Displaying family photographs is an essential aspect of a child’s development and growth. Family photographs bring a sense of belonging and provide children with a strong foundation of their family history and heritage. Here are some reasons why it is essential for kids to display family photographs:
1. Builds a sense of identity and belonging
Family photographs help children to understand their place in their family and society. By seeing family members and relatives captured in pictures, children learn about their family’s history, traditions, and cultural values. It gives them a sense of belonging and identity, which is essential for their emotional and mental well-being.
2. Promotes communication and storytelling
Displaying family photographs provides an opportunity for parents to share stories about their family experiences with their children. It encourages communication and storytelling, which help children to develop their language and listening skills. It also strengthens the bond between parents and children.
3. Creates a sense of continuity and stability
Family photographs provide a sense of continuity and stability in a child’s life. It allows them to see how their family has changed over time and how they fit into the family structure. It also helps them to understand that they are part of a bigger picture and that they have a role to play in their family’s future.
4. Boosts self-esteem and confidence
Displaying family photographs helps children to feel loved and valued. It boosts their self-esteem and confidence by reminding them that they are an essential part of their family and that they are loved unconditionally. It promotes a positive self-image and helps them to develop a sense of pride in their family and heritage.
“I think it is really important to show a family as a family unit. It is so helpful for children to see themselves as a valued and important part of that family unit. A photographer’s job is to create and make the image look like a safe holding space for kids where they are safe and protected. Kids get it on a really simple level.”
“My bias is very simple. I think family photographs should be on the wall. I am very conservative about self-esteem and I think placing a family photo someplace in the home where the child can see it every day without having to turn on a device or click around on a computer to find it really hits home for that child this sense of reassurance and comfort. They have a certainty about them and a protecting quality that nurtures a child. It let’s them know where they are in the pecking order and that they are loved and cared for,”
David Krauss, psychologist from Cleveland, Ohio
If you are interested, have a look at the original research here.
