Digital cameras for kids: Cool tools and windows into your child's mind

© 2010 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved

Digital cameras for kids take many uses. They requite us the opportunity to see the world from our kids' perspectives. They are as well useful learning tools–helping kids expand their vocabularies, hone their story-telling skills, and enrich their scientific investigations.

Here I review some of the research nigh child photographers, and I offering some ideas for camera-based learning activities.

I besides offer a few, bones tips for choosing your kid'due south kickoff camera.

Why digital cameras may revolutionize research about kids…and enrich your own understanding of your child'south earth

Some people mistrust high tech toys. But digital cameras for kids should make everybody happy–even those who worry that electronic toys and games are stifling children'southward creativity.

Digital cameras eliminate the expense of film developing, making photography an affordable hobby for children. That's a revolutionary alter, only information technology's taking time for the implications to sink in.

For the first time since the invention of photography, it's reasonable to requite even young kids a camera and let them loose.

The results are intriguing. The photographs taken by kids give u.s. rich insights into their minds. We become to see what is important to them. We get to see the world through their optics.

If this sounds like hyperbole, consider that cameras are start to be used past researchers to sympathise what children await at.

At that place are studies that involve mounting "baby cams" on infants' heads (e.1000., Aslin 2009). And some artistic researchers are constructing visual ethnographies of children—giving kids cameras and analyzing the results (e.k., Jorgenson and Sullivan 2009; Pahl 2006; Darbyshire et al 2005; Mizen 2005).

What do kids photograph?

Researchers in Europe gave kids cameras to detect out (Sharples et al 2003).

The kids were from five dissimilar countries and represented three age groups—vii-, eleven-, and 15-twelvemonth-olds. They kids were shown how to use the cameras, but they weren't given any lessons in photography or aesthetics.

When the researchers examined the photos, they noted several patterns:

• The 7-year-olds were more likely to take photographs at home, and they took more than photographs of their possessions (like toys).

• Compared to older and younger kids, eleven-year-olds took more than photographs that excluded people. They photographed more outdoor scenes, and they took the fewest number of posed photographs.

• Overall, the 11-year-olds took the most creative or unusual photographs. They besides produced the greatest number of photos judged to exist of exhibition quality past the researchers.

• The older kids (11-yr olds and 15-year-olds) were more than probable to take humorous or silly photos.

• The teenagers were the most focused on their social world. They took lots of photographs of groups of kids—their peers.

• Kids valued spontaneity. The older kids expressed a conscious preference for photos that were unplanned.

• Older kids—the 11- and 15-yr-olds—experimented with different photographic effects, like odd camera angles.

So digital cameras for kids offer lots of opportunities for play and exploration. What else tin can yous do with a digital photographic camera?

Digital cameras for kids: Activities for kid photographers

Tell stories

Every bit noted by Julia Byrne and Barbara Wasik (2009), kids can use photographs to illustrate their own stories. Kids might begin with their photographs, writing a story to get with them. Or they might write a story starting time and and so take photographs.

For preschoolers, Byrne and Wasik suggest y'all make an activeness out of matching the photos to the text. Present kids with the ready of photos they've taken and ask them to choose the best one for each page of text. Ask them to explain their choices. If aught fits, encourage kids to take some other photograph.

For another twist, give kids a fix of random photos and ask them to weave a tale around them.

Create facial expression wink cards

Aid immature children create a fix of "emotion" photos–pictures of people making a variety of emotional facial expressions. If you print the photos out, you tin can utilize them to play these educational games.

Written report animal behavior

There's a reason why zoologists take photos. You tin can capture details in a photo that are either hard to see or difficult to clarify in real time. And then wild fauna (and even pet) photography isn't merely pretty. It'due south likewise a tool for scientific research. And with a zoom lens, kids may discover that their animal subjects are much more interesting than they ever realized.

Take the photographic camera on nature walks, to the park, and to the zoo. And let kids decide what to photograph. Dove feet? Ants? The domestic dog'due south nose? Kids pick these subjects because they are already interested in them. And, chances are, the results will yield more than learning opportunities than whatever standard, well-composed "postcard" image.

Collect animal tracks and traces

Every bit I've argued elsewhere, tracking may aid kids strop analytical and spatial skills. Photography allows kids to collect the clues they've institute and review them over and over once again. Yous tin can prove kids how to include a coin or other object in the photograph to give the viewer a sense of scale. And have kids make a scrapbook of their discoveries (below). For other tips, see these brute tracking activities for immature children.

Create exhibitions and displays

Creating displays and collections of photographs are activities in their ain right. Encourage your kids to keep their photos in an album or fleck book. For those favorite, special photographs with high resolution, yous might consider blowing them upward for display on the wall.

Measure out modify over time

How does your family'south kitchen change over the form of the day? What does an water ice cube look like as information technology melts? Photography helps kids record changes and think well-nigh the passage of fourth dimension. Here are some examples:

• Apply the photographic camera to document how a blossom (e.g., a morning time glory) opens at daybreak and closes at night

• Put a found virtually a source of sunlight and photograph information technology daily. Document the progress of phototaxis—the establish'south growth in the management of the light.

