Five Ways to Document your Child’s Life

By Kathy Chin Leong

Parents are always looking for ways to capture that fragment of time when little Johnny scores his first soccer goal or when Brittany learns to ride a bike. Below are five ways to record these memories.

1) Scrapbook by topic. Choose a theme such as birthdays, sports or vacations. This way you can organize your photos and snippets in a more coordinated fashion. Save photos that parallel each other from year to year so you can see how your child has grown, such as the birthday cake picture or the soccer team photo. To save time, purchase several copies of the same scrapbook so you have an identical size that is easy to store. For ideas for art layouts or themes, visit your local scrapbook store or crafts retailer.

2) Videotape or audiotape interviews. Kids do say the darndest things, and when you can snag them on video, it’s priceless. Once your child can talk, pose as a reporter and ask him significant questions: What do you want to do when you grow up? What kind of person would you like to marry? What’s your favorite vegetable? What’s your favorite TV show? Ask the same questions year after year. Have her tell a story or sing a song. If your child plays an instrument, you can record the song. Don’t forget to transfer your findings to DVD.