Joyful learning

When children want the same book ten times

13 January 2026 · 3 min read · By Asma Balfaqih

Almost every family knows this moment. The child brings the same book yet again, and the parents already know every sentence by heart. The temptation to suggest a different book is strong.

For the child, however, the repetition is exactly the point. The first time it follows the plot. The third time it notices details. The seventh time it speaks along, fills in words and immediately notices when someone skips a page.

My suggestion is therefore to use the repetition instead of avoiding it. Let the child say the last sentence on every page, or tell the story together without the book. It is the same text and yet a new exercise every time.