How to Use Polaroids with Kids
I love polaroids. I love the instant capture of a moment that you don’t upload, edit, or change. It is what it is and I think there is something very special about that. So here a couple things I love about polaroids and some ideas of how you can use them with your family.
We have been using our Instax quite a bit during this time at home and Asher, my little photographer, has fallen in love with it. The reasons I like using a polaroid with my kids are:
There is magic in watching a polaroid develop. The sound of the film as it pushes out of the camera. The white rectangle that slowly takes shape. The way the boys’ eyes light up as the image appears. It is a little piece of easy joy in our day.
Limited film! Since my kids know they won’t get a new roll of film until next week they are thoughtful about what they want to add to their journals, what they will photograph for a friend, and how they will compose their frame.
What can I do with all polaroids once my kids use up the expensive film? Here are a couple ways we have been using them in our home:
Animal Hide-and-Seek
The basics of the game remain the same. But instead of you hiding, you hide your kids’ toys. The polaroid twist is that the toys that are hiding are the ones whose photos are on the table.
The pros of this game are: (1) it can be played again and again and again, (2) once you hide the toys you sit and drink your coffee while your kids seek, (3) your kids can take the portraits of the stuffed animals, which is fun in and of itself.
Homeschool Motivation
The thing that needs the most work around these parts is writing. That is pretty much the only thing I really want Grayson to do everyday. And unsurprisingly it is the one thing he really doesn’t want to do. It is hard and who wants to do the thing that challenges you most everyday.
Polaroids have helped a bit here. I try to give him experiences he can write about and encourage him to take photos of whatever it is that day. He loves taking the photos and then it gives him something concrete to reference while he is doing his writing.
Some days this works better than others, but the big bonus is that he now has a cool journal cataloging the time we have spent together. And he has written it himself.
Snail Mail
The boys love taking pictures for other people. There are so many friends and family members whom we are missing. A lot. It is fun to talk to the boys about what they want to send to people. The above photo of the plant was taken by Asher because it is his friend’s favorite color is green. Nani requested a photo of the garden in her last letter and Asher got out the camera and marched into the backyard.
It is a quick way to capture a slice of life and send it to those you love.
I hope some of these tips help you stay sane during this wild time. Maybe they will even help to create some fun memories of this time spent together.
I would love to see what you do with these ideas! Don’t forget to post it to instagram and tag me.