Encourage your child to discover his eye for photography and the joy of displaying his work.
Hover over each Learning Benefit below for a detailed explanation.
What you need:
- disposable or digital camera
- picture frame (store-bought or homemade)
- oak tag or construction paper
- glue sticks
What to do:
- Explain that someone who uses a camera is called a photographer. Let your child decide whether to take photographs indoors or outdoors. Show him how to use the camera, but encourage him to decide for himself what pictures to take. You may be surprised at his ideas.
- When he's finished taking pictures, have them processed, or print at home if you are equipped. If you used a digital camera, let your child choose which images to keep and print.
- Decorate a precut picture frame (such as a foam frame from a craft store) or make your own from posterboard or oak tag paper. Cut differently colored and textured paper into small shapes. Invite your child to rub a glue stick over the picture frame and decorate it with the paper squares to create a mosaic effect.
- Using the glue stick, mount one of your child's photos (let him choose a favorite) on a sheet of oak tag or construction paper. Allow for a border the size of the frame you made.
- Place the photo in the frame and display!
- Encourages creative expression
- Builds self-esteem