Why some parents still cover children’s books with brown paper

Every year, as schools reopen, many parents return to a familiar routine. New textbooks and notebooks are bought, names are written on the first page and the books are carefully covered with brown paper. For some families, this is simply a practical way of protecting schoolbooks. But for others, the habit may have become something more meaningful. Even when schools no longer require brown-paper covers and children have access to plastic covers, digital notes and other learning materials, some parents continue with the tradition. Psychology suggests that repetitive actions can sometimes take on the qualities of rituals, particularly when they provide a predictable sense of order during periods of uncertainty.That does not mean every parent who covers books is anxious, overly controlling or nostalgic. There is no research showing that brown-paper book covering itself is a psychological ritual.