Creating Books at Home

Books are windows to the world outside, and making one with your child is an amazing way to tap into your creative side and bond with your little one. Lindsay gives us some tips on how to get started.

By Lindsay Zielinski

Your toddler is busy these days! It seems as if sometimes there aren’t enough activities in the world to keep them entertained, but thankfully we do have BOOKS! Books are windows into other worlds; they are our passport to adventure even while we are staying safe at home throughout Covid restrictions. It can feel overwhelming to be stuck inside day after day, but there are still plenty of activities to keep us all entertained. One of the most engaging projects for parents and children is to create your own books. For parents it can be relaxing to tap into our creative side and have a nostalgic look through old photos. For children it can be exciting to build independence while helping to create the book, and fun to read it when finished! Creating books together will help your child make vital connections in their brain, building bridges between neurons and setting the foundations for literacy. Looking through and reading these books together helps to build self-esteem, nurtures a loving relationship, and supports a love of reading. So, are you ready to get crafty and make your own books with your little one? Here are some tips to get you started: 

Topic

Follow your child’s interests. What are they curious about? What are a few of their favorite things? Choose a topic that will grab their attention and get them excited! Bugs. Trains. The park. Shoes. Weather. Dogs. Anything!

Materials 

Think about your child’s fine motor skills. Choose materials that can withstand excited hands and are easy to turn with little fingers. Look for card paper, poster board, or other thick materials. You might even make use of plastic page protectors to make the book usable for years to come. Velcro and felt are great additional materials and can be used to make flaps for a more interactive book.

Repetition 

When a story repeats (think “Brown bear, brown bear…”) your toddler catches on to this language pattern, helping them make sense of the story. See if you can create a story that uses a repeating phrase!

Collaborate!

Involve your child in as much of the process as you can. Can they paste a picture down? Can they add color to a background? Can they write a word? Let them take ownership of the project and have their voice heard. This will lead to more engagement and enjoyment of the book after it is finished. 

Make it real

Consider using photos in your books of real places and things. You might even consider creating a story of a family holiday, your family, or a place special to you. This draws in your child and fosters a sense of curiosity about the world around them.

Short and Sweet 

Keep it SIMPLE. One or two words per page is just fine for toddler attention spans. Remember that you can add more descriptions and depth to the pictures and illustrations while you are reading together.

Read it

Keep your unique book in an area where your little one will be sure to see it. Offer it as a reading choice as often as you can. Reading a book that they helped create builds self-awareness, confidence, and supports a love of reading. 

Have fun

Be playful in your reading! Use actions, make different voices, use sound effects. Make reading a fun and playful experience with your little one. Reading should never feel like a chore, and should never be forced. Dig deep, find your silliest self, and have fun while you read!

Making books with your toddler is a wonderful way to spend time together. These DIY books will help support their love of reading by involving them in the magical process of storytelling. One thing to note — the tips above can be adapted to make books with children of all ages. Also, if you find this activity enjoyable and want to make more books, go for it! Try a different genre, different materials, or a different topic. The sky is the limit!

Remember, if we want our children to love reading, we need to make it a joyful experience. Creating books together is a perfect activity to keep our little ones entertained AND support a love of reading at the same time.

Photos courtesy of the author.

About the Author

Lindsay is an international educator, librarian, and bibliophile. She holds a Masters in Children’s Literature, and loves to support parents as they help their child become a reader. You can find out more on Facebook by searching for the group “Linds and the Library” or on Instagram @lindsandthelibrary.

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