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Tip 1: Start Early
Children as young as three can enjoy taking pictures as long as they are given
proper supervision and a few rules. At first they may want to shoot a dozen
pictures of everything in sight, but some gentle direction and a little firm
guidance will keep them on the right path. Avoid being too strict, but in the
beginning you may want to limit the tyke to one or two shots per subject.
Tip 2: Keep it Handy
When you head off for a family outing, make the child responsible for bringing
his or her camera. Youth-sized waist-packs are hard to find, but they do make
great camera cases. Backpacks work well, too. At home, designate one special
place where the camera is always kept when not in use. That way it can always
be found when needed.
Tip 3: Don’t Worry, Be Happy
The biggest barrier to teaching photography to kids is that they tend to drop
the camera—and doing that even once can be a calamity. Children can quickly
learn to respect the camera as a precision instrument that should be handled
with care, but don’t expect perfection from the beginning. Be safe, not
sorry, and don’t entrust your best camera to your kids until they gain
some experience.
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