Personalised book for school age child new sibling: your child Looks After Their Day

What happens in your child Looks After Their Day

1. Your child packs their school bag beside the baby’s morning routine.
2. At school, your child joins in with lessons, playtime and lunch.
3. After school, your child shares one part of their day with a grown-up.
4. A small baby interruption changes the plan, but your child still gets their snack and story.
5. At bedtime, the family talks about your child’s day before settling down.

How the first page could read

Before the baby woke, your child packed their school bag. A reading book, a pencil case and the snack they had chosen went inside. “Your day matters too,” said Dad, tying a shoelace. Your child looked at the quiet baby basket, then at the clock. There was time for breakfast together.

Your child’s name, look and little details replace these words, and the whole story is written for their age.

Why this story works

A new baby can make an older child notice every change to the household routine, especially on busy school mornings and at bedtime. This story keeps the focus on familiar parts of your child’s own life: packing a bag, seeing friends, eating a chosen snack and sharing the day at home. The baby is present, but not the centre of every page. That gives parents a gentle way to talk about practical changes without suggesting that the older child must always help or be cheerful. It suits children aged 5–8, with enough everyday detail for them to recognise their own routines and feelings.

Reading it together

• Read it before a school morning and ask your child which part of their own day they are looking forward to.
• Pause at the snack and bedtime pages to name one routine that will stay the same for your family.
• Let your child choose a small detail for the story, such as a favourite school-bag item or after-school snack.

Suggested art style: Storybook watercolour

Soft watercolour scenes make everyday family and school routines feel calm, familiar and easy to revisit. A sidekick idea: a chatty robin who notices the small parts of your child’s day. You can pick any of the four styles and change the details in the form.