Preparing for Preschool with a Personalized Photo Book

If you have a kiddo starting a new school this year (be it preschool, kindergarten, or even daycare) I highly recommend you check out this post from a few years ago!

Our DIY preschool photo book was such a major hit oldest child that I’m bringing it back, yet again, for our third new preschooler.

The idea comes from a child life specialist and was suggested to me by a friend when I was fretting over C’s transition from being at home full time to entering preschool two mornings a week. He absolutely loved it and it really did help him feel more comfortable during those first few days of school.

As an added bonus, C would often use the book throughout the rest of the school year to tell me about how he was spending his day.

And for more back to school ideas, don’t miss our posts on additional first day of school comforts, 3 ways to ensure school success at home as well as my pal’s post 8 ways to prepare your child for preschool. Then read on for the full project details…

Reading picture books about preschool is a great start but making a book about your child’s actual school takes the concept to the next level. It allows you to point out, and talk about, exactly what your child will be doing there.

I know you’ve either already started preschool or you’re perilously close to doing so and you’re probably wishing I’d told you about this about a month ago, right?

Don’t worry, my timing is actually perfect – a month ago your child’s classroom wouldn’t have been set up or photo-ready, but now it is. You may even have an orientation or “meet the teacher” day coming up, which would be the ideal time to snap your photos.

And if you’ve already started school, that’s OK too. This isn’t only useful for prepping for the first day – once the year starts, your tot can also use the book to show you what he does all day.

UPDATE: TODAY WAS C’S FIRST DAY AND HE DID WONDERFUL. WHEN WE GOT HOME HE SPENT ABOUT 20 MINUTES GOING THROUGH THE BOOK WITH ME AND POINTING OUT WHAT HE DID ALL DAY. IT WAS A BIT OF A PAIN SCHLEPPING MYSELF TO HIS SCHOOL FOR THE PHOTOS, BUT TODAY MADE IT TOTALLY WORTH IT!

Ready to make one? All you have to do is grab your camera and take a field trip to your child’s new classroom. Take pictures of all the places and things your kiddo will interact with throughout the day.

Label your photos using any basic photo editing software and print them off. Then pick up a clear 4″ x 6″ photo album at Target for $1, insert your photos and you’re good to go.

For ideas on what to focus on, here’s our complete book.

Since C’s school still doesn’t start for a few weeks, there were a few stations that weren’t set up (art, library, etc.) That’s no problem, I’m planning to add to the book as the year goes on anyway with things like the teacher, classmates, school recitals and etc.
What we have so far is enough to give C the gist of what preschool’s all about. He’s only had the book for a few hours and he’s already carrying it with him wherever he goes.