Adopted children should have the opportunity to "own" their life's story. Making a Lifebook with or for your child that documents his or her experiences and history gives him or her something tangible to hold on to that says "this is who I am". A Lifebook is a cumulative piece of work that you can start for you child before he or she even arrives home and continue to work on as he or she matures into a young adult.

Steps:

1. Choose what type of Lifebook you want to make.

In order to get started, you will need to choose the style of Lifebook you wish to make. You have three main options available to you: a scrapbook style Lifebook, a digital scrapbook style Lifebook or a bound Lifebook.

A conventional scrapbook style Lifebook is organized in a book format, with pages that you design and organize. The pages are constructed using typical scrapbooking materials and are organized in much the same way as an ordinary scrapbook; the big difference is that a Lifebook does not focus in or just one moment in time, it tells your child's whole life story.

For the more computer-savvy individual, digital scrapbooking may interest you more than conventional scrapbooking. Digital scrapbooking is an up and coming Lifebook style whereby you use digital scrapbooking software to upload photos and create your Lifebook pages. There are numerous digital scrapbooking programs and related websites available.

If you are not into the "crafty" side of making a Lifebook, there is yet another option available to you. There are bound book and journal style Lifebooks that you can customize with your child's information.

2. Purchase Lifebook supplies.

A trip to your local craft store is a great place to find all of the supplies that you will to make a scrapbook style Lifebook. Here are just a few of the items that you may want to purchase: A photo album (or 3-ring binder) with acid free pages, stickers, glue, scissors, crayons or markers and other decorations for embellishing your child's book.

Digital scrapbooking software is available if you opt to make a digital scrapbook style Lifebook. You can find this type of software at your local office supply or computer supply store. You will also need some heavy stock paper for printing your child's Lifebook or you can go to your local print/copy center and have it printed there.

If you decide on a bound Lifebook, you can purchase one at your local bookstore, adoption supply business, or online at AdoptionShop.com.

3. Collect and organize photos, documents and mementos that help tell your child's life story.

Gather Lifebook supplies such as photos, drawings, notes, etc. ahead of time. Store them together until you have everything you need to get started. Items that are flat work best in a Lifebook (ie. photos, letters, etc). If there is an item that you would like to "showcase" in the book that is too large or bulky, try taking a picture of it to display on one of the pages (ie. homecoming outfit, gift from birth parents, etc).

Ask your child (if he or she is old enough to understand) what he or she would like to put in his or her Lifebook (ie. special memories captured in a photo, a picture he or she may have drawn, a letter that meant something to him or her, etc).

4. Structure your Lifebook

Spend some time thinking about how you would like to organize your child's Lifebook. There is no correct way to set up a Lifebook, however, it should "flow" and be easy to read and follow. Setting the book up chronologically or organizing it by special moments or events are just a couple of ways to do it.

Creating an outline of how you would like to set up the Lifebook before getting started can also be useful.

5. Begin creating your child's Lifebook

Put together your child's Lifebook using the supplies that you have collected. Start making pages that provide your child with an understanding of whom he or she is and where they came from.

There are a lot of pieces of information that can be included in the Lifebook; "where I was born", "milestones in my life", "my family and pets" are just a few examples. For more great ideas on Lifebook topics you can check out Adoption.com's article, "The Life Story."

6. Join a Lifebook forum.

If you want to get some ideas on creating a Lifebook from other adoptive families or would just like some support during the process, you can join a Lifebook forum. Adoption.com has a forum just for parents who are in the process of making an adoption Lifebook. This forum is a great place to find ideas for "getting started" or making a Lifebook.

Tips:

• No two Lifebooks are the same and there is no right or wrong way to make a Lifebook. A Lifebook should be unique and suit your child's needs.
  
  



• Take the time to involve your child in the process of making his or her Lifebook. The time you spend with your child can be just as rewarding as the book itself.
  
  



• Store your child's Lifebook in a safe, dry place. It is a good idea to make a copy of the Lifebook for your child to handle when he or she is young. This can help avoid damaging the original Lifebook.
  
  



• Resist the temptation to share your child's Lifebook with others. A Lifebook is different than a family photo album or scrapbook in that it is much more private and should be regarded as such. It should be at your child's discretion as to whom he or she wants to share it with and it should only be done when your child is at an appropriate age to make that decision.

Related Links:

• AdoptionShop.com
• "The Life Story"
• Adoption.com's Lifebook Forum

Author: Mandy Starr
© Adoption Media, LLC