How Photography Benefits Your Kids

These days there are so many challenges for your kids attention, some good, some bad!  One of the challenges that kids face today that we may not have had to face in our youth is information overload; one of the main issues is how to separate the wheat from the chafe.  Information these days come as us so fast that we develop a resistance to it.  Photography is one of the things that can help us refocus and pick out the important details of what we are presented with.  As we know we’ve all taken that shot and then realized when we’ve look at it on our monitor or in print that we have a pole coming out the top of someone’s head or that we have a piece of garbage in our landscape/cityscape or that granny had her teeth in her hand.

These moments of regret post shot are something that is taught by practicing photography.  As photographers we want to put our best foot forward so people will appreciate out work., this means that we have to take the care and practice our craft in such a manner that our images have some inherent beauty or mystery to capture the attention of our viewer and not the faux pas.  The ability to handle disappointment, appreciate success and strive to do better are certainly skills that can benefit your kids.

My introduction to the benefits of photography are not only personal but in my capacity as a member of the Barbados Photographic Society (BPS).   I’ve had the opportunity to see the benefits of the BPS Schools Outreach Program,  the BPS  program is encapsulated in the curriculum of the schools to which it is attached and basic photography skills are taught to children of both primary and secondary school age, in addition to providing instruction the BPS also provide loaner cameras and take the kids on field trips.  The derivatives of the program are outstanding, teachers report that children develop a much greater attention span and that the grades of participants improve.

This is an excellent way for you to teach your kid a few life lessons while leaving the video games at home and getting some fresh air.  What better way to bond with your child and also foster improved attention paid to their school work.  Another valuable lesson also derived from this exercise is for your child to be a creator and not just a consumer.  While the benefits are there be sure that you don’t force your child into it so they resent it encourage them to participate if they don’t want to seek other creative avenues.

Here are some things you can do at both a family and community level:

• Encourage kid to participate in photography
• Start a program at your church/mosque/temple or kids school
• Volunteer your experience to uplift the skills of others

Did I miss anything? Share your opinion in the comments section below.