. So get curious, what is it about certain books that steer them away? What is it about the books they love that grabs their attention? This can help you make informed choices when purchasing or borrowing books from the library. Amazing right?

   So how do you actually rotate it? Here’s a few key tips!

You can rotate your books weekly, monthly or seasonally for example. We both notice that usually around the month mark is a good time to make a couple key changes if we don’t plan to do a full book swap.
Use both forward facing book shelves or baskets in a couple different spots around the house. After some time, move the books from one room to the other. Sometimes all it takes is a new location and the books feel some more love.
Keep it simple, as we mentioned, too much choice makes it tough for little ones to confidently make a selection.
Do they always need to be a cohesive theme? Not always. Sometimes it can be helpful, but you can also choose based on a favourite author or illustrator, a season (think Halloween or Winter), a social emotional theme that has been coming up at home, when a trip or big change is happening (Hello Potty Training books!). At times I pick based on the colours of the books.

Let us know in the comments any tips or tricks you have for storing or rotating your book collection!

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5 Books to Inspire Kids to Love Nature

7/18/2022

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This month we’ve been talking about being outside. Both our families aim to spend most of our days outside playing, exploring, or just walking (biking, riding, scooting you know the usual toddler hits!) because we recognize the benefits for both their mental health and ours as stay at home moms. One place we often get inspired is #1000 hours outside. (check them out here)
Here’s a few of our favourite books that have inspired our play

My Friend Earth
A peek through book that relates the Earth to a person. It moves through the seasons with cut outs on each page that make the book engaging and entertaining for young readers. The illustrations are gorgeous. Colourful and whimsical

Kenard Pak Series (hello…Goodbye…)
We have featured these books in several of our holiday themed bundles for good reason. They are a beautiful ode to the ebb and flow of the season. The traditions and celebrations we say goodbye, while also welcoming the new traditions and celebrations that belong with a new season. The books illustrations change in colour through a very visual representation of the seasons
Tree by Britta Tekencamp
Okay, you caught us. We also love Britta’s books because they are SO much fun. Just like My Friend Earth, this peek through book.
A Walk in the Forest by Maria Dek
A Walk in the Forest is a stunning invitation to discover the woods as a place for both imaginative play and contemplation: collect pinecones, feathers, or stones; follow the tracks of a deer; or listen to the chirping of birds and the whisper of trees. Build a shelter and play hide-and-seek
The Tree In Me by Corina Luyken
Through poetic text and exquisite illustrations of children revelling in nature, this picture book explores the various ways we as human beings are strong, creative, and connected to others. Each of us is like a tree, with roots and fruit, and an enduring link to everything else in nature. "The tree in me is strong. It bends in the wind, and has roots that go deep . . . to where other roots reach up toward their own trunk-branch-crown and sky."

Which books from this list do you have already on your bookshelves? As always, feel free to reach out to create a custom order OR add on select titles to your existing subscription.
xo.
J&A

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Take it Outside!

7/15/2022

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We are officially into summer! Woohoo! So why not get out your favourite blanket, take it to a quiet spot and pack your bag with a few good books. Oh right! Because you likely have little people who demand your attention that getting through a book on the regular can prove quite challenging. So! Pack your bag with your little babes' favourite stories and head outside to read together.
When the weather gets warm and sunny we love taking our students outside as it is one of our favourite activities to promote calm, quiet and engaged thinking. There’s something about reading in the sunshine, under a tree amongst nature that is blissful for both avid and hesitant readers. But did you know, that there are some serious benefits to reading outside?

Mindfulness and relaxation
Connection to the world around them
Natural Light for their developing eyes
Bonus - take pictures of your little babe while adventuring outside. Print them off and create your own story that will for sure be loved again and again.

So when you need a little down time or just want to reconnect after a busy day, try this summertime strategy (and give it a big ol check off of your summer bucket list!).

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Summer Bucket List 2022

7/8/2022

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We’ve created the perfect summer bucket list for you!

We know that some summer days can be long and hard and others can fly by in a minute. This is why we’ve put together a bucket list of summer activities for you to keep on hand when you need a boost of morale or just want to change things up.
With 40 ideas, you can spread it out of the next two months and complete one a day! Get your little babe involved and ask them to brainstorm a few more ideas you could add to the list. Print off the list and hang it somewhere they can see it, and when you complete one of the activities have them cross it off or add a sticker. This visually shows them which ones they have left, even if they aren't reading yet.

Head to our site to download your free printable and be sure to tag us on social (@littlebabecollective) with what you cross off your list!
Free Summer Bucket List Here

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The Collective Voice

Rotating Books - The How & Why

5 Books to Inspire Kids to Love Nature

Take it Outside!

Summer Bucket List 2022

J & A

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