Books vs Toys: Why Books Are Better
This article is written by
IVA-MARIE PALMER
When you have children, that whole notion that you’ve put away childish things goes out the window. Suddenly, your home is overrun with their toys, and after several years of accumulating the holiday season’s hot new plaything, legions of action figures and dolls, LEGOs that seem to multiply each time you step on one, the constant tidying up of your kids’ trinkets can feel never-ending.
Do you know what’s considerably easier to put away and makes a great substitute for toys in almost any gift-giving situation? Books! There are so many fantastic children’s books out there that serve as perfect presents for kids, for any occasion — and they can have a significantly longer lifespan than (yet another) hunk of brightly hued plastic.
Here are ten times when buying a book instead of a toy is the better option:
When you’re choosing a vacation souvenir. Of course, kitschy souvenirs appeal to kids and sometimes you can’t resist picking up a snow globe or a stuffed animal donning a tiny t-shirt of the place you’ve visited. But in almost every city my family visits, we make it a point to order from an independent bookstore to have the kids each choose a book to take with them.
When you’re attending a baby shower. Whenever a friend is having or has a new baby, I like to gift a few books. Because I have kids who love books, I like to include a favorite from their babyhood shelves, which brings them in on the act of giving too.
When you’re purchasing a birthday gift. I usually pick a book for each of our children each year and inscribe it to them. I try for something that feels thematically on-point with where they are in their lives. You can also do this so that each year you give a book with a character the same age as your child.
When you’re giving out party favors. Birthday parties often come with the expectation that each kid leaves with a goodie bag, and while that little tote of plastic surprises is understandably delightful to children, if we’re honest, we all know it’s forgotten before they even get it home. I’ve been to a few parties now where the favors are books.
When you’re shopping for the holidays. This is pretty obvious, especially if your kid’s gift list includes titles from their favorite series or they request books on their favorite subjects. Each Christmas, we like to add a picture book chosen by us to the mix. These also get an inscription personalized to the child, so they have something to look back on long after Christmas.
When you’re celebrating the first day of school. If your child is nervous about that first day, I can think of no better way to ease the anxiety than with a book; it’s fairly easy to find picture books about preschool or kindergarten, and, as they get older, the age-appropriate reads often tackle the subject of heading to a new school, middle school, and even high school.
When you’re celebrating the last day of school — or a graduation! At the end of the school year, it doesn’t hurt to gift another book as a subtle reminder that reading over the break is important.
When your child is moving to a new town. This is a hard time in a kids’ life, but books often serve as supportive friends. Find something that hits the right note for your child.
When you’re celebrating a child’s new accomplishment. My six-year-old contributed this idea of gifting a book when your child does something they’ve never done, and I like it. Of course, you can’t do it every time your child hits a milestone, but if a child finally overcomes his antipathy toward broccoli after years of hating it, it might be kind of fun to reward them with a book.
When you’re going somewhere you’ve never gone. Another suggestion from my son, who has a list of travel dreams as long as his list of favorite books. If your family is planning a big trip, why not find them a great book to amp up the excitement.
