Tag: instant camera

Build a Scrapbook

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If kids love books, then kids adore books about themselves. This cute scrapbook idea came from Ranger Rick Jr., and was the perfect indoor activity for a cold winter afternoon!

First we needed to take pictures, which was by far the most exciting part of the whole project for Travis. An instant camera is so great to have on hand for moments like this; we love the Instax instant mini camera.

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Travis proudly helped load up the film, decide which items around the house needed to be captured on film, and of course pointing and shooting.

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Once we had about 20 photos, we sorted them into categories, such as family members, daily activities, and favorite things.

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How you arrange your scrapbook from here is up to you! We affixed pictures onto colorful construction paper (cut in half, an easier size for little hands to turn the pages). You could also decorate plain white paper with wrapping paper scraps, or marker and crayon designs.

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I helped with the layout and writing on each page, and Travis added stickers.

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To bind your scrapbook, punch out holes with a hole puncher and tie together with colored ribbon.

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The best part was curling up for a nighttime read of the book. Travis was so proud pointing to the pictures he’d taken! Definitely a treasure that we’ll leaf through again and again.

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What pages would you include in your child’s scrapbook? Please share in the comments!

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Make a Time Capsule!

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Here’s an activity you can do any time of year, in any season, on any day big or small. I saved up the idea for the holiday season when I knew we’d have particularly special days to capture on camera. Either way, all you need is an instant camera (we love the Fujifilm Instax mini!) and your family members, and you have the making of a time capsule.

Our particular event was a local Dickens Christmas festival and a performance of the Nutcracker. Travis loved helping take the instant pics as we went along, meaning some were quite blurry, but that added its own charm. Here he is aiming the camera!

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Once home, we sorted through our mementos.

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In addition to pictures, you can add other items from the day, such as tickets to an event…

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…programs, crafts that were made, or souvenirs that your purchased.

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Now seal it all up in a shoebox. Travis loved helping tape down the edges.

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We put a big note on it to leave it alone until one year from now, and can’t wait to relive the memories!

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What event or day is going into your time capsule? Please share in the comments!

Days of the Week Chart

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Travis is in nursery school three days a week now (!), a transition that has gone remarkably well, but which sometimes leaves him confused as to whether it’s a school day or a weekend – a term used loosely since his “weekend” is now four days long.

This easy chart helps him visualize the week, and is great both for pre-readers and for kids who can read the days of the week.

To make the chart, cut a piece of poster board into a strip, and divide into 7 spaces (decorative washi tape makes a nice border between days). Write the names of the days across the top.

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We filled in each space with a visual of the main activity for each day.

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You can draw simple pictures on index cards, and write the words of the activity as well. In addition, we added photos for some of the activities that repeat weekly, like school:

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You can print out photos, or use a handy instant camera for the pics.

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As the final touch, we added a large paperclip along the top, which Travis can slide along as the week progresses. He loves matching up which day it is with which activity we’re headed off to enjoy!

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