The Inicio Album Story
When my own kids started school, I bought a spiral-bound school memory book from a kindy catalogue, with sleeves and questions for each school year. 'What a great idea,' I thought - until the pages tore from the spiral binder and the first mistake was made and crossed out, despite me having bought a gold pen especially. Addressing these problems soon became a passion project. I saw these albums as a way to help my kids come to "know who they are" (and observe who they were becoming). Helping them ‘know who they are’ has remained at the heart of this endeavour ever since.
I chose the name Inicio after my daughter opened a small Latin dictionary I had given her and discovered that one of its meanings was ‘to inspire’. I knew immediately that this was what I hoped my albums would do: encourage children to reflect on their happiest moments, recognise their strengths and notice what mattered to them. The storage box for each album carries this idea in the words: “Inspire with every precious moment.” People would sometimes ask me "How can an album inspire?" The answer lies in seeing an album as more than a place for photographs. The Inicio Album combines photographs, thoughts and reflections (and the conversations they spark) to capture a child's own unique story.
Over time, spending even thirty minutes each year with the Inicio Album can help your child build the habit of reflection—simply by practising it. Why is reflection so important? It helps us step back from the messages and expectations that surround us—from other people, school, social norms and the media—and consider what matters to us. Reflection and self-understanding help lay the foundations for wisdom. We have a wonderful opportunity to nurture these skills while children are young.
Reflection can also be used for other topics. I have also recently added Money Stories & Choices, which encourages children and parents to reflect on how they think about money, helping children develop more thoughtful money choices over time.
Not sure where to begin? Get in touch and I can suggest ways to capture your child’s story—or perhaps your family’s or your own—creating something that you and your loved ones can cherish for years to come.
- Joanne
When my own kids started school, I bought a spiral-bound school memory book from a kindy catalogue, with sleeves and questions for each school year. 'What a great idea,' I thought - until the pages tore from the spiral binder and the first mistake was made and crossed out, despite me having bought a gold pen especially. Addressing these problems soon became a passion project. I saw these albums as a way to help my kids come to "know who they are" (and observe who they were becoming). Helping them ‘know who they are’ has remained at the heart of this endeavour ever since.
I chose the name Inicio after my daughter opened a small Latin dictionary I had given her and discovered that one of its meanings was ‘to inspire’.
About the Inicio Album
Sleeves for Memorabilia
Our albums come assembled with 14 pockets for keeping certificates, report cards and other memorabilia. Each pocket is followed by a page for displaying a special certificate or class photo or for just using your imagination.
Each pocket can hold 30-40 sheets if required. They are plastic-coated, making them long-lasting and able to be cleaned should you make a mistake.
Archival Quality
All album covers, pockets and display pages are of archival quality, as they are plastic-coated (i.e. cello glazed), making them durable and able to be wiped clean. Our complimentary double-sided tape is also acid free. This means your album is truly a keepsake, able to be passed down to future generations.
Post-screw Albums
All albums are post-screw albums. This makes it possible to easily add or remove sleeves and display pages. In addition to wiping off the permanent marker if you make a mistake, you can always ask us for a replacement sleeve or display page. Albums come with extension screws so that the spine can expand to 50mm when the album is full.
Using our memory prompts
Using our proprietary prompts, you can cover any years from birth. You can also choose what you or your child would like to focus on by selecting those prompts that are more meaningful to you. There are many great quotes to choose from, as well as prompts for relatives or family friends to write words of inspiration. Note that our pre-printed sleeves already have prompts printed onto them so there is nothing to choose. Simply have your child fill in the responses. You may have to help them at first for the earlier years.
Prefer to get started on your own? View our step-by-step guide to using an Inicio Album.
Accessories
Each album comes with a complimentary permanent marker and double-sided tape. As the sleeves and pages are plastic-coated, please use the permanent marker provided when writing on them. If you make a mistake, an adult can carefully remove the ink using a small amount of methylated spirits on a soft cloth.
Designed for safekeeping
Each album is delivered in a large laminated storage box to protect it over time. I completed one sleeve and one page during the long school holidays each year and usually found that 30 minutes to an hour was all we needed. Until then, certificates, photographs and other memorabilia could be stored in the box, ready for when we sat down together.
Let's chat
Join me online—or in person if you live locally—over a coffee or cup of tea to chat about creating your own Inicio Album. Bespoke covers and pages are also available, and we can work together to create the look you have in mind.