Family Portraits Are Officially Good For Your Children

As parents it makes sense that we want to have beautiful photography documenting our own family story. We soon learn that our children are little for such a short time and naturally we want to remember every moment and bottle all the happy memories we know will bring us joy for years to come! But did you know that capturing and displaying family photographs is actually hugely beneficial for our children too?

Here are a few ways family photographs can positively impact and help your little ones as they develop and fathom the big wide world around them:

• Building confidence

  Seeing themselves photographs dotted around their home helps children feel a sense of belonging, importance and security. This naturally boosts their confidence and contributes to their sense of self-worth.

• Understanding their place in the world

  Family photographs depicting older generations or ancestors encourage children to be curious about their family’s history. Such portraits often spark conversation and story-tellling, which helps children learn about their family’s traditions and cultural values as well as building a sense of connection with their heritage.

• Visualising the past

  Most children find looking at pictures of themselves when they were younger hugely entertaining! Talking about events in the past can help children visualise things that aren't happening right now and stretch their memory skills. When children are first developing their speech, describing photographs can also help them practice speaking in the past tense. 

• Connecting with others

  Family portraits can help children connect with their sense of self and affirm their relationships with other members of the family. The photographs you choose to display in your home will be regularly viewed by your child and so serve as a subliminal daily reminder of the family connections which matter.

• Coping with stressors

  Looking at family photos can be a healthy way to cope with stressors, such as a bad day at school or a conflict at home. Children will inevitably learn that life is full of ups and downs! When they are feeling low, the recollection of happy memories can uplift and help to put today’s problems in perspective.

• Feeling more secure and stable

  Home is where the family is. For the most part it’s also where the family portraits are! If a family is moving, promptly displaying family photographs can help children feel more settled as they adjust to their new environment. 

Every child is different and it would be impossible to measure the exact extent to which the presence of family portraits in the home impacted a person over the course of their childhood. The content, tone and style of the photographs would no doubt play a role in the child’s perception. But overall it’s my belief that the power of great family photographs filled with love is vastly underrated.

As human beings we all want to feel loved and wanted, it’s in our DNA. There are a thousand ways to make your children feel this way and displaying family portraits is just one of them, but it’s an easy win. A beautiful family portrait captured today, printed and proudly displayed in your home tomorrow could positively impact your child and strengthen your family bond for weeks, months and years to come.

What are you waiting for? Let’s make it happen!