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Children's Storytimes

A World of Adventure

For Ages 3 – 8

Main Library

Wednesdays

10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
June 12, 19, & 26
July 3 & 17

Baby Book Worms

For Ages 0 – 17 months

Main Library

Wednesdays

10:00 – 10:30 a.m.
June 12, 19, & 26
July 3 & 17

Toddler Tales

For Ages 18 – 36 months

Main Library

Wednesdays

11:00 – 11:30 a.m.
June 12, 19, & 26
July 3 & 17

Please register for storytimes by
calling 812–232–1115.
No registration required
during Summer Reading!

Parents' Blog

Screen Time

by Miss Alicia

Should I let my young child have "screen time" and if so, how much screen time a day should I allow? Is it alright to let my child watch the television or play computer games, as long as it is educational?

These are all questions you as a parent have asked yourself and they are good ones. I have often asked myself these same questions. As an early childhood educator, I have learned that the majority of brain development occurs in the first five years of a child’s life and that the best way to make connections in the brain are through play activities, such as looking at books, playing games, building with blocks, puzzles, pretend and imaginary play, active play, art activities and music. Although these activities take more effort and energy on the parent’s side, they are completely worth the effort.

I have also learned that television watching, playing games on the computer, phone, or tablet are all considered "screen time" activities and are not the best ways to create connections in the brain. I read a great article about this same topic that addressed many of the assumptions I had about screen time. This article was on the website for the National Association for the Education of Young Children and all of the information from the article has been researched.

Smell the Flowers

by Miss Hillary

You’ve heard the expression, "Take time to smell the roses," haven’t you? It’s a great piece of advice, not only for you, but also for your kids.

This time of year, everything can get especially hectic, what with school getting out and summer about to start. Your kids are probably aching to get outside and play, even though they have work to do. You might be neck deep in work, spring cleaning, or any number of things. Still, taking some time out to just play outside is essential.

Try taking a family trip to your local park! Bring along some Frisbees or just go for a walk together. Disconnecting from phones, computers, and distractions could be a breath of fresh air. You might get to have conversations that you wouldn’t normally have. Ask each other silly questions while you walk, like what movie star your child would like to meet, or where they would go if they could take a dream vacation. You might find out something new.

Whether or not you smell any real flowers, this is the time of year to get outside with your family and spend some quality time together.

"Look, up in the sky! It's a bird…it's a plane…"

by Cindy

Superman is back! Yes, you heard right: "Man of Steel" premiers on June 14. It is rated PG-13, so might not opt to take your young children, but most kids love Superman and other superheroes and ask for books about them all the time.

The Young People’s Department has several Superman and other superhero books for all ages, including Easy Readers, graphic novels, and Young Adult nonfiction.

I’d like to highlight three very different items in our collection:

Superman: Phonics Fun by Lucy Rosen. This 12-book set, located in our Parent/Teacher section, uses original stories about Superman and his superhero friends to teach beginning reading. Each book teaches a different vowel sound and the “ch,” “sh,” and “tch” sounds.
The Superhero Book: the Ultimate Encyclopedia of Comic-Book Icons and Hollywood Heroes(Y741.503 S) contains information on more than 1,000 superheroes from comics, film, television, and fiction and over 150 color illustrations.
Reel Culture: 50 Classic Movies You Should Know About (So You Can Impress Your Friends) by Mimi O’Connor. This book includes quotes, characters, fun facts, and Hollywood "inside scoop" on the top films including Superman (J791.4375 O).

Vacation

by Karen

It's hard to think of right now, but people will be taking time off this summer for a vacation. There are lots of choices when choosing a vacation, and several kinds of transportation to choose from. You can choose 1 day trips, 2 day trips, or even a week or so. There are a lot of places you can go that you don't have to drive too far. Costs vary depending on where you choose to travel and the kind of transportation you choose. You can also stay in your own backyard and have fun. There are many websites you can look at and decide and or call places to find out information also. One year my husband and I decided to take a tour bus trip for vacation. It was a 4 day trip, and we had a great time! We would like to do it again sometime this year.

Whatever you decide to do or wherever you decide to go, I hope your vacation is wonderful. Spending time with your family and friends is a fun thing to do. No matter what you decide, I hope your vacation is a great one and that you stay safe and travel safely.

