Displaying Artwork in Your Home & Your Child’s Self – Esteem

Are you are guilty of getting family pictures but never actually hanging them in your home? I think at some point, we’re all a little guilty of that. But what if I told you that having artwork of your family/kids up in your home boosts your child’s self-esteem?

Will you ensure that the artwork is displayed in your home?

A study took place in 1975 by Tulane University students. The study reflected the effects of displaying artwork in your home and your child’s self-esteem. The study included a group of fourth graders who were tested over a 5 week period. Fourth graders completed the first test and the results showed that each of them had low self-esteem. They were then given Polaroid cameras and were requested to take several pictures of themselves over a five week period. During those five weeks, they were required to create a scrapbook including their self portraits they had taken with the Polaroid camera. At the end of those five weeks, the children showed a thirty-seven percent increase in their self-esteem.

There is just something about a child being able to see pictures of their self throughout their home. David Krauss, a licensed psychologist and a pioneer in using personal and family albums in assisting mental health counseling and therapy, states “I think it is really important to show a family as a family unit. It is so helpful for children to see themselves as a valued and important part of that family unit. A photographer’s job is to create and make the image look like a safe holding space for kids where they are safe and protected. Kids get it on a really simple level.”

Krauss explains that he believes placing a family photo on a wall where a child can see it every day and doesn’t have to turn on a device provides that child a sense of reassurance and comfort. He even recommends placing family photos in the child’s bedroom so that it’s one of the last things they see before going to bed and one of the first things they see when waking up.

I believe family is one of the most precious things in life.

I absolutely love family sessions and capturing the love between each family member. Displaying my artwork of your sweet family in your home would obviously make my heart happy but there’s so much more to it than that. It’s the reminder of the beautiful family you’ve created. A reminder of the “why” when you have those hard days. Fill those walls with love. But most importantly, by displaying the artwork, it is improving your child’s self-esteem.