Kids and Cameras: Go on a Photo Walk Together

How can taking a walk around the neighborhood become a special event? The secret is to take along a camera! It doesn't have to be an expensive one - it can be your digital, a disposable type, or a children's camera. This camera will help you and your child to create a "photo story." This activity is a personal and excellent teaching tool because the characters are real people. Kids and cameras can really go together creating a day of fun.

In order to do some of the activities that follow:
-You will need to take and develop or print out the snapshots.
- Select specific pictures to tell the day's story.
- Arrange the photos and write words to go with each one.
- Actually put the photos and the words into booklet form.

Your children will need to cooperate for all of these ideas above. How much or how little adult input is necessary depends on the age of the child. Children love looking at themselves in photos, so their interest level is high. If you build on this interest, you can show them the link that exists between the spoken word and the written word, when you write down descriptions of the photos. Older children can do this alone. Challenge their recall skills by asking them to tell you the order and the details of the events. Accept their one-word comments with a smile and build them into complete sentences together.

Photo stories may involve only your immediate family, friends, and pets. Sometimes it is fun to include other community members. For example, on the way to the park, you may meet the mail carrier, a hotdog vendor, or a police officer. Ask to take their pictures while explaining your goals for this project. Most people, charmed by children, love to stop and pose. These photos invite your children to discuss each of these neighbors and their importance to the community.

Your summer photo story today, will be a best-seller long after the season has past. Even in the winter, it's fun to look at your warm "summer photo story."

Small Lessons in Photography

When photographing people, keep in mind the following tips:

-Unless you need to show a uniform or style of dress, consider getting as close as possible to your subject. Head and shoulder portraits use picture space well.
-Unless you need to show a special place in the background, keep your background simple.
- If you subject is posed, try to get him smiling. Everyone looks better with a smile and young children respond better to smiling faces.
- If your subject is not going to be posed formally, give that person something to do. Keeping your subjects busy will make them more comfortable when you take their picture.

Make a Photo Booklet

An easy and inexpensive way to create an album for your photo story is to glue, staple or tape photos to the four sides of a file folder. If two folders (or eight pages) are needed, put the folders one on top of the other and sew them together along the fold with a sewing machine or punch holes and thread a pretty ribbon through all the holes and tie off securely. To protect the photos and extend the life of this album, cover the pages with clear adhesive paper.

Another album can be made using a ring binder, construction paper, and plastic sheet protectors that can be purchased at an office supply store. Glue or tape your photos onto the construction paper and add your descriptions. Place each page into a protective sleeve and add each page to the ring binder. This is an excellent book to use for adding additional stories - there is plenty of room to grow!

Are You in the Market for a Children's Camera?

Make sure the camera you purchase for your child is lightweight, durable, and easy to use. Here are a few that have been recommended.

Leap Frog Digital Camera

VTec Kidizoon Plus

Fisher Price Kid-Tough Digital Camera

Going on walks and taking photo stories together is a fascinating hobby and a great way to spend quality time with your children. Think about taking nature walks during different seasons, create a photo story with your pet, and of course learning about the people in your neighborhood that we spoke of above. Every special event and milestone is a reason to take pictures and make a photo story - these memories become treasures!