MTRCB for Books?

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My friend T shared a facebook note on her wall yesterday. It's an open letter from a parent to bookstores in the Philippines (particularly to National bookstore and Powerbooks). The parent is asking bookstores in the country, as well as the Philippine government, to regulate the selling of books appropriately. He is asking for a regulating body for books just like what MTRCB is for films/movies.

 

He was concerned with the books that his teenage daughter bought recently, 50 Shades of Grey and The Perks of a Wallflower. I haven't had the time to read the said books yet but the former is actually in my iBooks already because a lot of people I know liked it. The parent was saying that the books are pornographic in nature and should not be read by teenagers.

 

 

I'm a regular at bookstores. I and my son, my sisters as well, are bookworms. Books for kids are separated from adult books. So my son, without me telling him at all, goes straight to the kids section of the bookstore. The other parent's problem though is his teenage daughter is neither a kid nor an adult. This is where parenting should come in.

 

The daughter is a teenager already. In my opinion, the parent should allow the daughter to read the books. Unless he wants her to read it behind his back. Unless he’d rather she know of "the ways of the world" from other mediums without his knowledge.

 

We are not in the medieval period anymore. The dad might be able to take those books away from her but she'll hear and see from other people like her peers, from the media and from the online world as well, those terms that they want to shield her teenage-mind from.

The best thing that the girl’s parents should do, in my opinion, is to also read the books their kids read. Discuss and explain the contents of the books with their kids. However awkward it may seem, they should do it. This way, lying and doing things behind their back, without their knowledge would be avoided.

 

Parenting in the past is not applicable anymore to the present time, even my mom said so. Everything in this world is fast-paced now. We should leave in the past what should be in the past, including the past’s way in parenting. We should go with the flow, so to speak. By being very protective with our kids, we’re actually doing them (and us) more harm than good.

savings and withdrawal

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My son has his own bank accounts. Two savings accounts at Banco de Oro and BPI Family Bank respectively. I started giving him an allowance of 20 pesos per school day a few years back with the purpose of teaching him early on about savings and investment.

He’s doing good. For the past few years, most of his allowance goes straight to the bank. But growing up means having more needs and wants. I have seen him a few times buying ice cream, candies or cotton candy at dismissal time. He does manage to still save most of his allowance even with those purchases.

Today, I was able to point out to him, for the nth time, the value of having his own savings. He wanted to buy a new book from The Heroes of Olympus series. It was hardbound and of course more expensive than a softbound book. I said, “If you can’t wait for the softbound book, then you have to use your own money to buy it.”

So he withdrew 450 pesos from his bank account to pay for the book. I then told him afterwards, “Because of your savings, you were able to buy the next book in the book series. See how important savings (and investment) is? If you save your allowance and do not use it up for unimportant things, you’ll have money once there’s a need for you to buy something very important.”

He agreed wholeheartedly.

Bookworm Through and Through

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My son is a certified bookworm. I introduced him to the wonderful world of reading even before he can even walk by himself. I remember buying his first baby books, those made of cardboard so his chubby little hands won't crumple and destroy the pages. He's now 11 and he still very much loves to read.

Our bookshelf can't accommodate the number of books that we both have. Yes, I too am a certified book addict. I probably passed some, or maybe a whole lot of, book-lover-forever genes to him.

we need to buy another bookshelf for these books,

and a whole lot of others,  that can’t anymore fit in our bookshelf

As I've said, he started with baby books. Then he started collecting books about dinosaurs when he was around 3 years old. His fascination with dinosaurs hasn't actually stopped yet. He still read his dinosaur books from time to time but he doesn't collect dinosaur toys and books anymore. One of his dream is to be a paleontologist someday.

He loves reading chapter books as well. He was able to finish reading all 7 Harry Potter books in less than two months! He's up to date on release dates of new addition to his favorite books. Like when there's a new Diary of a Wimpy Kid book, he's always first in his class to have a copy of the new book.

