Advice on digital camera for a 2.5 year old

[sazzle]

Hello!

I would really like to get my little nephew a digital camera, he loves looking at pics of himself on my camera so thought it might be time for him to have his own.

I had a quick look on amazon and found the vtech kidizoom keeps coming up but some reviews say the picture quality is really bad, low resolution so you would not want to print them.

I doubt we would want to print many but it would be nice to know we could if he took a masterpiece :-)

Grateful for any advice / reviews on kids cameras!

Saz

[Narnia]

I hope you don't my commenting on your post as I've no idea about camera's for kids. I didn't think there was such a thing. I would have thought that because he likes looking at pictures on your camera doesn't mean he needs a camera. I also wonder what his parents might think of you getting him a possibly luxury good at such a young age. Kids don't really respect somethings material value. It might give them nightmares trying to make sure he doesn't damage it because you gave it to him. I don't mean to be negative but this is a parent who gave in to a child's passing wish for a reptile and finds himself looking after a pet snake a couple of years later.

My attitude towards gifts for kids was to try and get something to help their development or that was fun to play. My son didn't get a camera until he actualy asked for one in his teens (where he still is). It might just be a waste of money too.

[ludoscotts]

hi do you have an old one he can play with? when we upgraded our old digital we gave my daughter our old one. We too considered buying one for her but seemed silly at her age to get her something like a camera. she was more than happy with our old one and with the internal memory she can take about 6 pics and if any do ever come out ok we can put them on the computer.

[candj]

HI Sazzle,

Our 5 year old has the Vtech digital camera and absolutely loves it. The outside is rubberised so that it is somewhat protected from bumps and drops. It has big buttons with pictures on it so it is obvious what they do (photos, movies and the camera also has games). It comes with a cable so that the photos are downloadable to your computer, but we have yet to do this.

Edited to add - Narnia, although my daughter is young, the photos she takes are interesting and very funny (daddy sleeping with mouth open at 6am type photos). I think it's great that children are allowed certain types of technology to explore their creative sides and it allows us to see what fascinates them.

Hope this helps.

Sorry edited again because I addressed post to wrong OP! Sorry!

[Narnia]

Hi candj, you would have to say though that there is a huge difference between 2.5 and 5 years old though, wouldn't you?

[candj]

Of course there is, but my 3 year old plays with the camera as well. Photos are a bit more naive, but she knows how to use it. It's a pretty basic camera basically 4 buttons - on/off, camera, movie and games and children can be pretty savvy and figure it out.

[Narnia]

Given its cost though I wonder if it's value for money for a 2.5 year old.

[sazzle]

Thanks for your posts everyone.

I have old cameras i can give him which is a good idea, but my worry would be small parts / or being easily breakable, as he is only 2 and a half.

I consulted savvyauntie.com which is the bible for PANK's (professional aunties no kids) and they also recommend the vtech.

candj i am really pleased you have had good experience with the vtech i might just get it for him. He loves me videoing him singing then watching it back but i never hand over the camera as its expensive.

Narnia, i appreciate your comments and don't think they are negative at all they are well thought out and helpful. His dad, my brother, is very chilled out, and possibly the nicest person ever, and is an infant school teacher so is really into learning skills etc, i have already asked him and he said he's delighted with anything, so nothing to worry about there. Sorry about he snake we did the same to my poor dad with a bunny rabbit which he ended up cleaning out each weekend, oops.

Thanks!

Auntie Saz x

[annaj]

Thanks sazzle!

I looked at this thread, because I've got a 2.5 year old niece and nephew and I'm always on the look out for really great present ideas. Instead I've learnt that I'm a PANK (does that make MrJ and PUNK) and found savvyauntie.com.

Brilliant.

[ryedalema]

We got our 2.5 year old the fisher price one link here and she loves it (Grandpa's a photographer so totally obsessed). It's really rugged (has def been knocked about a fair bit) and the buttons are really easy to use.

No masterpieces yet but it is funny to see things from a child's point of view.

xx

[Au'Lait]

I bought a camera each for my nephew and niece when they were three I think. I looked a the kids ones and decided they were just overpriced rubbish, the photos they take are of such terrible quality that even on the off chance they take a good picture it's not really printable. I bought them each a cheapie from ebay at a cost of about ?12 each. They have loved them and have learned to be very careful with them. I figure even if (when) they do break, they cost between a half and a third of what the kids ones do, they've taken some printable photos and felt very privileged and trusted in the meantime because they have a grown up camera.

[Gubodge]

I'm getting my daughter one for her fouth birthday and have decided to go with a cheap adult camera rather than one designed for children. Friends (including one who got one for her daughter at about 2.5) have said the picture quality is usually much better and they handle being bashed around just fine.

[Moos]

I believe my brother (although he is not a PUNK) relies on www.wickeduncle.co.uk and he has always come up with the goods for the Moosling.