• Try photographing the same outdoor scene under dissimilar weather conditions.

• Photo the progress of a cleaning or tidy-up session around the house.

• Make rock candy (large sugar crystals) and take daily photos to certificate the growth of the crystals.

• Place a cookie or some other food almost an ant trail and take photos every few hours.

Advice for parents

So you lot're sold on the idea of digital cameras for kids. What next? Here are some tips.

Let kids use the camera without your constant supervision.

Want to run across the world from your kid's perspective? Then you should probably exit him lonely. That's because adults change the way kids employ cameras. Nosotros brand suggestions about what kids should photograph. We tell them how to compose skilful shots. And even if nosotros endeavour to proceed quiet, our mere presence may still influence what kids do.

In ane report of digital cameras for kids, Johanna Einarsdottir (2005) gave children cameras and compared two groups. One group of kids took photos while they showed the adult effectually their school. The other grouping of kids snapped pictures unsupervised. The results?

Even though the adult didn't requite kids whatsoever instructions virtually what to photo, the mere presence of the developed had an effect. When accompanied by the adult, the kids confined their photography to conventional subjects, like images of the school playground.

By contrast, the kids who got to utilize their cameras unsupervised produced very different photos. Well-nigh featured quirky or private places—like hallways, cubbies, and bathrooms. And the subject matter was more distinctive (east.g, photos of other kids goofing off).

Choose a camera with child-friendly features

Yous won't want to allow your child use the camera unsupervised if it's too expensive or delicate. Only in your search for a solution that is both rugged and budget-friendly, exist careful about skimping on features that will brand your child'south camera a really useful learning tool.

Megapixels

Many digital cameras for kids—i.eastward., those specifically designed for kids—often have low resolution and only 1.three megapixels or less.

This might suit your purposes—specially if you don't program to print out the photos. But many people—including preschoolers—complain that the image quality is unsatisfactory.

If you plan to print images at a normal size (due east.g., four x vi"), so yous'll probably be happy with anything over four megapixels. If yous plan to accident upwards your prints, and then you'll want more than 5 megapixels.

But don't have my word for it. The technology is constantly changing, and different people have different standards. Investigate the options yourself.

Zoom

Every bit you shop effectually, keep in mind that optical zoom is better than digital zoom. Why? Digital zoom merely enlarges the pixels, and so you get more "snow" or "noise."

Expandable memory

Get an extra memory menu. Kids accept lots of pictures. You don't want to exist pestered every hour to empty a full carte du jour.

Batteries

Some cameras run on AAs, which is extremely convenient. You can use rechargeable NiMH batteries or disposables. The charge doesn't last long, yet, so you'll want to keep a supply of charged batteries at hand. Depending on how many shots you tin can get per accuse (which varies by camera), this might seem like as well much bother.

The alternative is to buy a photographic camera that comes with a proprietary rechargeable battery (i.due east., one that is designed specifically for use with your brand of camera). These last longer between charges. But at that place are two problems:

(1) if the camera'due south proprietary battery runs down at an awkward moment, you're out of luck. Y'all must recharge the proprietary bombardment earlier taking more pictures.

(2) The proprietary battery will eventually neglect to hold a charge and crave replacement. Replacement batteries are expensive and they may go unavailable if your photographic camera's model becomes obsolete.

For these reasons, some people buy an extra proprietary battery when they buy their cameras.

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References: Digital cameras for kids

Aschermann, E. et al. 1998. Photographs every bit Retrieval Cues for Children. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 12, 55-66.

Byrne J and Wasik BA. 2009. Picture this: using photography equally a learning tool in early childhood classrooms. Babyhood Didactics 85(4): 243

Clark-Ibanez M. 2004. Framing the social world through photo-elicitation interviews, American Behavioral Scientist 47(12): 1507-1527.

Darbyshire P, MacDougall C, and Schiller W. 2005. Multiple methods in qualitative research with children: more than insight or merely more? Visual Communication 2: 303-320.

Einarsdottir J. 2005. Playschool in pictures: Children's photography equally a inquiry method. Early Child Evolution and Care 175: 523-541.

Good L. 2006. Snap it up: Using digital photography in early childhood. Babyhood Pedagogy 82: 79-85.

Jorgenson J and Sullivan T. 2009. Accessing children's perspectives through participatory photograph interviews. Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung / Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 11(ane), Fine art. 8, http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs100189.

Mizen P. 2005. A piffling "low-cal work"? Children'due south images of their labour. Visual Studies 20(2): 124-139.

Pahl One thousand. 2006. An inventory of traces: children'due south photographs of their toys in three London homes. Visual Communication 5(1):95-114.

Rasmussen, Kim. 2004. Places for children—Children's places. Childhood 11(two): 155-173.

Sharples M, Davison 50, Thomas GV, and Rudman PD. Children as photographers: an analysis of children's photographic beliefs and intentions at three historic period levels. Visual Communication 2: 303-320.

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