Dearest Parents, It is now the end of the year and a time of graduations from Morah, Kindergarten, Primary, Playgroup, and many other milestones in our precious children’s lives. We are also attending many other end of year functions for our children.
My letter is being written now but it applies throughout the year at any events such as these.
When I come to any of these events it never fails to strike me. As I am watching the adorable 3-4-5 yr old’s singing, and making their presentations, which they prepared and and are excited about-there are 30-50 cell phones watching them as well as a handful of parents.
Do you think your child appreciates you holding a cell phone and videoing him or her half the time? Don’t you think he or her would rather you watch with your dear smile and attention that only you can give, no matter how hard Mrs. Apple and Mrs. Android can try. Our children are yearning for our approval and attention as they stand up on stage. Let’s put down our phones once and for all and start giving them natural attention without videoing them.
I understand if you want to take some pictures and perhaps a short video or two to keep for memories. But after that, lets get back to making our children the sunshines that they are!
Enjoy the moment! Hey, you can even smile to the parent sitting next to you and share the moment instead of catching it on your phone!
One possible idea for schools or Morahs to implement at future events is to have a dedicated photographer to video and take pictures even if not super professionally. They can then send that out to all the parents to keep for memories. Just an idea, but I think we need to change this habit of everyone sitting with phones up and running the whole time.
Please excuse my grammar and spelling, I have a chumash play to run to!
(TLS welcomes your letters by submitting them to [email protected])
Yes,actually my daughter treasures the videos. My children watch and re-watch the videos i take!!
well said
Actually, yes! Then when we get home we can listen to it over and over again, with all the siblings, grandparents etc who couldn’t attend.
Honestly, my son loves when I video his graduations so that he can rewatch it again and again after.
Your making it as if we are ignoring the event. When taking a video for that long you are fully engaged in what is going on and are merely holding your phone in hand and recording it. I dont think this distracts from your attention. If parents were texting or answering emails during an event you would have a great point. But in this case I wholeheartedly disagree.
U cant see their smile through the phone??
Actually my kids really DO appreciate me videoing . They watch the video over and over and show it proudly to their siblings… grandparents etc. They would be devastated if i didn’t video.
However i do agree that i would much rather not have to video it and i would love if the school could send home professional videos
Some people just like to kvetch.
Why didnt you bring this up when 50% of the roo was holding up digital cameras.
Im guessing you don’t have a smartphone? And that your uncomfortable being the one in the room without one.
Nice points perhaps, but the child is actually excited about getting videoed.
I video because a)their other parent, grandparents and siblings never get to shep the naches in person. B) the kids LOVE watching themselves again and again!
Waiting for the school to edit and release a presentation takes forever and is a waste of resources when they are doing multiple classes and grades in the final weeks of the school year.
completely agree
My kid specifically asked me to video his Chumash siyum so he can watch it afterwards. I think you missed the boat! Your “kanuos” ( for lack of better word) makes sense at time where you have to be “in the moment” like by the Kosel or getting a Bracha from a gadol, in that case I would agree with you, but here it’s just a graduation! There’s no reason you can’t do both
My kids remind me over and over before we leave for their graduations, plays to make sure my phone is fully charged so that I can video the entire thing. As soon as its over they want to watch it. I still love watching the videos my parents took of my events! And my kids can’t stop laughing when they watch!
Growing up I was always jealous of the girls who’s mothers were videoing the event. I do take videos of my kids and watch the play as well. They love it!
I like your suggestion.