Back To School Binder

Younger children are often upset at the thought of leaving Mom and family behind for long periods of time. Why not ease the transition for younger children as they head back to school with the gift of a personalized binder?

To create the binder, you will need:

• A binder with clear outside pockets

• 2 heavy sheets of cardstocks

• Photos of family, pets, and friends

• Photocopies of additional family photos

• Alphabet stickers

• Dividers

• Permanent market

Optional:

• Photo frames used in scrap booking

• Stickers with a back to school theme

Make it:

1. Use the Alphabet stickers to spell out your child’s name on one of the sheets of cardstock.

2. Arrange photographs on the sheet. You may want to give the sheet a more finished look by using photo frames and stickers.

3. Slide the sheet into the binder, beneath the clear top cover, so that the photos become the cover art on the binder.

4. Arrange the rest of your photographs on the second sheet and slide it into the back of the binder beneath the top cover.

5. Spell out the name of each subject on a separate divider. Decorate the dividers with photocopied photos of family members.

6. On the inside front cover of the binder, print a message to your child using the permanent marker. It is a bit corny, but this is one that could be used for a Kindergartener going to all day school or a first grader:

You will be in school from eight to two,
Learning, playing and having fun.
Very soon, you will be home again.
Until then, I love you, son.
Hugs and Kisses,
Mom

Note: These binders may cause extreme embarrassment in children going into 2nd or 3rd grade.

-Katelyn Thomas

Katelyn Thomas is a freelance writer who has been making handmade gifts for friends and family for many years. She enjoys creating special gifts using materials she finds in the garden or around the house. She also writes for the gardening site at bellaonline.com and for her work from home site at workinginpjs.com.