The Mom I Want to Be

Turn a simple container into an early reading experience.

 

• tubular container, such as a Pringles or oatmeal container
• photos (family snapshots or magazine clippings)
• clear contact paper

Collect pictures about your baby’s life, highlighting his family: Mom and Dad, family members, friends, and pets. You can also cut out cars, houses, flowers, and other beloved objects from magazines. Glue the photos in a mosaic-like fashion to the can. Be sure to cover the container completely.  Cover your pictures with clear contact paper to protect them, and place plastic lids at each end of the can. Let the book rock and roll. Talk about the photos, pointing out different people and labeling the items. Ask older babies to find items: For example, ask, “Where’s Daddy?”

• Builds vocabulary
• Teaches picture and word recognition