A Book About Me

Materials You Need: Paper (plain or colors), pencil or crayons or markers, tape or stapler; First page of a book already written with words “A Book About Me.” Cards or paper with your child’s first and last name, age, and home address written in large letters (so she can try to copy). Anything else to decorate the “Book About Me.”  For example, stickers, photos of your child, etc.

What You Can Do Together: Invite your child to make a special book all about him or her! Make the first page “My Name” — help your child to say and copy his or her name, first and last name, on that page.   Your child could draw a picture of her- or himself on that page or paste a photo. Then the next page can be “My Address.” Help your child to copy her or his address onto that page, doing some of it for your child if he or she is not yet able to write it.  Here your child can draw a picture of where he or she lives. 

Then, if your child is interested, you can add more pages about her or him, such as “My Pet” (if your child has one), “My Favorite Food,” “My Brother,” etc.  Work together to write words and encourage your child to draw.

Finish by taping or stapling the book together.  Read it to others in the family!  Put it in a place where your child will find it and read it over and over again.

What Your Child is Learning:  For their own safety, it is important for children to know their full name and address if they become lost.  Knowing this kind of information also builds your child’s sense of identity and place in his or her family and community.  This activity strengthens your child’s literacy development — her or his knowledge of letters and words and the importance of reading and writing in daily life.