Self Esteem & Photos
No, I didn’t make this up. There have been actual studies on the correlation between family photographs and self-esteem in children.
In 1975, a study was conducted with a group of fourth graders at a Tennessee school by Tulane University. Over a five week span, the fourth graders took Polaroid photos of themselves in a variety of assigned poses, compositions and expressing various emotions. During the five weeks, the children created scrapbooks of the photos. At the conclusion of the study, testing of the students revealed an increase of 37 percent in the students’ average self-esteem behaviors. The Murfreesboro Study shows evidence personal photography of children seen and enjoyed can help boost a child’s self-esteem.
Professor Geoff Beattie, Head of School and Dean of Psychological Sciences at the University of Manchester, England said, “We cannot underestimate the power of photographs to keep us feeling linked to others and belonging. They cement us into our networks.
For children in particular, looking at photographs is part of the socializing process; learning who you are and where you fit into the family. By displaying photographs of our children at different stages of their lives, we are making a very public statement that we are proud of them.”
My Personal Findings
As a parent of three, I know that the most important thing we can help nurture in our children is self-esteem and self-worth. I’ll be honest, looking back there are certainly things I did or didn’t do that did not foster self-esteem and confidence, but unfortunately we don’t get a do-over when it comes to parenting.
But one thing I did do was have lots of pictures of my children around our home. They also had pictures in their bedrooms of themselves and of our family. And I can only hope this instilled in them their sense of belonging and a constant reminder they were/are a valued part of our family.
So, what are the benefits of having pictures of your children and your family in your home?
A Sense of Belonging – A child with high self-esteem knows that he/she belongs. Family photos are a visual representation of where they belong and fit in.
Cherished Memories – Photographs of your family or your child on vacation or at the beach or even on the playground remind them of happy times! They may even relive the memory when they see the picture. We lived in Europe when our kids were little and often talk about our travels when we look at the pictures – they don’t always remember the trips, but it’s a wonderful way to connect and share!
Why are printed pictures so important?
I’m a firm believer in printing your pictures. Displaying your pictures in frames or on your walls. And now there’s even more of a reason to do it – you’ll help build your child’s self-esteem!
We spend enough time on electronics and our phones! Take the pictures off the computer and enjoy them every single day. I promise they’ll bring a smile to your face each and every time you walk by them.
Bottom Line
Book the session. Print the pictures. And watch the positive impact it has on your children!
Are you ready to book?
