Cameras for children: what features to look for?

Which camera is best for a child? This article will help you understand what features to look for so you can decide on the right camera to buy.

Have you ever noticed how children are intrigued by photography from an early age? No wonder, after all they look and imitate adults and because of this they often ask us for our smartphone to take pictures.

However, if we really want to encourage children to cultivate this activity (photography is known to be an excellent tool for stimulating curiosity, imagination and fine motor skills in children ) it is better to give away one of the many cameras for children that are on the market rather than risk ruining our cell phone.

Are children’s cameras a good gift?

Yes, of course! Unlike tablets, video games and various mobile phones, I am of the opinion that cameras, even toys, are one of the few technological tools with which children can play even for a long time.
In fact, through a camera, children visualize the surrounding environment and learn to discover it and immortalize it in their own way.

That’s why there are cameras specifically designed for younger and older children , but they all have one thing in common: they’re fun, they’re educational, and kids love them. They are perfect for photographing at home but also and above all for spending the day out, camping, on family holidays and in many other outdoor activities.

Digital Cameras For Kids: What Should You Look For?

Faced with the huge amount of kids cameras in the market, it might be difficult to choose a suitable one. Beyond the color and aesthetics of the camera you’re going to buy, these are the things I recommend you keep in mind.

For a preschooler, look for:

• A really tough camera made of materials that can withstand drops and bumps.
• Big buttons and a rounded shape that ‘s easy to hold
• An easy to understand menu for children who can’t read yet.
• A dual viewfinder so kids can look through both eyes when taking a photo.
• An expandable memory (at this age children don’t care about the quality but the quantity of photos they can take).
• A camera with flash. Kids tend to take a lot of pictures in the dark so a flash really helps.
• An automatic shut-off function to prevent the batteries from being accidentally discharged.
• Interactive games to amuse the child when he is tired of taking pictures.

For a school-age child (around 5-8 years old), look for:

• Better image quality .
• Two lenses to allow the child to take pictures of himself (selfie)
• Video recording function .
• In-camera editing , allowing you to add frames or special effects.
• Games and other features to keep your child entertained when they’re not taking pictures.
• A USB connection to download photos to PC.

For a pre-teen (ages 9-12), look for:

• A more adult looking camera but not too delicate to handle
• Extra features like zoom and lighting settings to allow for better image quality.
• Easy download to computer to allow sharing of images with friends online.
• Software to enable editing, enhancing shots, organizing and sharing images and videos.
• Additional memory card slot function to allow you to take more photos.

Most beautiful and interesting cameras to give to children

In the light of what was said earlier, here are the cameras that I found most interesting to give to children when I searched Amazon:

Fisher Price Digital Camera

The Fisher-Price being designed above all for small children (from 3 years old) is essentially a camera / toy but takes real photographs. It has a modern design, has an off-centre lens and binocular vision, large buttons, and simplified functions to ensure ease of use for children.
Features: 4x zoom, 3.7cm color LCD screen and ability to take up to 1,000 photos. Available colors: blue and pink

Faith camera for kids, selfie and time lapse

This is a camera that, while still a product for children, is at a decidedly more advanced level. It is well made, light but resistant to bumps and falls and the quality of the photos is good. Thanks to the dual camera you can take selfies and during shooting you can also add nice frames to embellish the photo. Furthermore, thanks to an intelligent technology that recognizes faces, it automatically focuses on the subject, produces continuous and “time lapse” photos and has the possibility of making movies with 8 mega pixel video resolution. To complete the equipment, the lanyard, the micro USB cable for recharging and even a 32GB micro SD and LED flash. From 3 to 12 years.

Instant Kids Camera

Here is a cute 3 in 1 kids camera: it takes photos (15MP), records videos (1080P) and it’s also an instant camera, that is, you can use it for instant black and white printing (3 films are supplied and there is no need ink). Thanks to an app you can connect to the camera with your phone or tablet. The Wi-Fi signal varies up to 5 meters.

ToyZoom Kids Camera Action cam

For children who play sports or go outdoors, here is the Toyzoom waterproof action camera . It is a full-fledged camera for photos and videos even if the design is that of a toy. It is small, very light, with a Micro SD input up to 32 GB and one for recharging the battery. Among the accessories there is a plastic box that waterproofs the camera, allowing you to shoot underwater and other various accessories useful for anchoring on the helmet and handlebar so that it allows us to really use it in every situation.

Slopehill Children’s Camera multi function

Slopehill is a super cute children’s camera and really appreciated by parents. It’s shaped like a toy, but it’s a full-fledged camera that takes good quality photos. The touch works well and there are many functions including 4 shooting zooms, the one for taking selfies, applying emoticons, filters, frames and much more. The material is sturdy and safe from impact
. Features: 3.0-inch touch screen, dual cameras, self-timer, recordable video at full power for about 2.5 hours, 8 million pixels.

VTech Kidizoom DUO 5.0 Fotocamera digitale 5 megapixel

The KidiZoom Duo is a camera/toy that children really like. The robust and safe material with which it is made, the large buttons and the ergonomic handle make it a camera suitable even for the little ones (from 3 years onwards).
It is quite easy to use even if the picture quality is secondary to the playability (640×480 (VGA) quality pictures and 160×120 video). On the back is a 1.8-inch LCD screen for composing and reviewing shots. It has a variety of features including five built-in games that can keep kids entertained when they no longer feel like taking pictures.

Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 Instant Camera

The Fujifilm instax mini 11 camera is not a toy but a real camera. This is why it is recommended for older children who can handle an instrument like this. The most important feature of this camera is that it immediately takes and prints credit card sized photos. The print quality is excellent, the images are sharp and the colors are good. It’s easy to use and has many functions to take great photos : selfie mirror for framing control, close-up lens to be attached to the lens, to easily take close-up shots of subjects even just 35-50cm away , automatic exposure metering, high-key mode. Compatible with fujifilm instax mini film for 62 x 46 mm photos.

Polaroid snap

The Polaroid brand is experiencing a second youth and for those who love instant cameras, Polaroid Snap is certainly an interesting camera, especially as a gift to older children. It has a compact and attractive design, available in different colours. Its operation is extremely simple: just shoot and the camera immediately prints a color hard copy of the photo (and allows you to take another photo while the previous one is printing). No need for inks or toners. However, it has many features that make it easy to add your own enhancements to the print before taking their photo.

Nikon Coolpix W150 Compact Digital Camera

With the COOLPIX W150 we have reached the top of the cameras that can be given to children. It is in fact a compact 13.2 Megapixel, 3″ LCD, Full HD, waterproof, resistant to shocks and low temperatures. It guarantees excellent performance and is very easy to use. Thanks to the CMOS sensor, ideal in low light conditions and the precision NIKKOR 3x optical zoom lens automatically optimizes settings ensuring photos and movies of absolute beauty. In addition, with the SnapBridge app you can take and share the photo instantly thanks to the automatic transfer of images from the camera to the smartphone / tablet

And if over time you see that your child shows an increasing interest in the camera, also consider buying a book on basic photography for children. Try to see it as a worthwhile investment both emotionally and artistically!