3 ms·

It sounds like a really great program. Unfortunately, when I tried to sign up it wasn't available in my area. It wasn't really clear why until I read this art

by pfranz 8y ago

It sounds like a really great program. Unfortunately, when I tried to sign up it wasn't available in my area. It wasn't really clear why until I read this article which says, "available in communities where a local partner has teamed up with the Imagination Library." I wished they had at least offered some sort of suggestion or mailing list for those who they can't service. I could likely afford to buy a book each month, but don't have the time to spend researching which ones are worth buying. Similarly, my pediatrician hands out an age-appropriate book at each visit.

dmix 8y ago
True, they could include a link to how to be come a local agent in their 'rejection' letter. Municipal stuff like that tends to be easy to figure out, ie knowing someone who works at a library.
User23 8y ago
Successful charities always require community involvement. As the sibling comment says, the real criticism is that they don't encourage you to get involved.
themodelplumber 8y ago
Our local (rural) community foundation signed up, in case there is one near you under which you'd like to light a spark. My kids got those books for years and it was fun and nice to come home to such a generous and quality gift. But the library, library book sales, and other local sources like garage sales or credit-swapping consignment shops are also enough alone around here to pile the books quite high. In addition, screen time is absolutely wicked these days compared to when I was a kid. Hoopla is amazing, as are the various sandbox games in which you can mine, farm, build, design, and just explore. I grew up glued to the computer so I take a pretty "whatev" approach as long as I know the screen-activity characteristics are broadly "good" or better yet "fitting for my kid's psychological needs".
- pfranz 8y ago
  Yeah, the library is a great resource. Another parent and I were talking the other week about handing-down books, but young kids are absolutely brutal with books. There are books I've already bought 2-3 times. I do look forward to donating the books that have survived to my local library or to another family when he outgrows them. The thing I really like about this program, that I have a difficult time doing in my own, is a regular age-appropriate book. It's hard to remind yourself every few weeks to try something new. When you think of books you liked as a kid, like "there's a monster at the end of this book," isn't always at the right level for your child and I always err on what he liked yesterday not really knowing what he'll grow into next.

by pfranz 8y ago

dmix 8y ago

True, they could include a link to how to be come a local agent in their 'rejection' letter. Municipal stuff like that tends to be easy to figure out, ie knowing someone who works at a library.

User23 8y ago

Successful charities always require community involvement. As the sibling comment says, the real criticism is that they don't encourage you to get involved.

themodelplumber 8y ago

Our local (rural) community foundation signed up, in case there is one near you under which you'd like to light a spark. My kids got those books for years and it was fun and nice to come home to such a generous and quality gift. But the library, library book sales, and other local sources like garage sales or credit-swapping consignment shops are also enough alone around here to pile the books quite high. In addition, screen time is absolutely wicked these days compared to when I was a kid. Hoopla is amazing, as are the various sandbox games in which you can mine, farm, build, design, and just explore. I grew up glued to the computer so I take a pretty "whatev" approach as long as I know the screen-activity characteristics are broadly "good" or better yet "fitting for my kid's psychological needs".

pfranz 8y ago
Yeah, the library is a great resource. Another parent and I were talking the other week about handing-down books, but young kids are absolutely brutal with books. There are books I've already bought 2-3 times. I do look forward to donating the books that have survived to my local library or to another family when he outgrows them. The thing I really like about this program, that I have a difficult time doing in my own, is a regular age-appropriate book. It's hard to remind yourself every few weeks to try something new. When you think of books you liked as a kid, like "there's a monster at the end of this book," isn't always at the right level for your child and I always err on what he liked yesterday not really knowing what he'll grow into next.