4Real Forums: Need rec. for children's encyclopedia

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Topic: Need rec. for children's encyclopedia

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JSchaaf
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Joined: Feb 22 2005
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Posted: Dec 10 2005 at 7:55pm \| IP Logged

My 5 yo has started asking questions that I don't know the exact answers to:
What makes batteries work?
How does electricity work?
How does our voice go from our cell phone to daddy's?
How does gravity work?

I could go on and on. I can give her general answers, but then usually end up saying-"we'll have to get a book about that at the library" She doesn't want to wait, though. Any suggestions? Do people still have full sets of bound encyclopedias? I know I could google these things and get answers, but it seems more satisfying to help her to "go and look it up". Or am I being a Luddite and just need to go with the flow and let her use the internet?? Thanks
Jennifer

Rachel May
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Joined: June 24 2005
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Posted: Dec 10 2005 at 9:24pm \| IP Logged

I say don't let the kids use the computer before you have to. There are so many safety issues, plus I worry that it is just one more thing for them to sit in front of, you know? I doubt the delay will hurt them. My husband learned to type at 22 and is a great 10 finger typist now. For myself, I remember being in the engineering bathroom in college looking at a sign that said "Is the information highway passing you by?" and thinking, "I won't need to learn to use the internet in this lifetime. I just won't do it."

We don't have encyclopedias yet, but I would like some. We do have the older version of this book The New Way Things Work which I'm sure you could preview from your library to see if it's appropriate. I forgot about it until just now, but I'm going to pull it out tonight. I remember it being funny with wooly mammoths helping to explain the concepts.

If we don't have a book on hand and it's a right now question, I go online myself without the kids, and look it up. If the website is appropriate and has something worth sharing, I will let them look at it, otherwise I just explain the answer.

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Rachel
Thomas and Anthony (10), Maria (8), Charles (6), Cecilia (5), James (3), and Joseph (1)

~Rachel~
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Posted: Dec 12 2005 at 2:22pm \| IP Logged

If I were you, I'd check in the local bookstore and look at the kids encyclopedias... there are so many!! Find one you like and put it under the Christmas tree for them all to look up things!

Usually I ask my Dh though

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~Rachel~
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Mum to James 13, Lenore 8
Lighting a Fire

kingvozzo
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Joined: March 28 2005
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Posted: Dec 12 2005 at 2:42pm \| IP Logged

We have the Golden Book Encyclopedia which was a Christmas gift for my son 2 years ago. It's very nice, and appropriate for pre-school and elementary aged children.
I had the same problem with my son asking questions I didn't have an answer to, and this was a great solution. It's also great to reinforce the "art" of actually looking things up in a book. I've found him going from volume to volume following the follow-ups from entry to another.
We got ours at a used bookstore, but the prices on ebay are very good.
I would stay away from letting the kids on the internet. If you don't have an answer for them right away, it would be better for you to look it up and get back to them. The internet is a great resource, and it's great to be able to share some pictures or sound files with the kids, but they don't really need to be there themselves.

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Noreen
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Kelly
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Posted: Dec 13 2005 at 2:22am \| IP Logged

Jennifer,
   We bought a Childrens Encyclopedia years ago and it never really got used. The kids all bypassed it for The Real McCoy. All my children have loved browsing thru the World Book Encyclopedia. It is the best for simple research, but covers a wide range of topics. I just picked up a complete 1985 set for $25. For late-breaking, cutting edge information, you can supplement it with the internet, but I don't think you're being a Luddite at all to discourage too much 'net.
   For my money, you really can't beat the World Book!

   Kelly in FL

PS The "D" volume on Dogs seems to be particularly riveting to the younger set!

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