Have a great vacation!

Earth Day

by Miss Alicia

April 22nd is Earth Day and it makes me think of what I can do to help preserve the environment. I recently read some upsetting facts like these:

The United States has less than 4% of its forests left.
84% of all household waste can be recycled.
More than 100 million Americans live in urban areas where the air is officially classified by the EPA as unsafe to breathe.

I realize if everyone were to do their part in being green I wouldn’t have to read scary facts like these. I have always had the notion that I am only one person and that it’s not going to make a big difference if I don’t recycle or try to save energy. I am wrong and kind of embarrassed. Starting now, I make a vow to go "green". I will recycle. I will carpool more often. I will use environmentally safe cleaning products. I will only buy energy efficient lights. I know that there is more that I could do, but these vows are ones I know can stick to by just changing certain habits. What will you do?

Social Media

by Cindy

I recently read an article claiming that teens are growing tired of Facebook. It seems like they are always on it. But are they really? Apparently they are "sneaking" off onto Instagram, SnapChat, Tumblr, or some other social network unknown to adults but already wildly popular with teens and tweens. Some people believe that it’s because their grandparents are now using FB to communicate with THEIR friends...and to keep tabs on the grandkids, although I prefer to look at it as keeping the lines of communication open with them.

It’s tough being a parent today, trying to keep kids safe in a world where technology changes practically overnight. Click on the links in the paragraph above for the full article and information about the photo app/social network sites you need to know about.

Source: Grove, Jennifer. "Why Teens are Tiring of Facebook." CNET News. 2 March 2013.

Spring Rain

by Mrs. Clark

Do you have a porch or an outside area that is covered? One activity my husband enjoyed was going outside to the front porch when a spring rain began. Sometimes it was a gentle spring rain; sometimes it was a stronger storm complete with thunder and lightning. Usually he found his way outside alone, but it did not take long before one blanket bearing child or another came to join him. I enjoyed watching from inside and wondered what secrets they were sharing as they snuggled together learning about each other and nature. Gradually, the whole family could be found enjoying the rain on the front porch, together.

In today’s fast-paced family life I am glad my husband had the forethought to slow us down a bit. No TV, no technology, just rain and family. Maybe this spring your family can make some memories while enjoying the rain (from a safe distance).

My Community Theater Hobby

by Laraine

At a time in my life when I was at loose ends, a co-worker suggested getting involved at Community Theater. Well, why not? I had been attending plays and musicals at various live theaters for most of my life. I always enjoyed them, but never had a vision that I could become part of the shows myself. Volunteering at the Community Theater of Terre Haute will always be something I will never regret.

No doubt about it, theater takes time. Time is a precious commodity these days, but I was never blessed with children so I have the time, and amazingly enough, the ability to help out.

My first assignment was to paint a wall an ugly brown…the whole thing, trim and everything. This was called the base coat. I could do that! My next job was to help a boy with his fast costume change. Turns out he had 2 layers of clothes on and the first one was just held with Velcro so it could come off quickly. Magic! The 3rd job I had was using a cordless drill, a hammer, a measuring tape and a table saw. No, this was not something I was experienced with, but the builders were patient and taught me. Next time I was surer of myself. Over the years I’ve tried almost everything there is to do backstage and on it. I know where my strengths lie and which areas I like the most now.

If I could talk everyone I know into volunteering at their local community theater, I would. It has brought me more friends than I could have imagined, more laughter than I can hold back and a stronger sense of self-worth that continues to grow with time.

I have included a couple of websites to visit for information if you are in the Terre Haute area. The Children’s Theater of Terre Haute or the Community Theater of Terre Haute may be just what you’ve been looking for. Come see a play or musical. Come watch auditions. Fill out a volunteer form. Watch and be amazed as words on paper magically become alive! Become a part of that magic!

Absolutely Incredible Kid Day

by Miss Alicia

I’m sure many parents tell their children how much they love them almost every day, but how cool is it that there is one day a year dedicated to tell children how incredible they are!

Absolutely Incredible Kid Day is a national letter-writing campaign started by an organization called Camp Fire USA. It is the third Thursday in March (March 21) and on this day, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles or mentors can write a letter of praise, encouragement and support to that special child in their life. The letter can be left on a pillow, mailed, stuck in a lunch box, emailed, sent as a text message, read at school, read over the phone or read in person.

Participating in Absolutely Incredible Kid Day will give your child a precious memento to hold on to until they are an adult and it will warm your heart just to see them smile. You can visit this website for a letterhead and Incredible Kid Day writing tips.

Parents of New Readers

by Mrs Clark

If you have a new reader in your household I want you to know about our Juvenile Easy Reader Books commonly called JE books. The collection is located in the back section of Young People's under the bulletin board.

These books are leveled readers designed for the reader who is learning new words both words that can be sounded out and sight words which must be memorized. These readers need practice reading the words that appear most often in print. It is also important that readers at this stage find success so that reading becomes a welcome and gratifying experience.

Many of the books in the JE section have a number in the upper right corner, this number can help you and your reader choose books that he or she will enjoy. I like to open the book and see how many words appear on the page. Are the words too challenging for this reader? If so, choose a different book or read that title together, giving support as needed. If the book becomes frustrating to the reader, it is not the right level. I find that different publishers’ levels differ so it is good to look at the book.

Level One books sometimes are designed to be read to a non reader while level two books are perfect for emerging readers on their own. When looking at the shelf, authors whose last name begins with A will be on the far left. The shelf is made up of three stacks of four rows. To locate a book by author notice the divisions between the stacks, move across the row then down the stack before returning to the top of the next stack. One of my favorite authors is Rosemary Wells, whose books can be found on the far right side of the JE collection. As always, any staff member would be glad to help you locate books for your readers. Just ask us.

Happy reading!

World Read Aloud Day - March 6

by Cindy

"World Read Aloud Day" is celebrated every year on the first Wednesday in March. It is sponsored by the New York-based literacy organization LitWorld, whose goal is to make us aware that literacy is "a right that belongs to all people" by celebrating "the power of words, especially those words that are shared from one person to another." LitWorld’s website has some terrific ideas for ways you and your family can participate:

KIDS can dress up as characters from their favorite books and have a sleepover read-aloud-athon. Click here for read aloud stories from pbs.com.
TEENS might want to organize a book swap party for their classmates and friends. They can exchange books, or sell them to each another and donate the money to a local charity.
PARENTS, how about video chatting or calling a long-distance friend or family member on the phone and reading aloud with each another?

Stop in the Young People’s Department and we’ll be happy to help you find a great read aloud!

Sources:

World Read Aloud Day. http://worldreadaloudday.org

LitWorld. http://litworld.org/worldreadaloudday

Read Me Week

by Mrs. Clark

Read Me Week is February 25 through March 1 this year. No, this is not a misprint. The name "Read Me" came about because volunteer readers in Tennessee wore a shirt, cap or pin with a message on it so students could read the reader.

Founded in 1989 by Book'em, a nonprofit organization of Nashville, Tennessee, the group focuses on two purposes. First, getting books into the hands of children from birth through high school, and secondly, sending volunteer readers out to each of Nashville's Elementary Schools. These readers share a book with the children, but more importantly they become role models who share their love of reading. How important is it for children not only to learn to read but to be turned on to reading. By getting books into the hands of kids who might not otherwise have their own books, lives are changed.

How can you change a life today? Can you share a book with someone you know? Reading together can not only change the life of the child you read to, it may change your life as well.

Tom Sawyer for Kids & Teens comes to VCPL & Children’s Theatre!

by Cindy

This year’s “Big Read” title, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, can be daunting reading for many children. The old fashioned language puts some kids off, so they don’t even try to understand the humor. VCPL has a couple books you may like to check out to spur their interest in this classic.

Kids ages 5-7 would enjoy a short biography about Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain’s real name). Mark Twain at Work! by Howard Goldsmith tells the story of when young Sam plays a big prank in school, so his mother punishes him by making him paint the long fence outside. Now Sam was a clever boy, so he figured out a way to get the fence painted without doing any work himself at all! This story shows up in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer when Tom’s Aunt Polly tells him to whitewash the fence. This book would be a great story to read aloud!

For older readers we have Mississippi River Blues, a “Cracked Classic” by Tony Abbott. It is on the spin-around rack by the window in the back of the YP room.

Next month you have several opportunities to let your family experience Tom Sawyer and have fun at the same time:

Children’s Theatre of Terre Haute will present the story as a “musical with a twist” directed by Dixie Brown. Performances are scheduled for Friday, March 7 @ 7 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, March 8 & 9 @ 3 p.m. at Harmony Hall. For ticket & general information call 236-3193.

Storyteller Sally Weatherson will bring the book to life for kids and teens in a series of Big Read programs here at VCPL. Please register by calling Young People’s Dept. at 232-1115:

Books Alive! (Grades K-2) Monday, March 18, 4:00-4:45 p.m.
Teen Event (Grades 6-12) Friday, March 22, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Afterschool Adventures (Grades 3-5) Monday, March 25, 4:00-4:45 p.m.

I encourage you to get your kids out of the house and into a story!

A Trip to the Supermarket

by Miss Hillary

Parents, we all know that grocery shopping with young children can be trying at times, if not downright exhausting! Here are a few tips that will make shopping a fun and educational experience!

Make a list! Lists help make shopping trips quick and easy! You know where you need to go and what to get, so there are no unnecessary trips down crowded aisles. It also helps head off I want" moments. "Honey, it’s not on the list, so we don’t need it."
Plan your trip! Does your child need a nap? Have you had lunch? Will the store be packed in the late afternoon? Making sure everyone’s in a good mood and the time is right will make everyone a happy shopper.
Have fun and learn! Play I Spy in the produce aisle and learn about shape and color and scent! Let your children touch the frozen food, and learn about warm and cold. You could talk about the sounds that foods make-crunch, pop, squish! You could even talk about how words are spelled or the sounds that the letters make in their favorite foods.
Head off wants and tantrums! Bring some healthy snacks or a favorite toy to keep in the cart. Talk about expected behavior BEFORE leaving home or getting out of the car. Will your children walk or ride in the cart? What can they pick out and what can they not have?

Learn more about these tips and many more in the links: 5 Tips for Surviving the Supermarket with your Children and Simplify Supermarket Shopping with Young Kids!

Happy Birthday, Facebook

by Mrs. Clark

Do you know what happened on February 4, 2004?

That was the beginning of Facebook. This year Facebook is nine years old! Does it seem to you Facebook has always been a part of your life? How has this form of communication changed the way you keep in touch with friends and family? Have you been able to reunite with someone who had drifted away?

According to Blurt it, Facebook can be used in 70 different languages. This does include four versions of English; US and UK, pirate and upside down!

Daily there are 500 million users. That's a lot of likes!

What do you think? Have you joined the daily users of Facebook? Do you post or mostly read what others are saying? Do you wish you'd had the idea Mark Zuckerburg did? He is said to be the world's youngest billionaire.

Clear, Plastic and Squeezable

by Mrs. Clark

Do you enjoy Bubble Wrap?

When no one is looking do you like to pop the bubbles?

January 28th is Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day! So celebrate all week long. Check out this website Sealed Air to learn new and interesting facts about this helpful packaging tool.

Did you know?

Bubble Wrap was invented in 1960
by Al Fielding and Marc Chavannes
American engineer, Fielding, and Swiss inventor, Chavannes, were attempting to make a textured plastic wallpaper
In 1993 both were honored with induction into the New Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame

Snap and share some Bubble Wrap today.

Sing A Song

by Miss Hillary

Did you know that singing with your children can help them learn to read later in life? Really! Something as simple as singing Open Them, Shut Them, The Itsy Bitsy Spider, or Little Bunny Foo Foo will help children pay attention to the syllables in words, the sounds that they make, and how words are put together.

Even better, songs with hand motions can increase your children’s motor skills. Their little hands will not only learn fun hand motions, but they can strengthen their muscles and help them learn to write later on.

Having trouble remembering songs from your childhood? That’s just fine! We have an extensive collection of children’s music in the Young Peoples department. Resources like YouTube and bussongs.com also have hundreds of great children’s songs, new, classic, and long-forgotten. Here are a few of my personal favorites!

Books and Memories

Boy's Feet With Stuffed Rabbit in the Background

by Miss Alicia

I’m sure you have many great recollections from when you were a child and I’m sure that you would like to create just as many wonderful memories for your children. My fondest memories as a child were when I would get that one on one attention from my parents while they would read me a book before bedtime. The words in the book would come to life as I would sit and listen. Mom or dad would lay in my bed with me as I would point to my favorite illustrations in the book or ask questions knowing that mom and dad would come up with the correct answer every time. Books are special to me because of those times spent reading with my parents. I do not have any children of my own but I have 8 precious nieces and nephews whom I love reading to. Many of them are young so when I read to them, I know that they are learning so much and that they will always cherish those times spent reading a book with aunt Alicia. The next time you read a book to your child, take a few seconds to stop and look at your child’s face. You will probably see a big grin!

"Children are made readers on the laps of their parents."

Introducing Our New Youth Coordinator -- Miss Holly!

by Miss Holly

Happy New Year! 2013 promises to be a year of change for the Young People’s Department. Beginning this month, I will be assuming the responsibilities of the Youth Services Coordinator. My predecessor, June Dunbar, has retired, and left me with some pretty big shoes to fill!

I have worked with children in various capacities for the past thirteen years. I came to the VCPL in 2008, and earned my MLS degree in 2010. I have always been passionate about early literacy experiences for children, and I hope to share that enthusiasm with our patrons! Look for some new programming options, including monthly teen events and a new tech series for preschoolers and their parents coming this spring. We will also continue to expand our ebook offerings through Overdrive. Available titles range from board books to young adult fiction.

I hope that we can continue to grow and thrive in the community. YP staff members are always willing to schedule department tours and accommodate requests for special group presentations and storytimes. Additionally, our librarians would love to come to your school or event and share their knowledge of the VCPL or children’s literacy in general. If at any time you have questions or comments regarding the Young People’s Department or its collections, or want to reserve a presenter for your event, please contact me. I’d love to hear from you.

Together, we can make the VCPL a place where we can all learn, connect and grow.

Research Papers

by Miss Alicia

As a parent, I’m sure you just love it when your child comes home from school and tells you that he/she has to do a research paper. This usually means that you will have some involvement with this research paper. Thankfully, there are free resources out there that are of great assistance with completing school assignments such as research papers. The Vigo County Public Library website has the Student Research Center. Once you are on the VCPL website, just click on the Young Peoples tab and scroll down to Student Research Center. Upon entering this site, you can start searching your topic for articles from magazines and newspapers. This site will also let you search radio and TV news transcripts, biographies, books, encyclopedias, photos, maps, and flags. The Student Research Center also lets you limit a search to your child’s appropriate Lexile Reading level. I don’t know about you, but I like finding effective yet speedy ways to get things done. Keep in mind the Student Research Center next time any researching needs to be done!

Santa's Unsung Helpers

by Mrs. Clark

This message is for all those folks who are working in great cooperation with that large jolly fellow who always wear red! Some years it seems that Santa does not get every toy put together so we parents must help. I do not know why Santa cannot call us and schedule this work for a more convenient time but it seems I must do my helping late at night just before the early morning holiday arrives. I recall struggles I have had in the past when item A does not fit into slot C as the directions indicate. I am sure these days of getting things ready for the holiday are not over even though my children are getting older. I am writing to encourage you, whatever situation you find yourself in; with kids, without kids with items that are easy to build or difficult. Know that what you do for your kids does impact them. I hope you have fun moments in your holiday schedule.

I will leave you with one last image of my Santa who explained to me one Christmas morning why my candy cane was broken into several pieces. This story was told to me by my mother when I was 11 or 12. I still remember the story and laugh when I think of it. My stocking was hung with care by the fireplace where brick tiles lined the floor. Santa attempted to place the candy cane into the stocking and missed the opening sending the candy cane crashing to the brick tile floor. But never fear Santa did not give up but tried again to place the cane in the stocking. Once again the candy cane landed hard on the brick tiles. Finally somehow Santa got the candy cane into the stocking. I loved my candy cane and enjoyed imaging “my tired Santa” trying so hard to make my holiday happy. This is the story I try to remember when on Christmas Eve the toys don’t seem to go together as they should and all I want is to get to bed!

Enjoy your family.

Christmas Craft Tips

by Barbara

Parents — if you are looking for a cheap way to do some fun craft projects with your children, or even things for them to use to make gifts for someone, the local Dollar Tree stores have inexpensive paper, scissors, glue, rubber stamps and other items you can purchase. This would keep them busy during the Christmas break and after the newness of their “must have” gifts has worn off. You could also pick up some things for grab bag prizes and stocking stuffers, or for yourself like scrapbooking materials.

