Toy cameras: Discover the benefits of for children

by Joost Nusselder Updated on: March 13, 2023

Toys cameras are great for teaching kids about photography. It stimulates them creativity and imagination and exercises their hand-eye coordination. In addition, it exercises their powers of observation and improves their attention to details.

In this article I will tell you why toy cameras are so good for children and what you should pay attention to when choosing the right camera.

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What are toy cameras?

What are toy cameras?

Toy cameras (the best reviewed here) are specially designed and built for children. They are completely adapted to the needs of children and are full of fun, cheerful and funny design. These cameras are suitable for children of all ages, from small to large.

The advantages of a toy camera

A children's camera is not only good for taking fun photos and selfies, but also has many other advantages. Here are a few reasons why a toy camera is suitable for children:

• They are easy to use and drops are prevented thanks to the silicone that protects the camera from drops.
• Most toy cameras are small and compact, so they can be taken anywhere.
• They are even waterproof, allowing kids to record their adventures even underwater.
• Children can stimulate their creativity and imagination by taking pictures and playing games on the camera.
• It exercises hand-eye coordination and improves observation skills and attention to details.
• Kids can practice their social skills by collaborating with others while taking pictures.
• It improves children's language and communication skills by allowing them to view and discuss their photos with others.
• It develops children's critical thinking and problem-solving skills by making them think about perspective and composition.
• It boosts children's confidence and self-expression by allowing them to take their own photos and share them with others.
• It helps children understand and express emotions and empathy through photography.

What age can you start with a toy camera?

A kids camera can be a great way to introduce young children to the world of photography. But from what age is it suitable to give a toy camera to your child? Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Interest in taking pictures

Children can be interested in taking pictures from an early age. Some young kids are constantly having fun taking pictures with their parent's expensive DSLR camera. Others find it difficult to navigate the location of the buttons and the camera battery drains very quickly. In addition, dozens of photos of nonsense are no exception.

Age and skills

In general, children from the age of 3 like to get a toy camera. But it is important to look at the child's abilities. Some children can learn how to hold a camera and take pictures at a younger age, while others need more time.

Choosing the right camera

If you decide to give a toy camera to your child, it is important to look at the age-appropriateness of the camera. Some cameras are heavy and difficult for young children to hold, while other cameras are very comfortable to hold. It is also important to look at the location of the buttons and how easy it is to operate the camera.

instant cameras

A nice variant of the children's camera is the instant camera, such as the Polaroid. This allows you to immediately see the end result and that provides an extra stimulating environment to photograph.

Tips for shooting with children

• Involve children in photographing their interests, for example, animals at the zoo.
• Let children practice taking pictures of colors, numbers and letters.
• Go on a scavenger hunt together and give children tips for taking beautiful photos.
• Indoors you can come up with fun photo assignments, such as taking pictures of green and yellow objects.
• Outdoors, you can go for a walk together and teach children to stand still and have patience to take beautiful pictures.
• Watch out for red-eye when photographing people and animals with flash.
• Give children time to take a lot of pictures along the way and pick out a nice one every now and then.

Evelien van Fotografille says: “Children learn by doing and discovering. A children's camera offers a nice stimulating environment for this. Send them out into the garden or give them an assignment to photograph something. That way they are secretly sweet for a long time and they gradually learn to take beautiful pictures.”

Marianne from De Groene Tuin out-of-school care adds: “Photography is a great way to make children aware of their environment and to teach them to look at the world in a different way.”

Stimulate creativity and imagination

Stimulate creativity and imagination

Creativity is an important aspect of child development. It allows them to create, mix and discover new things. It is natural that children are born with a desire to play and explore. It is therefore important to give children the space to use their imagination and to play in a safe and healthy environment.

The role of play in brain development

Playing is not only fun, it also has an important role in the development of children's brains. It stimulates the physical and mental development of children and helps them to develop complex thinking strategies. It is therefore important to give children the opportunity to play and discover.

A camera stimulates creativity by making them look at everyday objects differently, and possibly even editing the photos and videos after shooting.

