Parents lead by example, and children learn by watching grown-ups. Beloved hobbies tend to get passed down from parent to child, especially if those hobbies are kid-friendly and entertaining to young minds. Photography is one example. Kids love to take pictures. And with the LCD preview panels on digital cameras, kids have found a whole new reason to be excited about picture-taking.
Unfortunately, too many digital camera models aren’t appropriate for kids. Either they break too easily, or cost too much, or simply have too many confusing features and non-intuitive button and menu layouts. Children get disappointed when they are constantly refused access to a camera, especially if they see parents and older siblings taking pictures. What’s a parent to do?
Thanks to Fisher-Price, parents can simply buy a digital camera for their youngest photographers. The Fisher-Price Kid Tough Digital Camera was designed for small children who might subject it to rough treatment. The plastic and rubber camera case can take a lot of abuse.
Available in blue, pink, or red, the Kid Tough Digital Camera is praised for its superb design. Even two year olds can quickly learn to take pictures with this camera. It features a pair of large rubber grip handles for small hands. There is also a wrist strap built into the camera’s base. The buttons are large and easy to use. Kids also enjoy the shutter sound that comes whenever they snap a picture. Parents and kids both like the fact that this is a true point-and-shoot camera. Everything is automatic.
But therein lies the problem with the Fisher Price Kid Tough Digital Camera. Because everything is done for you, there is no chance to change exposure settings to suit the situation. The photo quality is poor, with pictures often coming out blurry, dark, or discolored. Many parents have even exchanged the Fisher Price Kid Tough Digital Camera for low-cost models designed for adults. The Kid Tough doesn’t have enough fun features to compensate for the low image quality. Its competitor, the VTech KidiZoom Digital Camera, comes with a host of games, video capability, and silly frames and special effects for images. The Kid Tough just doesn’t compare.
Bottom line: if you want an entertaining camera for kids, go with the VTech KidiZoom. If you want a simple camera that takes decent pictures, go with almost any of the low-end point-and-shoots out there. They are more likely to take clear, printable pictures than the Fisher Price Kid Tough.
The Fisher Price Kid Tough Digital Camera sells for about $70 US, and can be found in toy stores or online where digital cameras are sold.