How Do I Use the Family Album?

The Family Album: An Overview

The Family Album is a keepsake or memory book in which the family can write down observations of their child's accomplishments and growth. It complements the Observation Record by matching the areas of development and observation questions. The Family Album involves parents as partners in the assessment process.

Like The Observation Record, there are eight Family Albums, one for each age level of The Ounce Scale. The Family Album focuses on the same six areas of development and uses similar observation questions. These questions are designed to help parents observe their children's behavior and show the unique ways their child demonstrates growth and development.

The Family Album contains a rationale for each question, which describes expected development at the end of an age level. The rationale is accompanied by examples that show a variety of children's behaviors in response to the questions. The Family Album also includes the feature "Try this and see what happens!" which suggests simple, enjoyable activities for parents to do with their children to promote development. There are also numerous "gallery" pages, which have space for parents to add a drawing or photo, or write down a thought or memory about their child.

How do I use the Family Album?

Begin by choosing a section of the album. The family does not have to fill in the album from beginning to end; rather, they can choose which questions to answer based on the child's activities and the parents' interests.

Read an observation question and the rationale and discuss what it means. For example, after reading the observation question, "How does she show she's aware of other children?" you could discuss whether the baby notices other children at the grocery store or neighbors when they come over to visit.

Have the family review the activities in "Try this and see what happens!" and choose one to do with the child.

Have the family use the gallery pages. Parents can draw pictures, paste a photo, write a story, or create anything else that reflects their life with the child.