Development of technical skills

Development of technical skills

Playing with a camera is not only fun, but also very important for the development of children. Using toy cameras can help children develop their technical skills in a healthy and positive way. Here are some reasons why:

Motor skills are trained

The use of a toy camera can contribute to this by encouraging children to engage in something for a longer period of time and to use their hands well to hold the camera.

Gross motor skills is trained by holding a rather heavy camera for a long time, while the fine motor skills is promoted correctly by operating small buttons for shooting the photo and adjusting any settings.

Improving hand-eye coordination

Improving hand-eye coordination

When it comes to the development of fine motor skills in toddlers, it is important to be involved and guide them through the different steps they take. One of the ways you can do this is by letting them play with a toy camera.

As for hand-eye coordination

Hand-eye coordination is a skill in which the hands and eyes work together to perform a task. This is an important skill that children need to be able to do things like put a block in a hole, color in a coloring picture, or catch a ball. When children can better synchronize their hands and eyes, this results in better athletic performance, faster and more focused hand movements, and improved precision in performing tasks.

Impact on subsequent results

If children have poor hand-eye coordination, this can lead to a delay in their development. In extreme cases, this can even impact their ability to learn and understand things. That is why it is important to encourage children to improve their hand-eye coordination through various activities.

Playing with a toy camera is not only fun, but it can also improve children's hand-eye coordination. By doing different activities that require children to synchronize their hands and eyes, they can improve their skills and achieve better results in the future. In addition, playing with a camera can also stimulate children's creativity and help them to look at the world around them differently.

Strengthening self-confidence and self-expression

Children often have a large dose of creativity and it grows as they get older. By using a toy camera, they can further develop these skills and build their own name as photographers. It gives them the chance to explore the world around them and capture beautiful images that they can remember and share with others.

Self confidence and self image

Using a toy camera can boost children's self-confidence. They get the chance to discover and express their own creativity through pictures. It gives them a sense of success and positive feedback when they create beautiful images and share them with others. This contributes to a positive self image and strengthens their self-esteem.

Expressing emotions

Photos can be a powerful means of expressing emotions. Children can record their feelings and share them with others through photos. This can help them better understand and process their emotions. The use of a toy camera can therefore contribute to the development of emotional intelligence and empathy.

Small steps and perseverance

Taking great photos takes practice and perseverance. Kids can get frustrated when their photos aren't as beautiful as they'd like. But by taking small steps and continuing to practice, they can improve their skills and achieve successful results. This can increase their perseverance and teach them that change is possible if they commit to it.

Explore the world

With a toy camera, children can explore and capture the world around them. They can take pictures of nature, people, their family and house. It can inspire them to make new plans, such as a holiday in the Veluwe.

Relaxation and leisure

Using a toy camera can also be a form of entertainment for children. It gives them the chance to spend their free time in a creative way and enjoy the natural environment. For example, they can take pictures of the garden with a nice roof or veranda. It can help them relax and enjoy the little things in life.

Different types of photography

With a toy camera, children can explore different types of photography, such as portrait photography and natural photography. They can learn how to take the best photos of people and animals, and how to choose the best lighting and composition. This can help them improve their photography skills and develop their own style.

Discovering perspective and composition

Discovering perspective and composition

As a child, it is important to try as much as possible and test out different points of view. By experimenting with perspective and composition, children can develop their own creativity and discover their own style. Below you will find some tips to achieve the best result.

Play with foregrounds

One of the most important aspects of photography is getting a good composition. By playing with foregrounds, you can make a more beautiful and interesting photo. For example, try taking a picture of flowers along the road while a touring car passes by. Lie down on the floor and let the flowers come to the fore. This way you get a fantastic series of photos.

Experiment with camera angles

Choosing the right camera angle determines what you convey with your photo. If you choose a low camera angle, also known as a frog's perspective, you look up and the subjects appear larger than they normally are. Conversely, the same applies to a high camera angle. You then look down at the subject and this can give a completely different effect.

Take advantage of the environment

The environment in which you shoot can play a special role in the photo. For example, positioning a model between dozens of camels in the desert can produce an impressive photo. Or try taking a picture of mushrooms reaching out of the ground while standing in the shade of a tree. The combination of small subjects and the environment creates a completely different picture.

