getting started!!!

[Valerie E]

Hello everyone
I just ordered my manual and I have been reading the board and doing a lot of research. My boys are 33 months and 20 months. They love to read and they love to learn. They truly know A LOT for their ages.

Is it better to own the books or to borrow them from the library? The reason I'm asking is because I know my children enjoy going back to books we have read. I did order one of the books but I wants planning to get them all for the time being. What have you all found to be best?

Also any suggestion about how to start?? I was thinking that I would just read and discuss for now and since I haven't seen the manual yet, I don't know if my kids at best my oldest could do the activities.
Thanks for your ideas,
VAL

[CJ]

>>>Is it better to own the books or to borrow them from the library?

This really is a personal decision. It depends on your finances and the resources at your library. For us, we have most of the books in our library system. But we also have a lot of books and like to go back and read old favorites, so if there's a story we particularly love, I've purchased it. Or, if I've found one for $5 or less, I purchased it for our home library. If there is a story they really like, but I can't afford it, we just check it out from the library again.

There's no right or wrong, just what makes sense to you and your boys.
:cool:

As far as getting started, just jump in. Don't worry about doing things perfect. Kids don't care about mom teaching things perfect, they care about doing it and enjoying the process. We started with Going On A Bear Hunt and had a blast. Any time you read and do things together will be beneficial. You'll also find that you will come up with ideas and even more exciting - THEY will come up with ideas.

Welcome to Five in a Row... you're in for a treat!

[Gwyneth in VA]

Personally, I think it's better to own. That way you can choose what order you'd like to do the books in, rather than having to plan everything around the Libraries' availability schedule. Plus for us it's just easier to own since we're going to need these exact books in roughly 1yr or so when Pete is ready to start BFIAR.

[Kristina J]

:hi: Valerie!

Welcome to the boards! I know you will find a wealth of information here as these ladies are amazing!

FIAR is great because you can taylor everything according to your style. If your budget allows, finding the books to buy can be a treat and I am sure your kids wouldn't mind having them to look over whenever they want to. But, if you just want to rely on the library system, it works great too! And a lot cheaper! Sometimes moms run to the library anyway to look at similar subject matters to go along with the B4 books. It is whatever *you* want it to be, and what you know your kids will most benefit from.

Have fun building up these precious memories with your family!

[KristenS]

There are all sorts of activity suggestions, for all ages. You'll find something that works, and save the others for later! That's what we did.

Mostly we own the titles, but I love to collect books. I find a lot of them secondhand.

Check out the Archives, too, for extra suggestions. We always make a cave out of our table when doing Bear Hunt, for example, and the kids love to reenact the story.

[Shannon in TX]

I'm just getting set to row again with my youngest.

I did with my older one when she was little, now it's coming up on the time where I think my little one will enjoy it.

Some books & activities are more conducive to the littler set--Goodnight Moon, Bear Hunt, Jesse Bear are all wonderful for the youngest group. I also like Carrot Seed for younger ones. My oldest loved planting her little garden and my son is all excited about planting one with his sister.

[Jennifer in TX]

I own all but the OOP books, and I love that they are on our shelves. My kids regularly pick the BFIAR books for our reading time. It's like having us all revisit an old friend.

I was able to find a lot of the books used in BFIAR at thrift stores for under $1. You could easily add the books to birthday and Christmas gift lists too. I usually buy each of my dc at least one book for holidays (Christmas, Easter, etc), so you could sneak in some BFIAR books that way. With Easter just around the corner, The Little Rabbit and The Runaway Bunny would be perfect BFIAR gift selections for your kids!

Jennifer

[LaTricia]

I too just ordered the manual. I went on a treasure hunt of my own today. I started off at a second hand bookstore but that was a bust. Then I went to half price books and found three on the list for only $6 total! So if you don't mind taking the time, it's worth it to try and find them.
:clap: My DD is 2 1/2 so I figure I have the time to scrounge for the rest. I am so excited to start with the activities to put into the lapbooks (I'm a scrapbooker, so this really appeals to me).

[Kimberly in WA]

I have two boys who LOVE to be read to. WIth my first I did the unthinkable thing and signed him up for 4 different book clubs. Yes I said 4!:roflol: Now we have tons of books that I have to pack and move every time we move:sad: It is a bit of a pain.
SO what I started doing with my second is, check it out from the library first and if they absoulutely LOVE it, then I will purchase it for our collection. THis seems to work well for us, and we know that the books we have are ones our children will enjoy for a long time.:clap:

Kimberly

[Di in NJ]

What I love about using the library is that I really get to see what interests my dc. I find them poring over the strangest (to me, at least) books, and it helps me to know them better. Plus, we can check them out right on the spot!

It is also helping my own reading habit. I am more comfortable branching out & trying new genres - low risk, since I'm not buying. The current new interest of mine is biographies.

The financial factor ain't bad, either, LOL!

Just my $0.02.

[Holly S]

We bought them because we don't have a very good library, and I've found it easier owning them. I bought them over a year so it wasn't a huge expense, and several were purchased used. If you go to the library regularly, you should be fine with checking them out.

[Stacey in FL]

I have three kiddos and they all love to read their favorite books over and over. So...
I own all of the books in hardback.

But, you could borrow from the library and only buy their favorites. You could buy them all in paperback which is cheaper.

It just depends on your library, your children, and your style. ;)

As far as starting. I recommend reading through the front and back of the manual. Then pick a book and read that section. See what supplies you need and get those. Then jump right in. :clap: