Book Graffiti for Parents: 5 Ways to Hack Parenting Books and Get to the Advice You Need
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Parenting books are great tools for parents, but can be overwhelming and time-consuming to read. Learn how to find and save the best ideas and advice for your family without getting bogged down with information you don’t need.
Need to tame a toddler’s tantrums?
How about creating some peace between siblings?
Maybe you need to figure out your teen’s drama?
When I needed parenting help, I wanted answers and options and I wanted them fast!
I began to read parenting books selectively, the same way I had read my college textbooks.
There was no time to go back and re-read chapters in textbooks, looking for answers the night before finals, and there definitely was no time to re-read parenting books looking for that one piece of great advice in the midst of a tantrum.
It’s time to tap into your inner rebel, grab a pen and let’s practice a little “book vandalism”.
Book Graffiti for Parents:
5 Ways to Hack Parenting Books and Get to the Advice You Need
Break the rules of reading books from cover to cover. It’s ok to start in the middle or jump around.
You can always go back and read the other parts later if you want, but why leave a helpful book to collect dust on a shelf while you wait until you have uninterrupted time to read it?
Let’s begin…
Supplies: Here is a list of items to consider…
Pen or pencil
Highlighter
Paperclips
Sticky Notes
Book Features: Let the book show you where to begin! Is your problem covered in chapter 3? Go there first!
Table of Contents. (A list of chapter and sub-chapter content.)
Index. (Look here for specific words and where they appear in the book.)
Graphics, lists, and tables. (Great quick views of information.)
References. (Other resources if you need more information on a specific topic.)
Vandalize the book: Once you get to the chapter or page that you are looking for, it’s “go time”!
Underline or highlight what you need.
Write notes, sketches, or ideas right in the margins.
Dog-ear or fold over a page, so you can find it quickly.
Add a sticky note to bookmark the page, and use it to write any extra notes.
Blank Pages: All books have them. Blank pages and inside covers with nothing on them, just begging to be marked up! Use these spots for…
Notes and page numbers.
Ideas you have that are related to what’s in the book.
Quotes you want to remember from the book.
Anything you want to add or write that will help your future self get to the useful tips quickly.
Extra Insider Tips:
Keep some sticky notes stuck to the back cover. They won’t fall out like a bookmark, it gives you more paper to take notes on if needed, and it’s great for traveling readers.
Larger sticky notes can be used as extra blank pages in the back of the book if needed.
Leave the pen in the book.
Use paper clips to section off entire chapters that are helpful.
You are ready to dive in!
Don’t procrastinate opening those parenting books you have collected!
There is help, tips, and advice that can make your job easier!
Skip to the good stuff, mark up the margins, and fold important pages!
You will get your money’s worth out of the books, which is really what all authors hope for, and you will be able to easily refer back to the information when you need it again!
So go ahead and vandalize all those parenting books with your best graffiti!