Scrapbooking with Children

One of life's greatest delights is passing on treasured pastimes to our children. Kids love to participate in everything, so this is a wonderful way to include them. Here are some pointers on how to make the most out of scrapbooking with youngsters: Safety First! When working with children it is super important to use kid friendly tools. What is going to be appropriate depends a lot on your children's specific age as older kids will be able to use more tools than younger kids should. It’s always a good idea to use kid-friendly scissors and non-toxic glue. Look for supplies that will be really easy for kids to use, such as stickers, stamps or other embellishments. Time to Plan! It’s always best to start with a theme in mind. Sit down with your child and brainstorm together about what you are going to create. It’s important that they are included in the planning process so they will be passionate about their project. Once you have a theme in mind and a general idea of what elements you will be including, you are ready to begin! Learning Through Art Scrapbooking can be an amazing way for children to learn and develop skills. Children of all ages will develop their fine motor skills through cutting paper, opening glue bottles and drawing. For preschool aged children, you can use this opportunity to teach them about shapes, colors and textures. For children that are a little older, this can be a great way for them to practice creative writing or storytelling.

Let Their Creativity Shine One great way to help them get involved even more with the process is by taking their own photographs for their pages. Do this by giving them a disposable camera and letting them capture their life through their own eyes. They will love getting to include the pictures they took all by themselves in their very own scrapbook. Because of their short attention, scrapbooking with kids is a project best done over a few days. When they seem to be done creating for the day, just store their unfinished work to be completed another day. Making scrapbooks with children is a wonderful way to spend time together and produce something lasting and important. Watch your child's creativity and abilities grow while enjoying yourselves and creating memories. So gather your supplies, unleash your imagination, and have fun!