Activity: All About Me!
Help your child build a healthy self-esteem and appreciation for his/her own uniqueness by making an original "All About Me" book!
Materials:
- 1-11x17 (or choice size) colored construction paper for book cover
- 8- 8 1/2 x 11 pieces of plain paper, manila or light colored art paper
- glue
- family photos (or copies)
- markers
Directions:
Help your child build self-esteem and express his/her own uniqueness by using these page headings to create an "All About Me!" book. Draw and add personal written or dictated messages to each drawing/page.
- This is Me! (self-portrait)
- My Family
- Home, Sweet Home
- Favorite Pets
- Best Friends
- Eats and Treats That Make Me Smile AND Frown!
- Playtime is Fun! (special toys, activities)
- Read, Watch, Enjoy! (favorite books, movies, and cartoons)
To make a book cover, fold and staple an 11x17 piece of construction paper around pages. Glue photo of child facing the camera on front cover. On back cover, glue another photo of the child facing away from the camera for a fun "Good-bye for Now" or "The End" to this special book! Sign and date each page, including future pages.
Talk about It: Ask your child to share personal thoughts about family, friends, home, pets, favorite foods, toys, pets, etc. Then talk about how your child's own ideas, talents, and interests make him/her such a very, very special person!
Take it Further: Play a fun game of "Who Is It?" by listing personal characteristics and interests, and likes and dislikes, of family members or special friends. Take turns naming characteristics, etc. and guessing the mystery person's identity. Don't forget to include pets for added fun. For example, say "This person is the oldest member of our family. He/she likes to take you to the park and tell you stories about how things were long ago. Who is it?"
With a Group:
Encourage each child to share thoughts, ideas, and favorite memories about themselves, family and friends, home, pets, favorite foods, toys, pets, etc. Then help them express their own uniqueness as a group by making an "All About Us!" book. Give each child an 11x17 piece of paper. Divide the paper into equal sections by making three hamburger folds (folding the page on the width three times). This will create 8 equal blocked spaces on the page to put each of the following headings in:
- This is Me! (self-portrait)
- My Family
- Home, Sweet Home
- Favorite Pets
- Best Friends
- Eats and Treats That Make Me Smile
- Playtime is Fun! (special events, activities and group activities)
- Read, Watch, Enjoy! (favorite books, movies, and cartoons)
Use two 11x17 pieces of poster board for the front and back covers. Glue an enlarged group photo on front cover. On back cover, glue another photo of the group facing away from the camera for a fun "Good-bye for Now" or "The End" to this special book! Add a page for everyone's signatures and be sure to have each child sign and date their personal book page. Attach pages and covers together by punching holes for rings or by having your local print shop attach a spiral binding. Create a schedule and opportunity for each child to share the group's book with family members at home.
