To think books are not the same as treats?

[ShadeofViolet]

I dont buy the DC toys often - Christmas and Birthdays. However I buy books all the time, normally one or two a week for DS1.

DH says this is just the same as buying toys every week, but I dont think that it is.

AIBU?

I often buy DS books. He loves reading them and having them read to him. He will sit for ages with a book and we have the library lady who comes to our toddler group once a month where we get loads as well.

Books are educational and I am very keen to have DS interested in books, like I was when I was young. Luckily he doesn't need encouraging at all. Plus having more books breaks the monotony of reading the same bloody ones every single night!

It would be the same as buying toys every week to me, mainly due to the fact that they cost money, they are bright and shiny and new and exciting and I could get them for free at the library.

chatterbooks

OOOoh - no books are not treats. Books are educational - even if your DC doesn't realise!

But library is great idea too....

Books are not treats. I buy a few new ones for DS every so often, certainly more frequently than I would buy toys - those really are saved for Christmas and birthday.

He has had some lovely books as presents and if people are stuck for what to buy him then I nearly always suggest books.

CWWM - I love seeing his bookcase full of books too, funny isn't it? :)

I would love to use the library but ours is closed atm for improvements. It's going to be a 'Discovery Centre', whatever that is.

No, it's not automatically a treat but it does make it a treat for many people.

Buying something new and shiny and exciting when that same thing can be borrowed for nothing doesn't make it an essential thing to buy.

Yes, I think a book is only a treat if it is bought, especially if brand spanking new, and you get to keep it forever. Makes sense to me.

I assumed violet's dh objected to her buying two books a week, not that he objected to books being in the house.

YANBU - If it makes you happy to buy your child a book however often, then do it ! Books are wonderful and what you are in fact giving your child is a love for books. Good on you !!

My children see them as treats - even a visit to the library to pick new ones is pretty exciting for them!

My children know that if they ever ask for a book, I will not refuse them. Books are very important in our household. Both DH and I are academics and our poor house is heaving with books. I just bought 5 today and one for DS. I do use the library but we love to own our books as we go back to them and read them again.

I used to teach English and collect children's books. I have most of the books I loved as a child.

Books are not treats. They are essential.

So YANBU!

Second-hand books are essentials. New shiny books are a treat to be saved for birthday and Christmas.

"Second-hand books are essentials. New shiny books are a treat to be saved for birthday and Christmas."

Difference? Cost.

A friend of mine told me when she was a kid if she wanted a comic she had to buy it out of her pocket money but if she wanted books her parents bought them for her no question. So she read hardly any comics and loads of books.

I was very envious. I did have quite a few books as a child and being the youngest of three I had access to all my elder siblings books too. Also I had regular access to a library. But my parents could never have afforded the approach my friend's parents took so new books were a treat to me.

At Christmas I had one auntie who always gave me a book token and it was one of my favourite presents to get.

A treat is something you like that you don't have very often. I don't understand this great need to try to redefine it to fit whatever it is you want to do anyway.