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The Power of Using Photographs in Your Child's Room
Photographs in a child's room can add a sense of security and contentment within
(Press-Enterprise, July 16, 1994..Stories by Ro Logrippo, Universal Press Syndicate)
When it comes to showing off at home what the camera has captured, there's no right or wrong place, says Dr. Anna Mae Kobbe. Currently the USDA National Program Leader- Family Life and Human Development, she had spent years studying the meaning and exhibition of family photographs.
"We need to get photos out and enjoy them more, she says. Her doctoral studies convinced her that photos are extremely meaningful in our lives, no matter whether they're exhibited on the refrigerator, or in elegant frames on the piano.
"Photos are especially important in a child's room," Kobbe says, "because they supply someone young with tangible security."
Through surveys and interviews, Kobbe discovered that images of family members enjoying life evoke a strong sense of self. Displaying a picture of a cherished person who is far away helps the viewer feel more connected to that person. Many kids live at a distance from grandparents and other relatives, she observed, and a child who regularly views shots of faraway loved ones feels closer to them.
"We really need to convey to children that contentment comes from within" Kobbe adds. Photos of good times get that message across because they help kids recapture memories of happiness even on dreary days."
Placing images next to the bed
Echoing Kobbe's opinions is child psychotherapist Stephanie Marston, whose seminars and books offer parents strategies for enhancing their child's self-esteem. In "The Magic of Encouragement"(Morrow, 1990) Marston suggests placing two pictures of a child next to his or her bed. One should show the child happily engaged in an activity such as riding a bike, playing softball, etc. The other should show family togetherness.
"Why put them next to their beds?" she asks. "Research has shown that the 30-minute time period just before bed is when children are more receptive and listen and absorb more than any other time. Put those photos of your children being capable and loved next to their beds," she deduces, "And these positive images are likely to be the last thing they see before they sleep and the first thing they see when they awaken."
Marston underscores her position by pointing to other studies showing that during sleep, the subconscious reviews the day's events up to five times except for the last 30 minutes. That half-hour replays at least 10 times. Her conclusion: Those two pictures by the bed help reinforce a child's feeling of being both loved and capable.
For babies, place their picture above the changing table, for instance, and amuse them by pointing out their eyes, ears, nose, etc. As with looking in a mirror, when they recognize the picture is them, it's a joyful moment.
San Francisco designer Ralph Frischman had that in mind when he co-designed a nursery with a series of the baby's portraits enlarged and framed. "In a child's room" he says, "you don't need to be cutesy with wallpapers or themes. Photos can make it come alive and still be fun."
Decorating with Photographs can help boost your child's self-confidence