How can I keep all of my children's books organized?

This is a great question. Reading to your child is such an important activity. It is a great time for bonding, it's educational and instills a valuable habit in your child's life from a young age. But, books can become clutter very easily. What is a parent to do?

~Organize books by category. In our home for instance, the reference books and books related to my business are kept in the office. The books we read as a family have a home in the family room and the books my kids like to read are on a bookshelf in their bedrooms.

~When children are small, the books for their age are typically more durable and can be kept with their other toys. However, you can begin instilling a respect for books even at a young age by having a special shelf or place just for books. This gets children in the habit of putting books away in a safe place right from the start.

~Resist the temptation to own every book you like to read. Sort down to your favorites and the most useful and most read. Then visit the library, used book stores, book swaps, etc. to get new reading material frequently that does not end up needing a home in your home! My old mom's group used to have regular book swaps where we could all trade in the books our kids had grown tired of for titles we hadn't read yet. Books your children have outgrown can be donated to thrift stores, daycares and women's shelters.

Happy reading!

Written by Melissa, Multi-Tasking Mama