Because of his love for reading, he always ace his reading comprehension worksheets and quizzes. I'm one lucky mom. Unlike most of his classmates, he has high grades on his reading and language subjects so I don't have to tutor him on those subjects.

Math though is a different story. Although he's good with numbers, he doesn't like reviewing Math at all. Free worksheets that I find online (like multiplication worksheets and third grade math worksheets) keeps me sane.

Harry Potter’s Number 1 Fan

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My son is a proud bookworm. I may be a cheapskate person but when it comes to books - sky is the limit. For my son anyway because I now read ebooks on iBooks. And I only allow him to buy books that’s age-appropriate. I love reading also, so I support him all the way with this hobby.

 

 

I have been suggesting, for the longest time, that he should read Harry Potter. But when he started reading the first book, The Sorcerer’s Stone, he said it’s kinda boring. Until last week, when the reading list for next school year’s English class was given. Harry Potter was included on the list.

 

So he started reading the first book and finished the first three books in approximately 3 days. And there’s no stopping him, he’s planning to finish all seven books by next week.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

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I'm getting reacquainted with Harry Potter after more than 10 years. Done with the first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, and halfway through with the second one, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Already met Myrtel, the girl/ghost who cries in the cubicle in the girl's bathroom.

I have read all seven books but I've actually forgotten the story. I'm actually excited to read it again. I have some "Ooh, that's right" moments. Definitely a page turner.

My son though is not interested to read it. He said it's boring! Yes, that's what he said and I'm as confused as you are. Maybe he'll have a change of heart next year.

Scholastic book fair

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My son's school holds an annual Scholatic book fair. The fair is currently on-going, until monday of next week. As I was browsing the books the other day, I noticed they have lots of christmas gift ideas for kids. My son, a certified bookworm, already bought two books. He's kind enough to say that he'll get the 800 pesos from his bank account. But since he's so sweet to do that, I said I'll pay for it.

He got his love for reading from me. Definitely not from his dad who I think is allergic to books. He even wants us to throw away some books because there's no more space in the bookshelf. So his solution is not to buy a new bookshelf but to throw away some books! So RJ knows who to approach when he finds a book or magazine that he likes to buy.

Ghost Rider

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I don’t have any idea who Ghost Rider is but I think my son’s drawing is really nice. I’m glad that he spent some time drawing yesterday, instead of playing with the PSP (he’s grounded from playing) or reading his K-Zone magazines.

 

 

 

I would love to see him draw some things pleasing to my eyes and not that scary, but this is good for now. 

 

I will buy him more how to draw, or paint, books. I would rather spend lots of money on good books to hone his talents than spend on things that doesn’t even do him any good.

 

new book for my baby RJ

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Sweet Valley High, Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Choose Your Own Adventure. These are the reason why I visit the school library when I was in high school. Not to study or do some research but to check if new books are available for me to borrow.

While me and RJ were browsing a second-hand bookstore one time, I found a book entitled Abracadanger. It's one of the books in the Scream Shop (Pick Your Path) series. It's just like my favorite Choose Your Own Adventure books.

The story in these book series are written from a second-person point of view. The reader makes choices that determine the main character's actions and the plot's outcome.

The Abracadanger book is RJ's current favorite. What he loves about the book is there's a different plot and ending each time he read it. And he already read the book more than 10 times!

RJ already know which book to look for next time we go book shopping.

library or sports center

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My son is a certified bookworm. He has a vast collection of books and magazines. I can't say no whenever he wants to buy a new book because I myself love books.

Recently he doesn't go to the library anymore whenever he still has some free time after recess and lunch. He spends the remaining time in the sports center playing tag, basketball or soccer with his friends.

