A cute new holiday tradition!
Moms have the best ideas don't they.. 💡you know that saying mother knows best?! I have to say my mom always gives me brilliant little ideas and great advice! I am very lucky! I wanted to share a sweet idea my mom shared with me this past week that I think could form a cute new holiday tradition
The idea: Wrap a book a day for the countdown to Christmas for your kids! I love this because it's something for your child/ children to look forward to while promoting reading! Each night you can cozy up by the tree ( or put on a fire escape on your tv from YouTube! ) And read a book together! Now I shared this with someone and they said, “ that's a lot of books!” I know that seems like a lot, 24 books but I'm going to share below a few places to go for cheap and reasonably priced options! Also, I think I may just use a holiday bag with tissue and keep using the same bag each night so Leo can see what book is in the bag! I say that because during the holidays I don't think we parents and guardians need extra stress, like wrapping 24 books but I love the idea of sharing stories with my son and getting him excited about reading! Here are my ideas below to do this in an affordable way!
Thrift stores!!! They are gold mines for cheap books and they have a plethora! These books do not all need to be Christmas either - they can be about any topic your child/ children are interested in!
Dollar tree! Only $1.25 - they have great books, journals, and coloring books. We love art nights at our house on the weeknights! Instead of watching TV after dinner, do a simple craft together! My son who is usually bouncing off the walls with energy usually just needs a little encouragement to do a craft and once we are sitting there painting etc. He loves it! A coloring book & crayons - a great way to spend quality time!
5 Below! This place also is a hot spot for wonderful books! Excellent quality and great assortment!
Ollies! Do you have one of these funky stores near you? If you do and you haven't been there in forever - GO! They have fabulous books! And lots of these little sets - like 6 books for 3 dollars! Joke books too- my son loves jokes so one night we will have a great evening reading through these and getting some new ones because we have been making up our own 😝 tell me this one isn't good- what did this woodpecker say to the tree? Knock knock whose there? That one was me hehe! Below are my Ollie finds!
Facebook marketplace! People are usually selling lots of books so check this out OR swap with friends nearby! You know how kids get tired of their own stuff and books they haven't seen will be exciting for them and feel new! Create a book swap with you and a group of families in the neighborhood!
Other ideas: local bookstore & your library (sometimes they have sales).
Another take on this idea 💡 if you are tight on cash: get one of those big activity books ( see mine below with Santa on the front OR a chapter book ) and say Santa dropped this off for you and each night we can do a page together or read a chapter together! It doesn't need to coat a ton, your kids will just love that quality time together 💞
I think in this tech age we need to get our babe’s eyes on books. Look, feel, touch a story, and spend quality time together doing just so! This could become a tradition where each year you read the same book on December 1st or Christmas Eve and write a little note in the front. Imagine passing that down to your grandkids and then reading with them in the years to come 😍 my son is only 7 but I dream of that day if it happens!
Share your ideas with me below and if you have any ideas of where to get nicely priced books!
XO -Sammy