Photos at toddler groups

Jem8472

Does this look about right?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qh2sWSVRrmo

nottslass_2

Palema wrote: »

I work in a Nursery and this is our Policy for events such as our Christmas Nativity.

A sad state of affairs but due to the uproar a few years ago and massive media attention it received, about people placing their childrens photo's on the internet and other children being in them, and the possibility of pedophiles getting their hands on them from nativity plays and other group plays this is now a very common occurrance

Lets be rational here - a !!!!!phile can get more explicit pictures of children from a littlewoods catalogue !!!
I'm really not going to loose sleep over the fact that there may or may not be a picture floating round cyberspace of DS with a T towel on his head carrying a shepherds hook !!

Other than only allowing our children out in public wearing full face masks ala Micheal Jackson there is no way you can prevent people taking pictures of your children .

mummy_Jay

OP, how about sending a note or put a poster up to the effect

' Due to concerns raised at our last event, we would ask parents and carers to seek permission before taking any photos of or including children that are not in their care from the relevant accompanying adult to said child/children.
Thank you'

This would show you have taken on board the grandmothers comment but wouldn't involve you having to change your current stand on photography. You could then if you so wished send out permission slips at a later date.

Caroline73_2

the whole photo thing is madness.

Could you have a disclaimer on the attendance sheet saying 'we encourage our carers to take photo's of their children having fun at our group. Invertantly other children may end up being photographed in the background. If you do not want your child photographed then please ensure that your child is wearing a mask or out the way.'

crutches

the problem is not the TAKING of photos but the PUBLISHING of them. Other parents/carers etc are reminded by our head that photos are for personal use only and not for open access to all.

My children attended a camp recently.I signed a form for the organisation for their website but a parent started an open access facebook page with names,comments photos etc and I emailed her to object at the open access.It hadnt occured to her that anyone would mind.

It would be a pity if all photos were stopped but there are reasons for not publishing them.I have 6 children from 22-5 and the older ones and their friends are really enjoying seeing their old photos and sharing them now.Our junior school takes a photo of the child regularly doing activities and puts them in a big book which the child will have on leaving.Easy in these digital days and the children and parents love the idea.

For younger childrens events.I only ever focus on my children at xmas parties etc but I would ask other parents near to my child if it was ok &/or take a group party table/lots of children but not close faces (if that makes sense).

It is a sad state of affairs to be guarded about photos but having come into contact with many looked after and refuge families it is necessary.If you look on "missingyou" sites people are posting photos of adopted children asking if anyone recognises them and can say where they live.eg this is Luisa at 6 ,now 9 does anyone recognise her?.

A bit of respect and commonsense on all sides is needed.If you want a photo at a toddler group and the parent is there then ASK first.And please keep them for personal family enjoyment and keep the privacy settings on online photos very restricted.

crutches

It is also a matter of politeness! If I were eating at a party I'd hate someone to take a photo without warning.! why treat children any differently?."May I take your photo ?" is a simple thing to ask.(ask parent first if available but still ask the child unless advised not to by parent!)

GobbledyGook

It's not just about !!!!!philes getting their rocks off that makes photographing children a minefield. It's all sorts of things and things like estranged parents, violent relatives etc are all more likely to be the reasons people object to their child being photographed.

The other issue is the internet. Many, many people don't like photographs of themselves of their children plastered all over the web. I certainly don't and it does hack me off when someone's Mum at playgroup doesn't bother asking if she can take my child's photo then sticks it on Facebook, again without asking, where her 900 "friends" can easily view it. It makes some people uncomfortable.

It would be much less of an issue if manners weren't so lacking these days (I sound like an ancient old fogey I know).

SammyD_2

I don't think it is madness. I have no problem with friends/acquaintances taking photos of my children. However, there are plenty of photos of my children spread over the internet (sometimes with captions identifying our names and rough localities) added by friends/friends of friends to various photo sharing sites etc. Many of these appear to have complete public access. I object to this.

Times have changed because whereas 20 years ago I would know who was seeing an image of my child, and the transfer of that image would be pretty contained (ie person x takes a photo, and it is not going to get much beyond person x) now in minutes it can be spread all over the internet and available to everyone.


And many families do not want to have to explain why they do not want photos of their children taken - ie issues of access, family problems, adoption.

Not easy for those in the position of the OP who then have to work out a practical solution.

wornoutmumoftwo

I would hate it if I couldn't take a picture of my own children at such a special event. Had an argument at the swimming pool about the same thing although I understand where they were coming from.

It would be a shame to stop all the parents for one, but I know in the nursery we used to go to the headteacher would stand up and ask if anyone had any objections to photos/videos and nobody ever objected, but then nobody was allowed in the nursery that wasn't known to staff.

I have my photos on facebook but my settings are friends only. Perhaps you could speak with the grandmother further and establish her concerns (friendly chat).

cariadtrist

Why not have a set time for photos at the party? Announce it, then anyone who minds can subtly sneak away till they're done.

Granny needs to explain who she feels she protecting, and from whom. Without this info, you're too in the dark to make a decent policy. She may not give her photo consent 'on principle' when everyone else would be fine with photos. Is it worth speaking to the children's parents? That would give you an insight into the gran.

However, as the leader and organiser, if you were to take photos to publish for the organisation, yes, technically, you would need consent. Verbal is ok, but better written to cover your own back. But the informal parent shots, none would be needed.

I feel for you, OP. It's a horrible situation to have to sort out, especially if you don't see a problem yourself. All the best!