The first thing we did was go through pictures so Caitlin could choose her favorites of people, places she had visited as well as those with her family and friends in them. These were the pictures that were going to make up her scrapbook.

After I got a feel as to how many pages we were going to need, we went shopping. We went out and bought 8x11 sheets of colorful card stock and cellophane sheets that are open on the top to slide the sheets into them. I let Caitlin choose a 3 ring notebook and we were ready to create her masterpiece.

I set up each page by gluing the picture (or pictures) in the center and then printed the names of the people and places below them. Then, I let Caitlin decorate each page. Later, without her watching, I slid the pages into the cellophane sheets. Then, I glued the top closed. That way, she wouldn't know how to open the sheets back up. Another way you could do this is by using a laminating kit. And Viola! Kid-friendly!

I went ahead and decorated the front, and titled the book "Caitlin's Very Special Scrapbook." When I gave it to her the next day, it was a huge hit!

Growing up with scrapbooking
She was so excited she sat right down on the floor and read it. She kept the book by her bedside and read it before bed each night. She felt very important that she and Mommy made a special book that was just for her. I told my fellow scrappers about the book and they thought it was a great idea for their little ones as well.

Since we made that scrapbook, we have added many pages to it. There are pages with pictures of her favorite things that she cut out of magazines as well as pages of activities in which she has participated, like the 4th of July parade last year.

Although I did this out of necessity, one very special thing came from the experience. Caitlin has developed a love of scrapbooking. Now, she sits with me at the dining room table and, with her own supplies, decorates pages for her own scrapbook. She no longer has any interest in my scrapbook. After all, she has her very own book to enjoy.

Ben Hochstrasser is the author of FrameFun. He can be reached at bhoc@tiscali.ch.