AIBU to confiscate all of DS's books?

[MummySparkle]

DS is 2 and a half and has just started to 'read' books by himself before falling asleep. When I say 'read' what actually happens is he pokes at the pictures and then tears the pages out. He has destroyed about 4 books this week, including his favourite one last night. He was upset this evening as he couldn't find 'wow tractor book' (his favourite) to read.

I've just taken all of the books out of his room and put them in the room next door. I won't stop him reading them, but only supervised for the time being. I feel a bit mean, AIBU to do this as he doesn't really know any better

[SaucyJack]

Erm, no, YANBU.

He's two. It's entirely normal and age-appropriate to put delicate stuff out of his reach.

[littlejohnnydory]

Leave him with a big pile of board books?

[woowoo22]

Does he have heavy duty board books for bedtime?

[Icimoi]

Yanbu. Might it be better to give him board books?

[CrohnicallyInflexible]

DD is 2 1/2 as well. Her books are divided into ones she can read by herself (board books, charity shop finds) and ones she reads with someone (bought brand new, or simply too large/heavy for her to handle). It seems a shame to restrict access to books, that's why I make sure she has some that she either can't spoil, or it doesn't really matter too much.

[MummySparkle]

They were board books!! He's pulled the printed pictures off a few and torn one clean in half down the spine! Now we have lots of shredded paper, and lots of books with nothing in them!!

[cashewnutty]

He is only 2 and a half. He has no idea about the consequences of poking pages of a book. Board books all the way at that age.

[timeforabrewnow]

Good job books are reasonably cheap then!

[MummySparkle]

I wouldn't say books are particularly cheap these days timeforabrew

[BlackeyedSusan]

bath books. we have a lot. and cloth books. and had a fair few of battered board books. there is a reason we have a lot of bath books and cloth books.

[Soduthen116]

Depends how verbal he is. At 2 and a half I would expect him to be past tearing up books to be honest but assume he's just strong and it's accidental.

If you can chat to him then have a go at explaining why he can't have his tractor book. Lovely that he likes books though.

[MummySparkle]

I think it's more that he has just discovered that if he pulls a little taggy bit of paper then lots peels off and is rather fascinated by that. He has only just started talking, I think his understanding of language is good, but not so much of concepts. I tried to say that wow tractor was all gone because DS pulled the pages out, but all I got was a blank stare. Bless him. Bath books and cloth books are a fantastic idea. I'll have a look and see if I can find some :)

[CrohnicallyInflexible]

Wow, that takes some doing! I assumed from your OP that he was simply getting too excited and poking pictures too hard, or ripping pages by accident as he turns the page.

In that case, YANBU to confiscate them. I would make sure he has plenty of chance to read them with you, model and verbalise appropriate behaviour (eg let's turn the page carefully so we don't break it), talk to him about why he can't read his tractor book, hopefully it will start to sink in!

[CrohnicallyInflexible]

Actually, if it's specifically peeling the paper off then he might get on better with thick paper books. I have some ladybird ones that are 'toddler tough' with pages that are paper rather than board (so non peelable) but they don't rip too easily.

As a side note, I used to love peeling paper off bar mats. And wallpaper from walls. And stripping the painted surface of school pencils. And dried PVA glue from my fingers. Peeling things is intensely satisfying!

[Purplepoodle]

I had a book destroyer withds1. I couldn't leave a book near him without supervision until about 5

[drspouse]

We have had to do this, DS breaks the back of board books and takes the pages apart. He hasn't done it for a while so he's now allowed one to "read" in bed/at nap time. He's nearly 3.5.

He entirely ripped every single page in a library book once.

[meglet]

Mine used to destroy board books too.

I would remove nice books and stock up on masses of second hand ones at charity shops and NCT sales. The worst of it will pass eventually.

[jendot2]

I am a childminder and I ONLY buy books 2nd hand as they always get destroyed. I kind of think that as long as the books are being read and looked at and handled and I paid no more than 20p for them then if they get wrecked, so be it.
I find paper books last longer than board books....

[spicyfajitas]

Maybe try a car boot sale and buy up lots of books cheaply that he can ' read' by himself to replace those that you have removed from his room

[MummySparkle]

crohnically I love peeling stuff too. I work in an art department and part of my job is to clean the paint palettes. Everyone hates it, I secretly LOVE peeling the dried paint off!

drspouse that's what DS does. He bends the pages back so the spine cracks, then there's bits to peel at and the pages come out! He's a little thinker, loves taking anything apart.

I think I'll try and get myself to a boot fair / ebay to get some more books. I think our local NCT have stopped doing sales for a while as there's a lack of volunteers. I might have to venture further afield.

Thanks for all of your replies. I'm glad I'm not the only one with a book destroyer!

[WanderWomble]

If you still have all of the pages, can you laminate them and bind them somehow?

[MummySparkle]

[MummySparkle]

I would if I could Wanderwomble, but most of them are in postage stamp sized pieces. It's been a few nights without books in his room, and surprisingly no major tantrums when Ive put them away at the end of the night.