Are you a parent who enjoys scrapbooking? If you do, have you ever thought about sharing your hobby with your child? If not, you should. Scrapbooking is an activity that all can enjoy. In fact, it is the perfect activity for you and your child to enjoy together.
An easy way to encourage your child to scrapbook with you is to take them shopping. Visit a local craft store together. You can pick the scrapbook album and poly storage envelope, but let your child pick out a few scrapbook supplies. These supplies can include a set of scrapbook scissors that cut a special pattern, a few sheets of themed background paper, and a few sheets of stickers. Preschoolers are likely to choose items that feature their favorite movie or television characters. Teenagers are likely to choose items that look fashionable and cool.
If you are an avid scrapbooker yourself, you should have the other needed supplies on hand. These items may include acid-free markers and glue sticks. To save money, let your child use yours. Toddlers and preschoolers can use crayons in a scrapbook if they want, as long as they don’t intend to write on the pictures.
Speaking of crayons and markers, look for items inside your home that can be used in a scrapbook. For example, young children love painting, drawing, and glitter. These items can all be carefully incorporated into a book. Glitter can be sprinkled on top of acid-free glue to create a beautiful and eye-catching display.
Next, you will need pictures for your child to scrapbook with. Never use an original photograph. If you are using a digital camera, you should not have a problem. For pictures from a film print, scan the picture and then print a new picture just for scrapbooking. If you do not have a scanner at home, you can visit one of your local retail stores to gain access to a photo scanning and printing station.
If you are the parent of a teenager or a slightly younger child, you will have to provide your child with little to no instruction. He or she should already know how to make a scrapbook, as it is a very easy process. You can give your child ideas, but you may even be surprised with what they come up with on their own.
As for toddlers, preschoolers, and slightly older children, guidance will be needed. One of the best ways to explain the process to them is to say that scrapbooking is similar to making a collage. They glue a background sheet onto the page. This background sheet can be a special piece of themed scrapbook paper or even just a sheet of construction paper. Then, they can start gluing their pictures to the page. For this stage, acid-free glue sticks are recommended.
If your young child has seen your scrapbooks, they may wish to copy you. This may involve some cutting. Depending on the age of your child, proceed with caution. There are special safety scissors for toddlers and preschoolers. It may be best for you to do the cutting yourself.
One problem that many parents have is perfection. If you are an avid scrapbooker, you may have mastered the trade. However, it is important to step back and let your child use their own creativity. You can share scrapbooking tips with your child, but let them take the lead. A scrapbook made by a child will not be perfect, but it isn’t supposed to be. With that said, never tell your child that. Always compliment their work and encourage their creativity.
The above mentioned tips are for making a traditional scrapbook that involves cutting and gluing. If you are the parent of a teenager, your teenager may prefer digital scrapbooking. Digital scrapbooking requires the use of software that comes preloaded with page templates, unique fonts, and other embellishments. Not only can your child print their scrapbook pages, but they can also share them online with friends.
