If you are short on time, money, or creativity this Mother’s Day you might consider crafting a single or double page layout for the special mom in your life rather than an entire scrapbook.
Last year, my sister-in-law and I had our kids assist us in designing pages that we later presented to my mom on Mother’s Day. The children took creative control by selecting the photos they wanted to feature on their special “Grandma and Me” pages. In addition, they chose particular embellishments and mementos, and even helped write special messages to my mom in journaling blocks.
This year, my daughter is planning to design another layout for my mom in honor of Mother’s Day. However, rather than fill the page with a bunch of stickers, stamps and large mementos, my second grader is planning to write a poem to feature as the highlight of the layout. To add even more spice to the page, my daughter is planning to form the words into the shape of a heart. Whereas I volunteered to download a heart shape for her to insert the words of her poem, my daughter is insistent upon writing out her pose so that each line forms part of a heart. She was inspired by a poem she saw written in the shape of an ice cream cone.
If you are working with a younger child, you may want to assist them with meter and rhythm. A good starting place is a simple limerick, whose meter is kept by clapping. This is a great activity for kids with short attention spans or for children who love music.
Another option is to consult the World Wide Web for inspiration. Sites, such as Poetry4Kids.com feature tons of funny and touching poems that would make excellent additions to Mother’s Day layouts. One of my daughter’s favorites is a hilarious entry by the website’s author Kenn Nesbitt entitled “My Mother Makes Prickly Pear Pastries.”
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