PULL-OUT: Tips for Creating
a Family Story Book

These suggestions are ways to make your Family Story Book long lasting. But most importantly–just do it–and in the process enjoy it with your children and other family members.

PREPARING YOUR MATERIALS

• Think about family backgrounds and stories to pass on to children. Consider your own strongest family memories and what memories of childhood you want your child to have. Think about current family routines and activities as stories.
• Collect the materials you will need. Use quality materials—fade resistant and acid-free colored paper is best. Gather glue or other adhesive; scissors and paper-edges in patterns; rulers, pencils, erasers, a hole punch, camera, and a 3-ring binder for the story book cover.
• Collect items to include. Make hand or footprints for the book using paper and paint. Take pictures of family members doing everyday activities—waking up, eating meals, playing, going to and from Head Start, and going to sleep at night.
• Gather souvenirs and keepsakes to include—photocopies of marriage and birth certificates, babies’ ID bracelets from the hospital, greeting cards and letters, children’s artwork, ticket stubs, pressed flowers or leaves, party napkins, magazine pictures, and old photos.

ASSEMBLING YOUR FAMILY STORY BOOK

• Make the Family Story Book a record of daily life as you live it. Use your souvenirs and keepsakes.
• Use photos to tell stories. Try out a variety of ways to display photos and use interesting materials. The photos can be cropped; you can use templates and make mats, corners, and decorative edges.
• Write about the photos to create a record of family life that brings back memories and stimulates storytelling.
• Make a list of children’s favorite games and play activities and decorate it with artwork. Include it in the story book along with pictures of children at play from magazines or use family photos that show your child playing favorite games.
• Create mini-posters of your child’s stage of development for the story book.
• Create a page showing the family enjoying their favorite activities like exercising, enjoying playgrounds, playing sports, picnicking, cooking, reading, or other pastimes.
• Supplement photos and drawings with pictures you and your children find in magazines and catalogues.

CONTINUING YOUR FAMILY’S STORY
The Family Story Book can continue as the family grows and changes. Collect items to add in the future and encourage your children to save and add their own keepsakes.