Shutterbug

©2009 begin with a Sunny Outlook

Kids and backyards go together like peanut butter and jelly. They will likely love taking photos of the endless stream of daily events happening in their own yards. Now showing! Ladybugs, pine cones, red birds, the dog, and birds eye views from the tree house.

One fish, two fish, gold fish, orange fish

YOUR YARD IS FULL OF PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES. Have the kids take pictures of things they see in the yard (siblings, friends, flowers, insects, pine cones, acorns, fall leaves, etc.), a get together for a backyard game of croquet, a day of fun in the inflatable pool, making tie-dyed t-shirts, building a snow fort, or for some special occasion, like a party, and then make an annual photo album or scrapbook. This can be a great project for the kids over winter break, summer vacation, or those times when you hear one of them say ‘I’m bored’.

They can give the photos captions, or a theme, or even an accompanying story. And like any good book, it should have a title, such as ‘The Jones’ Yard 2009’, ‘Our Yard’, or ‘Sonia’s Birthday 2009’. Small projects, and small things, can actually be big things in a child’s life. May be this is how Ansel Adams got started!

There are many digital cameras on the market geared toward kids that would make a great gift for a birthday or other special occasion. Or, if you are comfortable with it, perhaps the kids could borrow yours.

You can even be part of the fun. Last summer we helped to care for Wrigley, the family dog of our brother and sister-in-law, while they and the kids went on vacation. As a humorous treat for them when they returned from their trip, we had created a small photo album of Wrigley, as if he had been on vacation, too. We took photos of him, added captions, assembled the album, and gave it to them when Wrigley went back home!

WE HAVE A NEW WEBSITE, and a new name, better Outdoor Living at Home! Eventually, all of our articles will be transferred to our new site. Please visit our new site for new articles. Click the link below:

Better Outdoor Living at Home