Try out different effects

It's fun to experiment with different effects. For example, you can take a portrait photo while looking through a window. Or rent a plane and take pictures of landscapes from the air. Even a kitchen ladder can be enough to take a nicer photo. By playing with effects you can give the photo that little bit extra.

Pay attention to the quality of the photo

Although toy cameras do not always offer the best quality, it is still important to pay attention to the quality of the photo. Make sure the photo is sharp and the lighting is right. Also pay attention to the background and make sure it is not too busy. After all, a good photo is a beautiful picture that you will enjoy looking back at later.

Discovering perspective and composition is an important part of playing with a camera. By experimenting with different points of view, environments and effects, you can develop your own style as a child and stimulate your creativity. It's well worth putting the time and effort into this and getting a fantastic series of photos.

Practice social skills when working with others

Children develop important social skills while playing cooperative games. This is a required skill for successful communication and collaboration in the 21st century. It is good to discuss in more detail which social skills a child develops while playing with a toy camera.

Collaborative play promotes communication and thinking skills

By collaborating with others while playing a game, children learn to develop their thinking skills and problem-solving skills. They get to know each other and bring in their own ideas and perspectives. This promotes the child's flexibility and intelligence. Playing cooperative games with a toy camera can help with this.

Development of positive manners and empathy

Playing cooperative games with a toy camera can help children improve their behavior and manners. They learn to approach each other and respond to each other's behavior. It can be difficult to find the right words, but by gaining experience while playing, children are encouraged to do so. Children's empathy grows as a result and they learn to give appreciation back to others.

Collaboration and fun learning

Playing cooperative games with a toy camera is not just a daily activity. It is a concept where children learn to work together and enjoy learning. It is a sustainable way to let children grow in their social skills and to discover their own talents. Playing cooperative games with a toy camera can help with this and teach children to discover their own talents and to incorporate them into the game.

Strengthening powers of observation and attention to details

Strengthening powers of observation and attention to details

Playing with a camera is not only fun, but it can also strengthen children's powers of observation and attention to detail. It is important to encourage children at a young age to develop their talents and be creative.

Digital world

In the current digital era, it is important to continue to emphasize the positive aspects of gaming and to limit the use of screens. Or as we do, limit “useless” screen time and encourage educational screen time.

They're definitely going to do a lot with screens later on, so it's best to get handy in digital systems now.

A solution to this is to let children play with a camera at a young age. Some have a built-in screen so they can edit right on camera.

Improving language and communication skills

Improving language and communication skills

Playing with a camera can not only stimulate children's creativity and imagination, but also improve their language and communication skills. Below are some of the ways this happens:

Communication skills

Using a camera is not only about taking pictures, but also about conveying ideas and points of view. To do this, children must learn how to formulate and communicate their thoughts and feelings. This requires communication skills such as:

• Listen carefully to feedback from others
• Plan and organize ideas before they are conveyed
• Interacting with others to convey a message
• The use of language to express thoughts and feelings

These skills are important not only for children, but also for professionals who need to communicate with clients and colleagues during presentations, meetings and other business situations.

Linguistic skills

Playing with a camera can also improve children's linguistic skills. Below are some of the ways this happens:

• Highlighting important aspects of a topic
• Establishing points of view and ideas needed to convey a message
• Integrating grammatical and linguistic aspects to deliver a coherent and cohesive story
• Interpreting messages and understanding different types of speeches and content

Playing with a camera allows children to develop their linguistic skills based on their own interests and passions. This can help them speak more fluently and better communicate their qualities.

Sociolinguistic skills

Sociolinguistic skills are based on the relationship between language and the social context in which it is used. This includes aspects such as phonetics, grammar and the way language is used to convey different points of view and ideas.

Playing with a camera helps children develop these skills by:

• Understanding the sociolinguistic aspects of language use
• Learning correct expressions and sentences depending on the situation
• Finding the right tone and voice to convey a message
• Understanding the differences between loving and business language

By developing these skills, children can improve their linguistic and communication skills and express themselves better in different situations.

