Should You Save Children's Artwork?

Last week, we focused on opportunities to try photography with kids.  

But what about mom and dad? or grandparents?  Digital photography has opened up new opportunities for them as well.  

Particularly with the first baby, it can seem that every moment is a milestone and there is so much to capture.

As our babies turn into toddlers, picture taking becomes more challenging as children are on the move with minds of their own.  Action shots and candid photos replace those happy baby faces gazing at mom.  

Often parents focus on recording the big events: birthdays, first swim lesson, visits from relatives.  But keep your camera handy for other moments to capture as well. 

I should begin by confessing that I can be a bit obsessive with documenting. I just don't want to miss anything, and taking a picture allows the illusion that I can "save" the moment.  

It also heightens my awareness in the everyday. I am looking for something special to record, for steps of a process, and for something to reflect on later.

Picture taking is a great tool when kids are building too.  You know that precious Lego creation that just has to be saved.  What about taking a picture to remember it so it can be disassembled to build something new? Or, better yet, take a picture of the proud builder with his creation.  That is the expression you will really want to remember.

I am asked all the time about saving and storing children's artwork - what do you do with it all?  Do you save everything?!  As kids get older, their collections grow and there may not be room to save everything - digital photos are a great way to record favorite creations, especially those made of natural materials that just might not stand the test of time.

It is even better if you happen to have captured the great look of concentration as your child created their work in addition to a shot of the finished piece.

Take some time to do some careful observing and invite your children into your new creative activity - see what they want you to photograph, what they think about the pictures.  Pairing some notes about your child's observations as well as your own will add value to this activity in building creative connections now as well as recording memories to treasure.