Photos at toddler groups

luxor4t

stardoman wrote: »

....This grandmother is fairly new and it is the first time she has been to one of the parties. What shocked me was how agitated and angry she was. Her fists were clenched and she had trouble making herself clear because she was so wound up.....

I wonder if the lady has health problems?
This behaviour sounds like MiL when she gets a bee in her bonnet about something on tv or in her newspaper - she's had a mild stroke & can get extremely agitated about events that never used to worry her. Most of the time she is fine, so it can be quite startling & upsetting for anyone on the receiving end.

Rachel85

Sorry if this has already been said, not had chance to read all the replies. Could you make it a condition of registration that photos are allowed to be taken? That way there's no "opt out" or the ability for one person's lack of consent to prevent everyone taking photos. You could include a line inviting parents or carers to contact you if they have any concerns to cover issues surrounding looked after or adopted children.

My_Fathers_Daughter

DevilsAdvocate1 wrote: »

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....

OP ^^^^^

stardoman wrote: »

Thanks again everyone for taking the time to reply.

As someone else said, I run the group as a volunteer - I don't even have children there myself anymore. I have been running it for 7 years and during that time many photos have been taken. There isn't a policy, partly because its hard enough running the group on my own with no help and partly because its not been needed before. No one has ever complained, even when there were 2 adopted children who came to the group. No one has ever mentioned it before, full stop.

This grandmother is fairly new and it is the first time she has been to one of the parties. What shocked me was how agitated and angry she was. Her fists were clenched and she had trouble making herself clear because she was so wound up.

This particular grandmother is not a complainer - we have one of those, but she had her camera! Instead, she is one of the more helpful ones and always helps me tidy up and put the toys away.

I don't publish photos of the children - we don't have a leaflet and I have never had anything published in the newspaper. These photos are ones taken by parents of their children.

I will update the information sheet and get everyone to fill one out in January. I will also put something in the newsletter.

Thanks. D.

New Username ^^^


How many of us have 2 log-ins? Unless maybe it is a partner?

dieselhead

Basically as I understand this there is no law. I think to be honest this is part of the problem. In a public place anyone can take a picture of anything they like.

However the problem is the definition of 'public place' I think that a playgroup and certainly a school is not a 'public place' and therefore the owners/organisers should make their own rules.

This problem is not just resigned to children though, my mother was at her jive club's party, and the organiser had asker her to take photographs of every table for the website, plus some general pictures of people dancing. She was emailed later with a list of people to be removed from all pictures. Now while of course I respect everyone's right to request this, I still struggle to understand it.

I still think that this photography issue is borne of scaremongering, and misinformation. More than anything though I think its sad.

peachyprice

My_Fathers_Daughter wrote: »

How many of us have 2 log-ins? Unless maybe it is a partner?

I do ........

iskc85860506

DVardysShadow wrote: »

Just say no to saying No. You don't need to ban cameras. You just ban the people who want to ban cameras. You just state up front that your policy is to allow cameras and let those who disagree wander off.

Completly agree - I would issue a form to all the existing parents and any new parents that start attending saying that you run a toddler group where photos of children are permitted but only for personal use.

Therfore if parents dont want their chilren in the background of photos then they ae aware and can choose not to attend.

Yes this may mean people get left out but why sldnt you cater for the majority.

I think it is very sad, the parents all know each other or should do if they have been attending the toddler group for a while. Do these people not take their child to a park incase someone takes a picture? on holiday? out for a meal? etc etc
atleast the parents know the other parents/children at the toddler group unlike many other places where pictures are taken.