I-Can-Do-It Celebration Book

Supports this milestone

• expresses confidence in own skills and positive feelings about self. — Head Start ELOF

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Materials

• A few sheets of paper folded or stapled into a small book per child
• Crayons or markers
• Optional printed photos of the child doing activities
• Optional stickers or "I did it!" stamps

Steps

• Talk about things the children have learned to do, from zipping a coat to building a tall tower.
• Invite each child to draw or add a photo of one thing they are proud they can do on each page.
• Sit alongside and ask children to tell you about each page, writing their exact words down.
• Help children add a positive word about themselves, such as "I am a hard worker" or "I am kind."
• Let each child share one page with the group and lead a cheer for their accomplishment.

Variations

• Keep the book open and add a new page whenever a child masters something new.
• Send the book home so families can celebrate and add accomplishments too.

Differentiation

• Scribe for children who do not yet write and offer photo choices for those still building language.
• For older children, ask them to explain how they learned the skill and what was hard about it.

Accessibility

• Notice effort and specific actions so every child can feel competent, and accept AAC or gesture for sharing.

Safety

• Supervise use of staplers and small materials.

Practices these skills

• Expresses Confidence in Self

Evidence

• Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs (4th ed.) — National Association for the Education of Young Children · 2022 · National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)