The Different Sections of a Homeschool Memory Book

Having a homeschool memory book can be a great source of memories. On one hand it's a good record of academic progress. On another, it's a way to measure and remember certain milestones. Memory books are creative road maps of your child's path, past, present, and possibly future.

Naming and About Me Sections

Naming it "my memory book" is traditional but there's always room for creativity. This cover page is a place where your child's originality can be expressed. Kids can personalize hand-drawn pictures for the cover. The "About Me" section keeps track of milestones in your child's life. Vital statistics about height and age are ways to help parents chart your child's evolution.

Family

Being homeschooled means your child is closer to the family than most. A great way to really celebrate that connection would be in this Family Life section. Here is where kids can note changes to the family that affected him or her, such as a new sibling or a new pet. Photos added here provide a summary of what your child deems as important happenings during the year. A great way to see the world through your child's eyes.

Favorites

Depending on how extensive you want to make it, favorites can be a longer section. The first page could be about favorite subjects and projects throughout the year. Again, pictures would definitely be good additions to here. The next page could be about general favorites. Throughout your child's life things like food and movies help put the memory book in context. If your child is able to realize favorite songs or movies, it shows a healthy sense of self.

Field Trips

Being home all the time can feel confining. Kids need to understand the outside world and that's where field trips come in. Here, kids get to share their own take on their favorite field trip, what it meant to them, and what they learned. You could gain insight into your child's perspective of the event. What better way to know if that particular jaunt was worth it.

Physical Education

Keeping kids active can be a challenge. It's so tempting to just sit down in front of the computer all day. Because the temptation to be sedentary is strong, a special effort must be made by all teachers and coaches to bring physical activity to children not just for exercise but for social skills. Participating in sports activities with peers helps kids develop empathy, team paper writing skills, and sportsmanship. Having a well-rounded education, including physical activity helps kids be better students.

Arts and Crafts

Being in school is not just about academia. Having a fine arts interest helps them to apply classroom learning in a different way. If your child participated in music, dance or drama activities, this is the section to log that. What they learned from the teacher, from the activity can give insight into how he or she is affected. In some cases, a child may share the activity that's least beneficial, which gives you a chance to make some changes.

Friends

Now, having imaginary friends is a part of a child's natural development. However, the transition to real friendship is paramount to creating a socially healthy child. As a homeschooler, it's even more important to nurture outside friendships. These can happen during sports or art activities. Getting to know your child's friends and what they like to do together gives you peace of mind.

My Future

What are your child's plans next year? What does he or she want to grow up to be? Whether it's a firefighter, a ballerina or a superhero, it's never too early to start goal setting; that's why this is an important section. Your child can make future plans and as time goes on, both of you can see how those plans changed and developed.

It's a good idea to start a homeschool memory book at the beginning. Keeping great records of your child's social and mental development helps you to understand what may need improvement. Additionally, children get to share the world as they see it, which can provide valuable insight. Apart from tracking milestones, a memory book can be a great source of pride