Scrapbooking Projects for Kids

What kid doesn't like cutting up paper, peeling off stickers, or drawing pictures? I know my children love every opportunity to work with art supplies. Try channeling some of your child's creative energy into scrapbooking. Scrapbooking is a great way to spend time with your children, share your favorite hobby, and reinforce skills learned in school without them realizing it.

Scrapping with Younger Children

I like to let my kids work with smaller pages such as 6x6, 8x8 or 10x10. The space doesn't seem as intimidating and is easily filled. I also like to design the album around a theme: Younger children like to see results quickly. Instead of having them scrapbook about their year, break it down into smaller "chapters" of their life such as:

• My Family: Have your child create a scrapbook showing his/her loved ones.


• My Favorites: Compile an album showcasing their favorite things at this time in their life.


• My Home: Make an album that also teaches. Include a page on your telephone number, address, points of interest in your town and some state facts.


• Colors Around Me


• Holidays I Celebrate


• Firsts: first tooth lost, first time riding a bike, first time playing a new sport etc.

Getting Started:

• Let your child pick which pictures they would like to scrap. I usually give my children a choice of 3 -5 pictures to choose from. This allows you to be able to plan for embellishments but also gives your child a say in the project.


• Pre-cut paper and embellishments if necessary. If your child is too young or has difficulty cutting complicated items, do it for them ahead of time. Do allow them to practice cutting on easier items though, as it develops fine motor skills.


• Let your child make some decisions. Have them choose color schemes, what embellishment they would like to use, and whether or not to mat a photo. It can be overwhelming to a child if you let them pick from your entire scrapbooking collection. Set out a couple of embellishments and paper choices that work well with the photos or theme and let them choose.


• Work for shorter periods of time. The younger the child, the shorter they will be able to sit and work on a project. Usually when working with my 4 and 5 year olds, our projects takes only 10-15 minutes. Determine what works best for you and your child.

Scrapping with Older Children

Specialty albums, tag books, 8 ½ x11 and 12x12 are all kinds of albums that can pique the interest of your older child.. Decide which kind will work best for your project. Theme albums work for older children as well. Have them develop an album around:

- Friends
- Sports
- Favorite hobbies
- Family
- School highlights
- Summer Fun

If they are interested in Space or any other topic, let them create an album based on that interest. It might not be a traditional scrapbooking album, but what a great way to have a record of their interest for that time in their life! And what a great way to present material learned-in the form of a scrapbook!

Getting started:

• Set aside some basic tools and supplies of their own to work with. This does not have to be anything very costly. Go through your supplies and set out things that would be of interest of your older child and help them build their own supply stash. Agree ahead of time which tools of yours they are allowed to use and whether or not they are allowed to borrow your supplies.


• Go over how to use basic tools. Teach them how to use the paper trimmer, tape runner, eyelet setter etc.


• Sort through pictures. Help your child sort and organize pictures that will be used in their album.


• Teach your child basic design principles. Show them how to mat a picture, how to look at the picture to pick colors, and the importance of adding a title and journaling.


• Help when asked. Remember, they don't need to do it the same way you do it! Let them enjoy experimenting!

Have fun spending time with your kids and scrapping! Your projects don't necessarily have to be scrapbooking pages either. Try making door-hangers, cards, decorative bags, game boards, magnetic boards, and other crafts using your scrapbooking supplies. It will be time and energy well spent.

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