Development of critical thinking and problem solving skills

Development of critical thinking and problem solving skills

When children play with a camera, they are challenged to solve complex problems and think critically. This is a skill that is central to the 21st century and that children need to be successful in their future careers. Below are some ways that playing with a camera can help develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills:

Authentic learning activities

When children play with a camera, they are challenged to solve authentic problems. For example, they have to think about the composition of their photos, lighting and perspective. These are all complex problems that children have to solve in order to take a beautiful picture. By solving these problems, children develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Collaborate with others

When children collaborate with others to take pictures, they must communicate and work together to achieve their goals. This helps them develop their social skills and teaches them how to effectively collaborate with others to solve problems.

Enriching the teaching material

A camera can be used to enrich the curriculum and challenge children to develop their critical thinking and problem solving skills. For example, if children have read a math book, they may be asked to take a picture related to the subject. This can help anchor the material and challenge children to use their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Use of technology

Using technology can help children develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. For example, through the use of image editing software, children can learn how to edit and enhance their photos. This can help them develop their creativity and improve their critical thinking and problem solving skills.

Strengthen emotional intelligence and empathy

Playing with a camera can play an important role in developing children's emotional intelligence and empathy. Below you will find some tips to strengthen these skills.

Feedback

Positive feedback can help boost your child's self-confidence. Name what your child is doing well and why you are happy about it. This could be, for example, that your child has taken beautiful pictures or that he or she has worked well with others.

Take advantage of the camera's capabilities

The camera can be a useful tool for expressing and sharing emotions. Let your child take pictures of things that make him or her happy, or moments when he or she feels good. This can help reinforce positive emotions.

Play unstructured with the camera

Playing with the camera doesn't always have to have a purpose. Just let your child take pictures of things that interest him or her. This can help stimulate your child's creativity and imagination.

In short, playing with a camera can play an important role in the development of children's emotional intelligence and empathy. It offers opportunities to think about emotions and how to deal with them. It can also help to establish warm and connecting contacts with others. While there is such a thing as genetic susceptibility to emotions, these skills can be well supported through constructive tips and tricks.

What should you pay attention to when buying a toy camera?

If you are looking for a toy camera for your child, there are a number of important criteria that you should pay attention to. Below we have compiled a list of the most important points to take into account.

Age and type of camera

It is important to look at the age of your child and which type of camera suits it best. For younger children, a kids camera with large buttons and a colorful design is often best suited. For older children you can look at a regular camera that can also be used by adults.

Photo quality and megapixels

Although the photo quality of a toy camera will not be the same as that of a regular camera, it is still important to look at the megapixels of the camera. A minimum photo quality of 2 megapixels is recommended to ensure that the photos are sharp enough.

Weight and size

A toy camera should not be too heavy for children's hands and should not be too large to hold. It is important to look at the weight and size of the camera to ensure that your child can hold the camera constantly without getting tired.

Entertainment factor and ease of use

A toy camera should not only be functional, but also fun to play with. Therefore, look to the entertainment factor of the camera, such as fun editing options or music and audio books. In addition, it is important that the camera is easy to use for your child, with clear buttons and understandable functions.

Kidsproof and sturdiness

A toy camera must be able to take a beating and be kid-proof. Therefore, look at the sturdiness of the camera and whether it can withstand drops and bumps. A sturdy camera with a string to hang from the wrist is recommended.

Application and use

Consider in advance what specific needs your child has when using a toy camera. For example, does your child mainly want to photograph close subjects or landscapes? Choose a camera that fits and that your child can easily hold and operate.

Price and quality

Toy cameras come in different price ranges, from cheap to more expensive models. Think about your budget in advance and look at the quality of the camera. A more expensive camera can offer better photo quality and more features, but an inexpensive camera can also be useful for children who have never worked with a camera before.

Conclusion

Photography is one of the best ways for children to explore the world around them. With the right camera, they can take adventurous photos and express their creativity and imagination.

Joost Nusselder, the founder of Speelkeuze.nl is a content marketer, father and loves trying out new toys. As a child he came into contact with everything related to games when his mother started the Tinnen Soldaat in Ede. Now he and his team create helpful blog articles to help loyal readers with fun play ideas.