Comfort Food

by Miss Holly

Brrr! It is COLD outside. I don’t know about you, but colder weather always makes me hungry for heavier meals, especially those that involve comfort foods! If you’re looking for a great winter recipe check out the yummy ideas on this website. They feature main courses, sides and desserts, so you’re sure to find something delicious! Make yourself a special treat or prepare a unique meal for the whole family.

So You Want To Get Published?

Cover: Will Write For Food by Diana Jacob

by Miss Holly

The following are just a few of the books owned by the Vigo County Public Library on the subject of writing and getting yourself published. Good luck and let us know if you’re successful!

070.52 A – by Kenneth John Atchity - How to publish your novel : a complete guide to making the right publisher say yes - c2005.
070.52 C - Children's writer's & illustrator's market, 2011 - Alice Pope, editor – c2010.
381.45002 H - Hill, Brian E. - The making of a bestseller: success stories from authors and the editors, agents, and booksellers behind them - c2005.
CHAPTER TITLES: The incomparable thrill -- Making the list: how they work -- What causes a book to become successful? -- Reviews: the good, the bad, the ugly -- Changes in readers' taste -- Editors and publishers -- Literary agents -- Getting the books on the shelves and out the door -- Establishing a brand image with readers -- Promotion: publishers' and publicists' efforts, and of course bookstores -- Climbing the marketing mountain -- Building a career -- From the bookshelf to the silver screen -- Where does the idea come from? -- The process of writing -- The bestselling author's life -- The ups and downs -- Final thoughts.
808.02 J – Charles Jacobs - The writer within you: step-by-step guide to writing and publishing in your retirement years - c2007.
808.02 L – Betsy Lerner - The forest for the trees: an editor's advice to writers – c2000.
808.02 M – Norman Mailer - The spooky art: some thoughts on writing - c2003.
BOOK JACKET: “In [this book, the author] discusses with signature candor the rewards and trials of the writing life, and recommends the tools to navigate it. Addressing the reader in a conversational tone, he draws on the best of more than fifty years of his own criticism, advice, and detailed observations about the writer's craft. [He] explores, among other topics, the use of first person versus third person, the pressing need for discipline, the pitfalls of early success, and the dire matter of coping with bad reviews.
808.06605 P – by Franklynn Peterson - The magazine writer's handbook - c2006.
BOOK JACKET: "…. Designed to be useful for both experienced magazine writers and those seeking to break into magazine writing, this handbook provides an exhaustive step-by-step approach taking the reader through every stage of the querying, writing, and submission process. From targeting the right publication to constructing a professional article and from dealing with legal issues to working with editors…”
808.066641 B – by Dianne Jacob - Will write for food: the complete guide to writing cookbooks, blogs, reviews, memoir, and more - c2010.
BOOK JACKET: "Love sharing recipes and want to start a food blog? Interested in writing a cookbook? Like to be the first to discover restaurants in your town? … Learn everything from secrets of developing, testing, and writing recipes to making your voice heard in today's crowded blogosphere and where to freelance online"
808.068 B – by Brooks, Regina - Writing great books for young adults - c2009.
With an 87 percent increase in the number of titles published in the last two years, the young adult market is one of the healthiest segments in the industry. Despite this, little has been written to help authors hone their craft to truly connect with this audience. “Writing Great Books for Young Adults” gives writers the advice they need to tap this incredible market.

What I Want For Christmas

Stressed Woman with Christmas Presents and a Santa Hat

by Barbara

Parents, you don't have to go broke shopping for Christmas gifts. Christmas shopping doesn't have to empty your bank account or max out your credit cards. I remember when my son was younger he would ask for hundreds of dollars of toys and I would go out and run from store to store trying to find everything. One day, when I was telling him to pick up his toys that were spilling out of his play area, I decided he had too many toys. So at Christmas time that year when the giant toy magazine came in the newspaper, it went straight into the trash and he didn't even notice it. Believe it or not watching your spending won't harm your children. It can teach them a very good lesson about spending and help your budget. So parents, when you're making plans for Black Friday, instead of buying all of those "must have" toys that will only be played with one time, have a talk with them about the amount. Purchase one to donate to a toy drive and have your child put it in the collection box and then talk to them about why you did it.