Photos at toddler groups

DevilsAdvocate1

I could do with some opinions on what to do. I run a parent and toddler group twice a week. Today we had the Christmas party. Most of the mums had cameras and were talking photos of their children. Two mums even said that they wished they'd remembered their cameras.

However, a grandmother took me to one side. She was very agitated and kept asking if I had a child protection policy in place. I wasn't sure what she meant at first, as she was so angry I could not understand her fully. However, it transpired that she was not happy about the mums taking photos. Apparantly she's worked in schools and parents taking photos should not be allowed to protect the children.

I calmly tried to explain that the mums are only really interested in their own children. To which she kept repeating "But we have to protect the children, we have to protect them." She came across almost manic and was extremely upset. All children are at the group with a parent or carer, so I would have thought that if any parent did not want their child in a photo they could remove their child from that area of the room. She told me she did not mind her grandchildren being in other people's photos, but that someone else might mind

I also think a school situation is different, because the parent is not there when photos are taken. Therefore, some sort of permission is needed if the school want to post the photos on the school website or have them in the newspaper (as happens at my children's school).

My understanding is that photos taken for personal use are not a problem, its when photos are to be published where permission has to be requested. We don't currently have any adopted or cared for children on our list.

Anyway, I have to do something, but I don't know what. Do I ban mums from taking photos because of 1 complaint? Do I ask for a concensus - what do I do if anyone says "No". Should one persons right to say no affect every other parent?

My personal opinion is that parents should be able to take photos of their children. Its lovely to have memories of these times to look back on. Why should some people lose this? I don't really understand how taking photos is putting children at risk (unless it is a cared for or adopted child).

Opinions / suggestions gratefully received.

D.

Jem8472

oh !!!!!!,

What do you need to protect the childern from? camera flash? their spirit being stolen by the camera?

How can a photo of a child in clothes doing normal things put them at risk? If some weirdo wants a picture of a kid do you think they would bother trying to gate crash a toddler group.

I would ignore the woman, she sounds like she has got swept up with this bl**dy stupid health and safety obsession.

scruffy96uk

If said grandmother is that concerned, I would draw up a letter and get it out to all parents and gurdians asking for them to give consent for pics to be taken. But what you have got to remember it just takes one to say no and bang goes any photo taking. So you could go by the book and do this or let the issue go and allow folk to take pics. I know our toddlers don't have an issue with pic taking.
HTH

jimjams_mommy

My son is 2 and a half and goes to a pre-school. At the start of the term I had to sign a consent form stating if I was happy with the pre-school taking pictures our childrens for their progress book and during walk etc. At the pre-school nativity last week all the parents were taking pictures and filming it. As I did.

As I'm new to the pre-school parenting scene I feel that I don't mind pictures being taking, but on the other hand if my son had an accident during the play ( his first play and just started potty training ) would I be comfitable that people had it on film of him peeing his pants? If I felt so strongly about it I would have not had him take part or say very loud " don't film my child " " put that camara away":eek:

I wouldn't say it was a child protection policy that was need just a consent form when people start of the session or play. I feel if people felt so strong about pictures being taken they would have removed them from the play. What are you protecting the children from?

At my local toddler group they don't take photos without parents consent and people are asked not to take pictures of other people children without permission.

Like I said its not a protection issue but a policy thats needed for photos. Did the said granny take any photos? Did you give any information that photos and filming was not permitted, because bet you would of had more people in a state over that, more than one person who been reading the daily mail too much.

You have done nothing wrong and don't worry a letter at the start of the new term asking for feedback would show how people truely feel about this.
Hope the rest of the day went well and have a good weekend.

laulau1

Hi i just wanted to point out that some places often have this policy in place due to child protection issues regarding Looked After Children. My son is adopted and we live in locality of birth family. We have had to change his full name for safety reasons. I'm not saying that i would disagree with pictures being taken at a childrens party at a toddler group totally, just that i would be concerned of who may possibly end up seeing my son in a photo. For example another parent takes a photo and my son is in the picture. They then show the photo's to a friend of a friend, who recognises my son and now knows what toddler group he attends.
Probably over the top worrying about things like this happening, but just wanted to put across the view that these policies don't tend to be put in place just about "weirdo's wanting pictures of kids".
PS OP would you necessarily know if you had adopted children on your list? I havent informed my sons toddler group that he is adopted.

DevilsAdvocate1

Thanks for the replies.

I have never given out information regarding taking photos - I've never had any complaint before. One of the registered childminders regularly takes photos of the 2 children in her care. And every party (last session before each end of term) many parents bring cameras. As the children remain the responsibility of the parent while at the group, I would have thought that parents could stay away the last session if they object to photos being taken. Or take their child to another part of the room (its a big hall).

