Digital Cameras for Kids

What are the best digital cameras for kids and what should you look for when buying one? Firstly, you need to know why you are buying a camera for your child. Is it because you want to develop their photographic abilities? Or is it because you want to have your own camera to yourself?

Having their own camera teaches a child several important skills:

• sociability - through interacting with people when asking them to pose and smile
• coordination
• simple editing - they take lots of photos then sort through getting rid of some and keeping others
• how to compose a picture

And it's incredibly good fun!

With a kids' camera it doesn't matter if they have sticky fingers or even if they throw it down the stairs, as childrens cameras are generally robust enough to survive. And because they now have their own camera that means that yours will also survive!

Here is a check-list of features to look for when buying digital cameras for kids:

1. Although most kids are really not that bothered about the quality of the picture - it's the activity and fun of taking hundreds of pictures that matters to them - go for at least 2 mega pixels
2. Should be very robust
3. Dual handle grips for the very young (2 years upwards)
4. Should store 400-500 images for 4"x6" prints without a card - check this feature as I've seen some with as little as 60 pictures storage which they will get through in no time
5. Some have a card slot which means you can extend the memory capability to pretty much limitless
6. Make sure it has a good size screen for reviewing pictures
7. Some have a video recording option which adds to the variety of activities and means more fun
8. May also come with games and special photos effects some of which use your childs own photos
9. Check that battery life is good - customer reviews will let you know the score here
10. Must have a flash as most of the pics will be taken indoors
11. Should connect to a PC or hook up to a TV set