I can't help but tell him, "You're missing out on the new books in the library."

geronimo stilton books; one of RJ's favorite

He assured me that I shouldn't worry that he's losing interest in books. He reads in the house, even in the bathroom! So I should just let him spend more time in the sports center, after school, because he also needs to exercise. Playing soccer, table tennis and running around in the sports center will make up for whatever exercise he's missing from swim training. Hopefully, he can again join the training of the school varsity next year.

teach your child to be responsible

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I have mentioned on my other blog that we have a very messy bookshelf in our house right now. A few days ago, I asked my son to check if there are books in his collection that can already be given to his younger cousins.

This is one way of asking him to fix his side of the bookshelf because I got tired of always telling him to put his books in the bookshelf properly.

He is asthmatic so I asked him to wear a mask because the inner side of the bookshelf was a little dusty already. I guess that's where he put the books that he doesn't like to read anymore.

He did a great job of sorting his books. He was able to give a bag full of books to my sister's kids.

Now, he has free space in the bookshelf. He can buy more books that is appropriate for his age.

He now read "novels". That's what he call books without pictures.

I hope his side of the bookshelf looking organized won't just be for this week. Now, it's my turn to clean my side of the shelf.

online book club

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My son loves reading so much. He reads anything from K-zone (his fave magazine) to Geronimo Stilton books. He loves borrowing prehistoric books from his school library (though he has lots of dinosaur books already in the house).

I am planning to join an online book club. This online book club was featured on a television show last week. It is a social networking site like friendster or facebook, but it caters to people who love reading. It is a website for book lovers.

Once a member, you can create your own bookshelf to show the books that you have read as well as books that you would love to own. You can also meet new friends, who like you also love reading books. You can invite your blogger friends, and your non-blogger friends, to join the online book club by adding a widget on your blog's main page.

I will check if my son can join also, he is only 7 years old. Will give you more details. Later.

bedtime story no more??

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Eversince my son was a baby, I always read a bedtime story for him. He likes reading, he loves books so much. He himself say that he is a bookworm.

He was given a slot in his schools swimming team 2 years ago, when he was still in prep level. At that time, he was still in the morning class. 11am until 330pm was our time to read a book, play word games, puzzles, he play with his toys, he also draw and paint. We go back to his school for training at 4pm and we stay there until 7 pm.

Last year, bedtime story sessions doesn't happen everyday. Classes end at 220 pm, only 1.5 hours to do all his homework, study for a scheduled quiz for the next day (if there's any)... then we had to rush to his swim training.

I do allow him to go to the library everyday. I am very proud that he can read and understand books without a single picture illustration anymore at 6 years old. Before bedtime, he reads a book by himself while waiting for me to finish household chores. Sometimes, he requests that I read a bedtime story for him. Most of the time though we don't finish the whole book because he has to sleep already.

Today though was different. I was able to read a book to him without cutting off the rest of the story. He went to sleep happy.

I hope I can read another bedtime story for him tomorrow...and the next day...and the day after that...

Geronimo Stilton

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My son loves Geronimo Stilton books. When he was in 1st grade, last year, his week is not complete without borrowing a Geronimo Stilton book from the school library.

This book series is about a talking mouse, Geronimo Stilton, who lives in New Mouse City located on Mouse Island. He is a best selling author and the editor in chief of the most famous newspaper on Mouse Island, The Rodents Gazette. The books are mostly adventure stories.

The other main characters of the series are: Thea Stilton, Trap Stilton, Benjamin Stilton.

Thea is the youngest sister of Geronimo. She loves exciting adventures, unlike her scholarly brother. She is also a certified heart-breaker.

Trap is Geronimo's annoying cousin. Trap always does obnoxious pranks on Geronimo. Trap also likes signing Geronimo up for things Geronimo doesn't want to do, like travelling because Geronimo gets airsick, seasick and carsick.

Benjamin is Geronimo's favorite nephew. He is a very curios 9 year old mouse who is always jotting down notes during their adventures.

Do check out the book series in your local stores. You will surely have fun reading the stories with your kid/s or by yourself.

photo credit: agenda.filastrocche.it/?p=3057