Like I say, I only run the group (I don't actually have a child who goes there as mine are all at school). I always took photos of my children when they atteneded. In actual fact we have one parent who takes photos as a hobby. Whenever she brings her camera she has loads of requests from parents who want photos of their children.

I think this gran was over the top, especially as she seemed more concerned that someone else might complain. She told me that she didn't mind her grandchildren being in the backgroud of someone elses photo. But she ranted at me for 10 minutes before I made an excuse to leave as I had loads to do.

Still not sure what I'll do. I am going to do a newsletter during the holidays, so I might include something in this. I also need to get parents to fill in another registration form, so I might add a line to this.

My husband reckons we'll all be banned from taking photos anywhere other than our home soon. :rotfl:

D.

pipkin71

Not a toddler group, but same situation.

My DDs belong to a young carer's group, and we have had notification of their christmas outing, with a form asking for consent to allow the youth workers to take photos.

It does state that if one person refuses consent, then photos will not be taken of anyone in the group.

This could be the outcome if you send out letters asking parents to sign for consent.

Do you fall under ofsted checks? Could you ask for advice from your local social services or sure start at all, see what they think you should do? Or, you could do what you feel is the best thing. It's how you feel about it, really.

BargainJunky

My eldest son is now 5 and the youngest is 1. When the eldest was at a preschool I signed a consent form to allow them to take photos - I now have a lovely record of his time there. My youngest is just finishing day nursery this week and they regularly take photos however I have not signed to say that they can and I have no problems if they do. School also take photos and yesterday it was the nativity and I am surprised that the children could see with all the photo flashes going off.

Personally I dont have a problem with photos being taken of my children and I think the world had gone completely over the top although I do understand that we need to be careful. If I were you I would get the parents to sign a consent form to say they agree with photos being taken.

DevilsAdvocate1

laulau1 wrote: »

Hi i just wanted to point out that some places often have this policy in place due to child protection issues regarding Looked After Children. My son is adopted and we live in locality of birth family. We have had to change his full name for safety reasons. I'm not saying that i would disagree with pictures being taken at a childrens party at a toddler group totally, just that i would be concerned of who may possibly end up seeing my son in a photo. For example another parent takes a photo and my son is in the picture. They then show the photo's to a friend of a friend, who recognises my son and now knows what toddler group he attends.
Probably over the top worrying about things like this happening, but just wanted to put across the view that these policies don't tend to be put in place just about "weirdo's wanting pictures of kids".
PS OP would you necessarily know if you had adopted children on your list? I havent informed my sons toddler group that he is adopted.

I am positive we don't have any adopted or looked after children at the moment as I have known most of the mums since shortly after the birth and sometimes antenatally (I help at some antenatal classes). Also many of them are onto their 2nd, 3rd, 4th and even 5th child. I've seen them pregnant! However, we have had adopted children attend in the past.

A child in my youngest son's class at school is adopted and she does not want any photos of her children to be published on the school website or in the newspaper for the same reasons you give. However, she has not objected to her son having his photo taken by parents at the school play and in actual fact the school is selling DVD's of the play.

Personally, I don't agree with what this lady said to me today. I think it affects our children far more if no photos becomes accepted policy, as they will not have any history of themselves to look back on when they grow up. I love sharing photos of my childhood with my children, I think it will be very sad if our children do not have this.

D.

jimjams_mommy

laulau1 has the adoption been completed or is he still classed as a "looked after child"? . With regard to school admissions "looked after children" are always given prority at school admission ( know this as it was on the paperwork for school and nursery applications i recently got for my area )

What advice has your sons social worker given you about this matter and photos? they may be able to advise you as we went to a birthday party a few weeks ago and photos were taken by another parent and I know there on a her facebook for her friends to see, mainly DS and friends stuffing his face with cake and looking grumpy when they played past the parcel.

DevilsAdvocate1

BargainJunky wrote: »

My eldest son is now 5 and the youngest is 1. When the eldest was at a preschool I signed a consent form to allow them to take photos - I now have a lovely record of his time there. My youngest is just finishing day nursery this week and they regularly take photos however I have not signed to say that they can and I have no problems if they do. School also take photos and yesterday it was the nativity and I am surprised that the children could see with all the photo flashes going off.

Personally I dont have a problem with photos being taken of my children and I think the world had gone completely over the top although I do understand that we need to be careful. If I were you I would get the parents to sign a consent form to say they agree with photos being taken.

The worry I have is that if 1 person says no, I will have to ban cameras and I don't want to do this. Many parents bring cameras, though usually just on party days. I don't see why the majority should have to stop something because of 1 person. As its a parent and toddler group where the parents retain responsibility of their child, I don't think I have the authority to dictate to parents that they cannot take photos of their own child. Perhaps I could remind them to try not to get anyone else in the photos as a compromise?

D.