A homemade book

Desiree of So Fawned recently reminded me of a website I once explored and have now returned to reading. It is a mine of information on all kinds of things, from building yurts to making natural swimming pools to organic gardening tips to things you should put in an emergency survival kit should a disaster hit your area. Wowser.

But this little project, although not half as exciting (!) has got me interested and I'd love to try this with Leela. It comes from an article entitled 'Six Fun Toys You Can Make at Home' and is written by Aly Van Dyke. I fancy having a go at this great book idea, which is aimed at 21 month old toddlers:


"Children may start to string words together once they have about 50 words in their vocabulary, or by around 18 months. However, their sentences will usually be missing certain parts of speech, such as adjectives and some verbs. There are plenty of ways to help your child expand and remember his or her vocabulary, though the best way is usually practice. Talk with your baby all the time. Repeat what he or she says and say things the way things should be said (PAT uses the example of when your child says, “Daddy work,” you say, “Yes, Daddy went to work”). The following activity will help your child expand upon the words he or she has already learned by turning the words into phrases.

Word Book

• 4 Ziploc bags (sandwich size)
• 4 pieces of construction paper cut to Ziploc bag size.
• Glue or double sided tape
• Scissors
• Old magazine
• Stapler or sewing machine
• Tape (if stapler is used)
• Marker

1. Sew or staple four Ziploc bags together at closed ends (if stapler is used, put tape over exposed staples).
2. Make a list of eight words the child knows.
3. Look for pictures of those activities or objects in magazines and cut the pictures out.
4. Glue (or use double sided tape) to attach one picture on each side of the four pieces of construction paper.
5. Write the word the child can say under the pictures and add one or two other words to it. (PAT uses the example of writing “big cat” or “the cat is sleeping” for a picture of a cat.)
6. Slip the sheets into the bags and close securely.

Hold the book so your child can see the photos and look at the different pages of the book. Talk about each of the pictures and occasionally ask him or her to point to something in the picture. PAT says this book will help your child associate words with pictures and learn to formulate sentences, and suggests that the book should be read several times a week."

I'm not sure who PAT is, but is sounds she sounds like someone in the know ;)

I've been trying to think up 8 words that Leela knows how to say confidently. Let me see... baby, ball, teddy, bird, Nanna, Bam (as in Bampa - her grandad), Mummy, Dada, Humba (cow), boo (dog), more (water), down, out, there, pee pee, bus, no... I'm not sure if these will be usable so we'll see if she learns some more whilst I'm gathering materials...

I'll be sure to post up some pictures once I've given it a go!