Making a Memory Book for an Older Child

It’s Never too Late to Record Special Childhood Memories

Aug 8, 2009

Woman and Child Looking at Pond, Taylorschlades

Create a lasting gift of memories for a child of any age long after the baby years.

Pressed for time, many parents leave baby book work at the bottom of a long to-do list. And for families formed after a child’s birth and infant years (such as step, foster and adoptive families) a traditional baby book won’t work. It’s never too late, however, to create a special memoir that tells each child’s unique story.

How to Get Started

Think about the important life stages through which the child already has passed. Don’t worry if exact dates can’t be recalled. Dates aren’t as important as the unique details. Consider the interesting minutiae surrounding not only milestones but also everyday routines. For example, what was the baby’s bedtime schedule?

What will matter most years from now is the people that shared milestones and daily activities with the child. Let the memory book reveal those colorful details. For example, who taught her to ride a bike and where did they practice? Place a special focus on the areas of life valued most by the family. Examples might include faith, education, family events, etc. Adoptive families should consider adding elements of a life book to their child’s story.

How to Organize the Memory Book

Narrative formats with paragraph headings titled by subject work well when describing events in detail. For one- or two-word answers, a colon between the subject and answer suffice. For example, favorite color: pink. The memory book might also be divided into life stages such as baby years, toddlerhood, preschool, etc.

Publishing the Memoir

Several design alternatives exist. The least expensive option is a three-ring binder with clear sheet protectors. An already-bound portfolio with sheet sleeves is another affordable option. Web sites such as Picnik allow designers to create their own scrapbook pages. Another option: Visit a scrapbook store and choose the perfect binder, paper and embellishments.

Dozens of scrapbook software options are available, ranging from free software such as Smilebox to Adobe Photoshop CS4, which costs about $700 for the full version. Some computers already contain publishing software. Microsoft Publisher and Apple’s Pages provide easy layout options. And simpler word processing programs that allow insertion of photos and graphics also work.

Recording Special Memories

It’s never too late to create a meaningful account of a child’s life. The beauty of crafting a memory book from scratch is total control over what’s included and how much space is allotted per subject. Include a few or a lot of photos and decide exactly where to place them. No more baby books with empty pages and blank lines!

The copyright of the article Making a Memory Book for an Older Child in Scrapbooking & Paper Crafts is owned by Tricia Masenthin. Permission to republish Making a Memory Book for an Older Child in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.