Life story book template & guide.
A step-by-step template for social workers, foster carers and life-story workers building a life story book with a child in care. Sections, prompts and best-practice guidance you can use today — on paper or in StoryBox.
Us two
A record of who a child is — and where they've come from.
A life story book is a personal record that helps a child in care make sense of their identity, family and journey. It's built with the child — not just for them — using photos, documents, drawings, voice notes and their own words. Done well, it supports emotional wellbeing, attachment and permanence planning across foster care, kinship care and adoption.
Traditionally these books are made in a scrapbook or ring binder. That still works — but a digital life story book has real advantages: it can't be lost in a placement move, it's easy for multiple trusted adults to contribute to, and it keeps sensitive material securely stored and access-controlled.
Six sections to build the book around.
Use these as chapters. Each one has prompts you can adapt to the child's age, understanding and pace.
All About Me
Name, date of birth, likes, dislikes, favourite things, self-portrait or photo. A gentle warm-up chapter the child controls.
My Family & Important People
Birth family, siblings, carers, pets, teachers, friends — anyone who matters. Use a simple ecomap or 'people who care about me' page.
My Story So Far
A clear, age-appropriate timeline of where the child has lived and the moves they've made. Honest, chronological, without gaps.
Places I've Lived
Photos of homes, streets, schools and towns. Maps and small stories about each place.
My Achievements
Certificates, drawings, sports, hobbies, first-time moments. Everyday wins matter as much as big ones.
My Hopes & Wishes
Space for the child to write or record what they hope for — for today, next year and the future.
Doing life-story work well.
- Work at the child's pace — never rush a chapter.
- Use the child's own words, drawings and voice notes.
- Be honest and age-appropriate about difficult events.
- Coordinate with the social worker and, where relevant, the child's therapist.
- Keep originals safe — a digital copy protects against loss during moves.
- Revisit and update the book as the child grows.
A living, secure version of the book.
StoryBox turns this template into a secure digital life story book that carers, social workers and the young person themselves can safely contribute to — with full audit trail, role-based access and encrypted storage.