Materials:

• chart paper
• drawing paper
• markers and crayons
• stapler or hole punch and binder rings (for book binding)
• camera and film (Polaroid, if possible)
• books about babies and growing up

Objective: Children will develop language, social/emotional, and fine-motor skills as they engage in book-making and language activities that increase their awareness about their own development from a baby to a child.

In Advance: Send a note home to families detailing the objective of this activity. Ask parents to assist children in choosing a photo and a favorite object that the child used as a baby (such as a book, toy, or blanket). Ask parents to place the photograph and baby item in a labeled plastic bag.

ACTIVITY

1. Engage children in a discussion about the things that babies need, such as bottles, diapers, or special toys. Record children's comments on a sheet of chart paper.

2. Explain to children that you will send a note home to their families asking them to assist their children in finding something special that they used when they were babies. Encourage children to think of special things such as a blanket, a favorite storybook, or a rattle or soft toy.

3. Teachers should also share a photograph of themselves as babies and bring in something special from your childhood. This is a wonderful way to model language and encourage the children to share information with his friends.

4. On the day of their presentations, photograph each child with their special item. Ask children to share their baby picture and baby item with their friends. Encourage the children to tell their friends about their item. Why was this their favorite blanket? What did you like about this book?

5. Invite children to create a book titled When I Was a Baby. Glue their baby photograph and a recent photograph onto a sheet of oaktag or drawing paper. Sit with each child to record her comments about both photographs. On the other side of the page, invite children to make a drawing for their book. Make a cover for the book and bind the pages together. Share children's book during circle time and include it in your library or dramatic-play area.

Curriculum Connection

Parent Involvement: Family Sharing Time.
Schedule a special time for each family to come to school and share a photo album and memories of their child as a baby. Ask families to also bring in a picture of themselves as babies. Work with children before the visits to develop questions that they can ask family members about their children and about their own childhood memories. Record children's questions on a sheet of chart paper to refer to during each family visit

BOOKS
The Big Book of Beautiful Babies
by David Ellwand
(Dutton, 1996; $15.99)

Grow! Babies!
by Penny Gentieu
(Crown, 2000; $12.95)

I Can Go to Preschool
by Bonnie Worth
(Golden Books, 1999; $4.99)