The Benefit of Pictures

We recently hung pictures on the walls of our home, which is my absolute favorite part of decorating! I love walking around and seeing the faces of the people I love the most, being reminded of how wonderful my little family is. It makes tough days a little sweeter and brings joy to my heart and mind often. Some of these are professional portraits but many of them are snapshots of special memories we’ve captured throughout mundane days, family vacations and time together. 

These pictures on our walls are now our 15-month-old son’s favorite part of our house, I think! Every time we go upstairs we have to stop at the landing and name all the people in the pictures. He points and I tell him who it is and then he tries to repeat it back to me with a huge smile on his face.

While this is a super fun activity we do together it also is super important for a child’s development. How so? There are several reasons we should surround our children with photographs of our families. Below are two of my favorites:

  1. It provides a sense of security by showing them they are part of a family. These photographs show them who they are and where they fit. They see themselves as well as their parents and siblings. This helps solidify in their hearts and minds that they are loved and valued and boosts their self-esteem.
  2. Naming people is an important part of language development. Young children are increasing their vocabulary and words at a rapid pace. The more we as parents can help them name people in their lives the quicker they will be able to communicate clearly.

So, print those pictures that are filling your cell phones! Put them into a little photo album for your child. Hang them on your walls and surround the children in your home with memories that go beyond just decor. 

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