How to Introduce Kids to Photography With a Children's Digital Camera

Besides being great fun, a children's digital camera offers kids all sorts of opportunities to express their creativity and to see the world in new and exciting ways. But, as with so many other new experiences, how a child relates to photography and what they do with it depends on how you introduce it to them.

You can give a child any of the many digital cameras designed for children and have that be the end of it. The chances are the camera will become just another toy in their collection. But with a little time and support from you, even if you don't think much of your own photo talents, a child's first experiences with photography can be the start of a lifelong love affair with photography and the creative growth that can come from photography. The rest of this article will point the way for you.

The first thing to do is to get over any misgivings you have about your own photographic skills. What, you say you're so unskilled you don't even own a camera? It doesn't matter! All you need is a digital camera designed for children. For ages roughly 3 to 7, there are many low and moderately priced cameras available with rugged design, just for kids. For older children, a simple low-priced point and shoot camera will delight them. Just do a search on one of the larger shopping sites for kid's digital cameras and you'll find them. Keep reminding yourself that you don't have to be an expert. Especially with children, all you have to do is know a little bit more than they do and you'll be their idol.

Can you operate an on-off switch? Can you figure out which end of camera to look through? Can you hold a camera without moving wildly? Can you figure out which button to press to take a picture? (Hint: kids' digital cameras usually have a big colorful one on top or in front.)

If you answered yes to these questions, congratulations! You're qualified to introduce a child to the fun and joy of a children's digital camera.

The next thing you need to do is remember to have fun. Just being around a wide-eyed child as they take their first pictures should make that real easy.

After you give your child their camera, just let them have fun. They'll be excited and want to snap away. You may have to put your heads together to figure out the basics like turning the camera on, and pressing the shutter button. But then relax and let them start taking pictures. It's not even important that they hold it up to look through the viewfinder if you get a kids digital camera with an LCD screen.

Here's a tip. Do you like pictures of smiling people? When a child takes a picture of adults it's almost guaranteed to prompt big smiles as they delight in having their picture taken by the little one as much as he or she enjoys taking the pictures. Point out to your child that if they ask people to smile, your friends and family will likely smile big and laugh for the budding photographer. Kids get the best pictures!

When you view the first pictures together (most children's digital cameras have screens to view the results), your child may be excited with the results or there may be some disappointed. In either event, a little bit of praise and "congratulations on taking your first pictures" will set the stage for good times that follow.

Along with praise, you can make simple suggestions for doing things a little differently the next time such as reminding to hold the camera steady by saying "READY--STEADY--1, 2, 3," or "try getting a little closer (or further away)," or "lets' go outside where the light is better." The important thing is to focus on one skill at a time and don't rush it. Tomorrow is another day.

One last recommendation. Give your internal art critic a vacation and share in your child's enthusiasm and joy. The camera will give you the opportunity to see the world through your child's eyes--and that is priceless.

Follow these simple guidelines and your child will be off to a great start with his or her children's digital camera.

Steve Edelstein is a lifelong amateur photographer and digital camera expert. His career path includes being a Ph.D. Physicist, Business Analyst, and Life Coach. Steve's passions include supporting kids to be all they can be. He has two grown children and is a volunteer mentor with the I Have a Dream Foundation.

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