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My children: The movie

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Parent24 Editor, Scott Dunlop
Parent24 Editor, Scott Dunlop
You may have noticed something: At Parent24 we love to find interesting, moving or crazy videos and share them with you. The three of us in the office don’t spend our lives on YouTube, but we confess- there’s quite often a time in the day when we’ll pause in the middle of writing and editing to watch something fun like “Babies eating lemons” or “Conversation with my 12-year-old self”. There’s no shortage of fun videos of kids to watch.

I often film my kids when we go out. Terrible quality phone-films, but they are fascinated with watching them later. I wouldn’t put them on the internet, as they’re just for us, but maybe I’ll put all of the minute-long clips together for them one day.

Some of the most popular pieces we’ve ever had on Parent24 have been all of the videos we’ve put up on birthing. Birth stories seem to fascinate people. Twenty years ago it would have been considered unusual behaviour to film a birth, but now it’s not only commonplace, but almost expected. If you’re expecting, you could well be asked if you’ll be putting the video up on Facebook.

Most kids will be miniature movie stars- some even while in the womb- gurgling and burping into a camera lens, and living their lives in a way that each embarrassing moment is preserved forever. There’s something about photos and videos which reinforces memories. If you think back to your childhood, it’s often through seeing photos that you recall people, places and things. Favourite toys. Pets now long gone. Celebrations.

We’ve enjoyed watching videos such as the couple who made a two-minute film out of their entire pregnancy, and the dad who made one of his daughter growing from birth until she was 12-years-old.

With a little imagination, you could be behind the next viral video sensation. There have been parents who made lots of money off video footage of their kids. And there are opportunities for your kids, too: Look at how YouTube changed the life of Justin Bieber, for example.

Even if you just catch them being regular kids, or, if by accident you manage to film a funny, unforgettable moment, it’s worth doing. One day, you’ll all be able to look back at the footage and laugh at mom’s fashion mistakes, or how dad looked when he had hair. Mostly, though, when they’re all grown up, they’ll be able to see that their childhood was actually a fun place to be, and that their parents really weren’t so bad after all.

Call it evidence, or call it proof: They’ll know you loved them.

Lights, camera... action!

If you’d like to share your videos with us, why not send one to us at chatback@parent24.com and you could win a R250 kalahari.com voucher.
 
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