The end of the school year is the perfect time for you and your child to reflect on the successes and achievements of the year! Working with your child to create a memory book is one of the best ways to compile all of the year’s accomplishments and set them on a stage for review. Not only is the process of creating a memory book fun, but it also provides practice with executive functioning skills, like organization, planning, and metacognition, and results in a meaningful keepsake that can be cherished for years to come. Below are some tips and ideas for creating a memory book. Think of these as a starting point and see where this project takes you!
Materials
First, let’s take a look at what components will help to define the past year for your child. This memory book may take on a more academic profile, a more social one, or ideally, be a nice mix of both! Photographs are, of course, one of the main items that will take up space inside a memory book. But you can also add items like report cards, treasured artwork, stories written, meaningful notes or compliments from friends and teachers, and essays or projects. For the memory book, you’ll want to find a blank scrapbook or notebook (or even just blank card stock that you later bind or staple together). You will also need basics like scissors, glue, tape, etc. Patterned paper and stickers are fun too!
Organization
Memory books can be organized chronologically by the different months of the school year or by semesters even! They can also be organized by different types of content. For example, there might be a “school success” section which has all of the items that are school-related, an “extracurriculars” section which highlights all of the achievements made during sports and arts classes, and a “friends and family” section which captures important memories made with loved ones throughout the year!
LayouT
Before adding everything to the actual book, take some time to organize all of the items that will go into the scrapbook by page. You can create a little folder or bag to hold all of the items that you want grouped together for each page or section of the scrapbook. Lay out all of the items on a table before gluing or taping them down onto the pages of the book.
Personalization
After adding all of the special mementos to the book, take some time to encourage a little bit more reflection. Leave space for your child to write captions, anecdotes, quotes, or even little stories next to the items they have chosen to add. For example, if they chose to include an essay that they wrote, next to it they could write, “I was super proud of this essay because…” Having these extra little notes and thoughts included will be so fun for your child to look back at during the years to come!
Creating a memory book is a fantastic way to reflect on the school year and document cherished memories!
Written by Laine J.