Benefits of Family Photos
Did you know that psychology professors have studied the effects of printed photos for children and families?
I came across this study recently and I just have to share it with you.
First off, I want to say that I am not a research junkie; bar graphs make my brain hurt and too much data makes me dizzy. So if you are like me, just know this will not be a painful experience and there is true value for your family in this data. For all of you who love research, I have cited sources at the bottom so you can read to your heart’s content.
In 2019, more than 15,000 families participated in a study that examined the effect that photos had on their family. They answered a series of questions to find out what benefit printed photos have for families. Here are the major results:
These results are huge! I think we intuitively know that photos benefit our family, but seeing hard data drives the point home. Photos not only preserve memories, but they also help establish the legacy of your family. Photos draw us closer together, reminding us of the love and intimacy we share.
91% of parents reported that their children love looking at photos of themselves; 78% like to look at them together and discuss the photos. Photos of our children help them to become aware of themselves and how they fit within the family. What a wonderful opportunity to sit and talk with your child about the story of your family through beautiful photographs. I remember being told many stories while my parents flipped through family photos. I was too young to actually remember what happened when the photo was taken, but because of the stories shared with the photo, I now have cherished memories.
Capturing the moments of childhood not only preserves memories for you as a parent, but also brings your child healthy confidence and a sense of belonging.
This statistic is so encouraging because it is very easy to be too hard on ourselves as parents. Most days can feel like herding cats, rather than feeling that we are actually accomplishing things that will make an impact on our children’s lives. Getting those reminders as a parent that you are doing a good job and reinforcing the bond you have with your children is beautiful. It can help alleviate some of the day to day grind of making lunches, wiping noses, and sleepless nights.
Higher Parental Self-Efficacy has been linked to:
In this day and age we have such easy access to photos. You probably haven’t realized how this gives us the unique ability to reinforce family legacy and bond with our children. We can use photos to help our children grow in the knowledge of the family they come from, which will have a long lasting impact. Someday our kids won’t live with us anymore. Someday we won’t be our children’s primary influencer. Teaching them where they come from and giving them cherished family stories will help them weather the difficult storms of life because they have a strong sense of self identity and they can remember beautiful moments in their lives.
Knowledge of family history has been linked to:
Printed photos have also been found to enhance memory for parents and children.
Photographs keep us connected as they remind us of what truly matters in life. Families go through many challenging seasons in life and having memories to hold to is so important as we walk through them. So hold your kids tight, remind them that you love them, and remember to document your moments with photos, and then print them and put them up!
As a family photographer, I am passionate about documenting memories and beautiful moments for families. If you would like more information about taking photos for your family, book a consultation call with me and we can discuss your goals in more detail.
Citations:
https://chatbooks.com/printed-photo-report
Benedetto, L. & Ingrassia, M. (2017, December 20). Parental Self-efficacy in Promoting Children Care and Parenting Quality. Retrieved from: https://www.intechopen.com/books/parenting-empirical-advances-and-intervention-resources/parental-self-efficacy-in-promoting-children-care-and-parenting-quality
Salmon, K. & Reese, E. (2016, August 10). The Benefits of Reminiscing with Young
Children. Retrieved from: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0963721416655100
Fivush, R., Bohanek, J., Robertson, R., & Duke, M. (2004). Family Narratives and the Development of Children’s Emotional Well-Being. Retrieved from: https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2004-13618-003