What do you do with

[Dynamicnanny]

I seem to have taken loads of pictures of the 3 children that I look after and was just wondering if you took photos and what you did with them - do you print them regularly, make photo albums etc

I print some and put them in their diaries.

but most i file into month order, then at the end of teh month parents bring me their flash sticks and I put them onto them for them, then move the photos from my PC onto my external hard drive which I only se for photos.

Then when i hav etime, I add text to some of the photos, explaining why what and where we were doing things, print them, and they go into a HUGE photo Album to show Inspectors, Network Supervisors,and Dfes when they come.

I use a digital camera to take photos - some of them get printed on my monthly newsletter, which is given to all current families I mind for.

All the others (and short videos too) get transferred onto a DVD so each family will receive all the photos I have of their children.

I ensure that other parents don't mind their children being included on DVDs being given to other parents.

I email each parent at the end of the day with a short description and their day's photos as attachments. Parents can then print or save their own photos.

I delete old photos periodically from my pc. But keep especially good ones for use on my website or to get professionally printed for wall displays or new parents/Ofsted photo albums.

With parental permission, I've also put them onto DVDs which the children wrap up for their parents at Christmas.

Also have used them to make photo books - just put into small albums with short sentence captions. Then put them on the book rack (glue in the pics otherwise they pull them out of the books). The kids love to look back at themselve and each other. Ofsted find these useful - clear evidence of what goes on in the setting and gives them a wider picture than being confined to what they see on the day of inspection. And can be useful to show prospective parents the types of activities provided.

Also photos will be useful to prove you are following EYFS from September. If you find a link between the learning outcomes in EYFS and whats going on in the picture - this serves as an observation from which you can plan a future activity. And take a picture of that and repeat the cycle.

With parent permission a photo of each child's face is useful on an ICE (In Case of Emergency) card - put them on a key-ring or in a photo album together with details of any allergies and emergency contact number. Handy to keep for outings/in your car. As long as you only have the cards for the children present with you, otherwise would cause confusion for emergency services if you are the casualty.

You can use photos in lots of crafts - making frames, putting onto bookmarks etc for presents. Or in role play games - making passports, bus passes, library tickets, driving licences etc.

I use photobox to make photo books for presents. Very reasonably priced and fun to do. I think you also get some free prints when you join. Also got one of those plastic pouches that displays 20 odd pictures and change the pics regularly. The children love looking at their pictures.