Family Videos
by Laura L. Meehan
You Ought to Be in Pictures!
Have you put together too many puzzles and played too many games of Monopoly recently? If your Family Night's in a rut, maybe it's time to get out the home videos. Watching episodes of your family's history provides a wonderful bonding experience, not to mention some great laughs. And kids love to see themselves when they were "little"! If you've been fairly consistent about recording the highlights of your family's development, you're all set. Grab a stack of videos, snuggle up on the couch and take a trip down memory lane.
Now, for the rest of you: There's no longer a good excuse for not having at least a few home videos for posterity. Camcorders are much less expensive and easier to use than they were a decade ago, and renting -- or borrowing -- are affordable options. So, if you've been lax about capturing your family's precious moments on film, heed these three words: Lights, camera, action!
Oscar-Quality Home Videos
Although most things your kids do when they're little will seem cute and funny to you, here are some things to keep in mind if you want videos that are as wonderful -- and original -- as your family.
Babies: Of course, no one wants to watch an hour of even the cutest infant sleeping! Take shorter shots of your little one during his daily routine -- napping, gazing at nothing, playing with his toes, eating, etc. Maybe end it with a scene of the little angel nestled in his crib for the night. (Sure he'll be up in an hour -- this is the magic of film!) Get some footage of whining and screaming, too -- no need for the kids to think they've always been perfect!
As babies grow, and become more active, video opportunities abound: playing with favorite toys, crawling, first steps, first words, etc. Be sure to include shots of relatives, your house, your car, and your neighbors. It might seem boring to you right now, but in just a few years the kids will be amazed at how old-fashioned things were "back then," and how funny (not hip?) Mom and Dad used to look.
Toddlers: Walking and talking babies are made for the camera! Just about anything they do will be funny to watch year after year. Singing, chatting with stuffed animals, eating messy ravioli, taking a bath -- you just can't go wrong here. Record as much of this time as you can, since it's so much fun and they grow up so quickly.
Little kids (3 to 7): Candid shots of kids playing -- sledding, swimming, etc. -- are always great. Or, get out the dress-up clothes, put on some music (classical, show tunes, and Raffi are good) and have the kids dance. Just sit on a chair with the camera and film away. They'll come up with some pretty great stuff.
Older kids (8 to 12): All the kids in the neighborhood can get together and put on plays or variety shows featuring singing, dancing, and one-liners. Most kids love performing for a camera (and especially watching it afterward). If they're not into show biz, record them playing football or selling lemonade on the corner. Be sure to bring the camcorder on family vacations.
Teens: At this age, most kids could not care less about appearing in home movies. If your teen isn't "ready for her close-up," try having her take on the role of family historian and interview older relatives for a priceless family document. Help her come up with questions, and be sure she's in the video at least part of the time.
Now that you're inspired to make family videos you'll cherish forever, here's a bonus: You can bring these tapes to most video stores and get inexpensive copies to send to relatives. They'll love you for it!
