I feel weird about this even though I’m sure other parents don’t bat an eye. It’s hard to navigate. My son takes group swimming lessons and I do take video of him doing laps to show to grandparents who live very far away. I don’t zoom in on other kids, but inevitably other kids are sometimes in the frame. Nobody has said anything or complained. But I also don’t post these anywhere, just send to grandparents who don’t even have social media.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think email or WhatsApp to a private group is ok and reasonable. A printed photo is always fine. Posting things publicly is a no no. I have a private Instagram and I still don’t post other peoples kids’ faces, even though their parents would never know if I did.

I think if it is something like a sports game that is zoomed out, it is also probably fine.

I have also observed that parents who are super passionate about this, will ask or speak up when they see a photo being taken, and say please don’t post Johnny online. Which is good!

I think I agree with all of that. In the birthday example, not all the parents were there when pictures were taken, but I would also assume that kids whose parents object would also know that and say something. I always announce to kids "Hey guys, I'm going to take a picture, everybody look over here" or if a smaller group "Is it ok if I take a picture?"

No, they definitely won’t. Are you new to parenting? Kids don’t want to call attention to themselves or be viewed as different. Some are not comfortable doing this type of thing.

Another person who never posts photos of my kids online but would be fine with both of these.

I am probably way more paranoid than most about photos of my kids and the reason I'm fine with both of these is because it's a community where I necessarily know the parent taking and sending the photos. So like it matters to me that it's the room parent or the hosts of the party.

I would feel differently about this if the person taking and sending photos at school was someone from the PTA I didn't even know who didn't have a kid in the class, or if the person taking and sending photos of my kids at a party was a parent of one of the other guests. In those situations, it tends to spike my paranoia and make me ask "why does this person have photos of my kid on their phone."

Also I could see being bothered if the kids were wearing bathing suits or anything that could be sexualized. It is sad I think about that but I do. The idea of my child in any state of undress in a photo owned by someone I don't even know creeps me out. I've read too much.

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't have an issue with either of those personally, and I don't post my kids' faces online.

However our local public school doesn't allow parents, even room parents, to take photos at all. Only staff. So...some places #1 might be a policy violation.

That is a fantastic policy@ I wish my kids' school had had that in place when they were in elementary.

Anonymous wrote:Social media- NO

Closed chat- Fine

Room mom should check with teacher before sending out any photos.

I agree with this. I wouldn't like the school posting the pictures online with faces visible, even though I did sign the photo release so I probably can't complain.

Social media- NO

Closed chat- Fine

Room mom should check with teacher before sending out any photos.

Anonymous wrote:I think email or WhatsApp to a private group is ok and reasonable. A printed photo is always fine. Posting things publicly is a no no. I have a private Instagram and I still don’t post other peoples kids’ faces, even though their parents would never know if I did.

I think if it is something like a sports game that is zoomed out, it is also probably fine.

I have also observed that parents who are super passionate about this, will ask or speak up when they see a photo being taken, and say please don’t post Johnny online. Which is good!

I think I agree with all of that. In the birthday example, not all the parents were there when pictures were taken, but I would also assume that kids whose parents object would also know that and say something. I always announce to kids "Hey guys, I'm going to take a picture, everybody look over here" or if a smaller group "Is it ok if I take a picture?"

Take photo from behind the group.

I think email or WhatsApp to a private group is ok and reasonable. A printed photo is always fine. Posting things publicly is a no no. I have a private Instagram and I still don’t post other peoples kids’ faces, even though their parents would never know if I did.

I think if it is something like a sports game that is zoomed out, it is also probably fine.

I have also observed that parents who are super passionate about this, will ask or speak up when they see a photo being taken, and say please don’t post Johnny online. Which is good!

I'm asking because I have a friend who takes pictures of our kids ALL THE TIME, which I don't necessarily love, but I don't suspect her at all of any nefariousness and I've only ever seen her post her own kids to her social media. But now I'm also considering doing the photo thank you card for my own kid's winter birthday coming up, and want to make sure parents are generally ok with this. I know most of the kids' parents but not all.

Example 1 is a closed group, so should be okay to share. The teacher should have alerted the group if someone asked not to have pictures taken or shared.

Example 2 - I think you’re correct that the school would have cross referenced against the photo releases.

Personally, I don’t post much to begin with, but will very rarely post pics of other peoples kids. If my child’s team wins a tournament or something, I’ll post a picture of my kid and share whatever the tournament/organization posted. I’ll text any pics I get of my kid with their friends directly to the parent and not share on social media.

I wouldn't have an issue with either of those personally, and I don't post my kids' faces online.

However our local public school doesn't allow parents, even room parents, to take photos at all. Only staff. So...some places #1 might be a policy violation.

Get permission only for posting. Sharing in email/closed groups is totally fine.

For #2 I feel like it depends on how big the party is but I'm not sure why I feel that way.

What is your thinking when it comes to parents taking and sharing pictures? Do parents have to check with every other parent in all situations every time, or is that overkill? Two recent examples:

1) Class party and parade. Class mom takes a group photo and some candid shots of the class party and parade on her cell phone, and shares out to the whole class in an email and class WhatsApp. School also puts different, but similar party and parade pictures up on the public Facebook page and school Instagram, but I assume that admin cross checks each of those photo to see whether the child has a photo release on file.

2) Birthday party. Mom or dad (I assume mom but I don't know for sure) took a group photo of all the kids around the birthday girl and printed the photo into a Thank you card. All families with a kid who attended birthday got a card with the group photo printed on it. The group photo is printed, and not posted on any public platform like Facebook.