Looking for something fun to get your kids involved with to help them express themselves? Try photography. Children of all ages are fascinated with pictures. Ever notice how they rush over to see a picture on the back of a digital camera right after it has been taken. Imagine how excited they will be if they took the picture.

My youngest boy started taking pictures when he was four years old. He took pictures of everything, and I do mean everything. Cars, friends, flowers, the fireplace, walls. Thanks to digital technology, we were able to go through them afterward and pick out which ones he really liked so we could print them out and delete the rest.

Seeing the world through a child's eyes can be enlightening as well as entertaining. A child's view of the world can be very different from ours. You may also find that your child has an artistic eye and a natural flair for finding what is beautiful in our world. Don't worry if they don't have an artistic flair, they will still provide you and them with plenty of great pictures and memories to enjoy for years to come.

With the number of digital cameras out there, there is one for every budget. For younger kids, a 3mp camera will do fine. They will be able to put together digital albums or make prints in sizes 3x5 or 4x6 with your help. Don't forget to pick up a photo album or scrap book for your child to mount their pictures. Make sure it is their special album, for their photos only.

For older kids and teenagers, you might want to consider a camera of 6mp or more. These will give you better resolution so you can make prints of 8x10 or larger. If you can't afford a new camera, think about buying a used one. Many cities have online sales sites where people can post their used items for sale. If you are buying from someone local, make sure you can test out the camera or have it checked by a professional before paying for it. You don't want to buy it and then find out it doesn't work properly. If buying over the net, check on a return policy.

When they are first starting out, plan photo days where you and your child can head out somewhere, a park, a market, a hike in the woods, and spend some time together taking photos. Of course you can continue this as a great way to have more quality time with your child.

If you are new to photography invest in a good how-to book and learn as much as you can so you can help your child along or consider taking a seminar. Many photo shops have seminars or short course available.

So give your child a camera and see where their imagination takes them.

Learn more about this author, Chris Sherwood.
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