the arts Archives - Monterey Bay Parent

Our kids have grown up having their photo taken with the kind of phone almost every adult has in their possession. For many children, that leads to an interest in taking pictures themselves. Photography is a wonderful way to ignite a child’s creativity, helping them see the world from a fresh perspective. Teaching children photography isn’t just about capturing a good shot; it’s about encouraging them to explore, observe, and express their unique view of the world. Here’s how you can introduce photography to children fun and engagingly.

START WITH THE BASICS

Begin by introducing your child to the fundamentals of photography. Explain how a camera works, what makes a picture suitable, and how to handle a camera properly. If your child uses a smartphone, you can simplify this by showing them how to focus, zoom, and use the basic editing tools. Teach them about the different modes and settings using a digital camera.

Encourage them to practice holding the camera steady and taking pictures of simple objects around the house. This will help them get comfortable with the camera and begin to train their eye for composition.

FOCUS ON COMPOSITION

Once your child is comfortable with the camera, introduce them to the concept of composition. Explain how the placement of subjects in a frame can make a photo more interesting. Teach them the rule of thirds, where they imagine a grid over the image and place the subject along the lines or at the intersections. This can help them create balanced and engaging photos.

Encourage your child to experiment with different angles, perspectives, and framing. Let them know that photography is about exploration and that there’s no right or wrong way to take a picture. This will help them feel more confident about trying new things.

ENCOURAGE STORYTELLING

Photography is a powerful storytelling tool. Encourage your child to think about the story they want to tell with their photos. This could be as simple as capturing the daily life of a family pet or documenting a day at the park.

Help them understand that every photo has a story behind it, whether it’s a moment of joy, a beautiful sunset, or a funny expression. This will enhance their photography skills and nurture their ability to observe and appreciate the world around them.

GO ON PHOTO ADVENTURES

Take your child on photo adventures to explore different environments and subjects. This could be a walk around the neighborhood, a trip to the beach, or a visit to a local park. Encourage them to take photos of things that interest them, whether it’s the pattern of leaves, the colors of a sunset, or the architecture of a building.

Monterey County has plenty of wonderful places to take your kids so they can practice using their cameras. A few of our favorite spots include:

The Coast Guard Pier by San Carlos Beach—view sea lions, sea otters, and starfish
Asilomar State Beach—take photos of the crabs and urchins in the tidepools
Carmel Beach—take photos of the landscape and ocean
Cannery Row—take photos of the shops and ocean views

Exploring these spots helps kids practice photography and fosters a deeper appreciation for nature and your children’s surroundings.

Finally, celebrate your child’s photography by creating a photo album or printing and framing their favorite shots. You could also share their work with family and friends or even enter it in a photography contest. This recognition will boost their confidence and encourage them to continue exploring photography.

With so many extracurricular activities available for kiddos, sometimes the challenge is finding an activity that’s a good fit for your child. You may try out several different things before you find one that sticks. Dance is an activity where they can learn to express themselves through movement, which can be especially helpful for youngsters who are just learning how to communicate. Our daughter’s first experience with being cared for by anyone besides her family was in dance class, even before preschool. As a nervous first-time parent, the look of pure joy after her first class was what sealed the deal for us. The physical and mental benefits of enrolling your child in dance class are truly impressive, and I recently had the privilege of sitting down with one of our local dance teachers to discuss.

Abbie Soltis is a dance instructor at The Dance Center. She has been teaching for 16 years, and her students range in ages from 18 months to 18 years. I was happy to pick her brain with some frequently asked questions from parents.

KM: What age do you recommend starting a child in dance?

AS: I teach caregiver classes, which invite a parent or loved one to dance with their young person as well as independent classes starting at age two years old, and highly recommend them! However, it is never too late to start dancing, and it can bring so many positive things to anyone’s life at any age.

KM: What are some benefits of enrolling your child in dance?

AS: Some of the benefits are an increase in confidence, creativity, self-expression, socialization, physical wellness, and etiquette.

KM: Do you have any tips for children and parents just starting out with classes?

AS: My recommendation is to try several classes to find the right fit. This can help to ensure your child loves their dance class and is eager to go back each week.

Getting our kids moving, learning, and being passionate about something can benefit the whole family. We like to start our day with a dance party, accompanied by coffee, of course. It is a fun way to wake up our bodies, connect with our kids, and share some laughs. With so many genres of dance and music there really is something for everyone! We’ve all heard the saying “Dance like nobody’s watching,” but I encourage you to dance BECAUSE our children are watching.

Ready, Set, Click: Teaching Kids Photography

Kids & Dance = Great Combination