Do you love the thought of scrapbooking for kids but don’t know how to get started? Many scrapbookers would love to scrapbook with their kids but are not sure what supplies to offer or how to keep things from getting disorganized or too messy.Should you have some rules or structure to scrapbooking for kids or do you just give them complete access to your scrapbooking supplies?Here are some ideas for scrapbooking with kids.
1. Keep scrapbooking for kids fun and relaxed.Forget the idea that layouts should be perfect.The end result or product isn’t nearly as important as the process of working with the materials when it comes to children.
2. Set aside certain supplies for your children to use when they are scrapbooking.Scrapbooking materials can be expensive, and you might have paper or page elements that you bought for a specific scrapbook, like Hawaii pictures for last spring break’s photographs.Your children shouldn’t have complete access to your scrapbooking supplies.Put together the supplies and paper you want them to use, and keep those items separate from your materials.
3. Scrapbooking for your kids should be appropriate for their ages. This applies specifically to scrapbooking tools.Your children might be able to use scissors, but some of the scrapbooking cutting systems may be too dangerous for your kids. Check the manufacturer’s recommendations.Look over your tools carefully and consider which ones are age appropriate specifically for your children.Be sure to fully explain the precautions and safety rules. For example, when using an eyelet setter, always use a mat under the paper to protect your work surface.
4. Put out photos for scrapbooking that will appeal to your children. Scrapbooking for kids is more fun when they are working with photos that include them. Does your daughter love stuffed animals? Let her do a whole album with pictures of her stuffed animal collection.
5. When scrapbooking for kids, don’t use original photographs, use duplicates. Then, let them use the photograph any way they wish.You will still have an original for your albums.
6. Scrapbooking for children should always include journaling.Your children should use their own handwriting. They should sign and date the page as well. The photographs on the page may be from a different time period, but by signing and dating the page you can later see how old they were when they designed the page.You may need to provide your kids with journaling ideas, but for most children, let them put their own feelings and thoughts on their pages.
7.Keep supplies for your kids well organized.Store materials for scrapooking in separate containers and have your children keep them sorted and organized for their projects.
8. Show your kids scrapbook techniques. Again, consider the ages and artistic abilities of your kids. Simple scrapbooking techniques like paper tearing and matting are easy for most children to learn.If your children are older, they might enjoy embossing or stamping their scrapbooking page layouts.
Scrapbooking for kids is a fun and exciting hobby for families.It is a great chance to spend some quality time with your kids.Consider these ideas and plan some time to scrapbook with your kids today.