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Focus on
Families: Judges' Comments
Below are the photos that made it to the final
round and won gold,
silver or bronze. These photos are the best of the best
at showing
the joy,
vitality and value
of families and the crucial role of parents and caregivers in
healthy child
development. Find out what impressed the judges about each one.
Caring for Yourself and Others
To thrive,
children need many
things, especially love, respect, and opportunities to reach their
potential. But as parents, we need to remember that taking care of
ourselves is just as important for us as it is for our children.
 Bonding
Susan Crawford
“Mom
taking care of herself by relaxing in the sun on the hammock, while
taking care
of her child’s most basic need.”
---
“I love the warmth of
both the sun and the mother, the symbolism of the open web of the hammock and
the act of nursing, as well as the relaxation of both mom and child.”
 A New Friend
Julie Emery
“The
composition draws your eye to the frog on the boy's hand and shows
clearly the
care with which he is touching it.”
---
“The gentle touch of the
youngster and the parent, taking time on the beach to learn about nature and how to care for it.”
 Feeding Daddy
Jocelyn Pollard
“What a great photo! Dad is home
from a hard day of work. Having dinner
and reading the paper is important down time for Dad, but
it’s even better when
it is shared with his child. This Dad is certainly demonstrating the
value of caring for ourselves and our children!”
---
“I
liked this picture because it showed a father and daughter enjoying a
moment in a typical family situation. I liked the fact that they seemed
to be
enjoying each others company and that mealtime was a relaxed and social
experience. Spending quality time with your child need not be
complicated. It
can be as simple and as routine as sharing a meal together’”
Communication
Communication is both
listening and talking. It is not just what we say, but how we say it,
in both words and actions.
Communication Through Touch
Karen Champagne
“The
most basic form of communication; words are not always needed.”
---
“The
contrast of all those wires and the tender human hand. Technology and Touch...
Clearly both are essential for the child’s survival.”
 Garden Wisdom
Lisa Tsapoitis
“I
loved this picture because it demonstrated how important it is to take
time to speak and respond to a child’s interests, no matter
how busy our (adult)
lives. It’s important to capture the moment.”
 Papa and Me
Janice Wilkinson
“You
can clearly see the affection and communication between the boy and his
Papa in
their expressions. The plain background makes this more obvious.”
Dads and Kids
Whether it’s as
teacher,
coach, playmate or caregiver, there’s no doubting that dads
play
a special role in their children’s lives. This category
celebrates all that is great about kids and their dads.
I Love You, Daddy
Lynda Bizi
“So
important that Dads have a strong connection with their children. Love
the joy
in the child’s face while spending fun time with Dad.”
---
“A
look and touch can say so much! Special moments between Dads and their
children are precious. Time travels so quickly but the memory of a
shared look
and a whispered “I love you” will last forever.
This photo says it all.”
 Toes Wet at Sunset
Christie Lake
“The
lake and sunset add to a setting of what appears to be a great moment of
bonding captured between father and daughter.”
---
“Time
together without tv, computer, blackberry or cell phone. What could be more
special than that?”
---
“A reflection on today’s
fun, but looking out to the future. The colours are subtle, but amazing: the
sunset and the contrast of the macho tee shirt and little-girl pink.”
---
“There is something to
be said about a quiet moment with a parent with no distractions. This picture
portrays that quiet moment perfectly.”
 Feet in the Sand
Michelle Stockton
“The
composition is unusual. It says a lot about the father and son’s
relationship
in an interesting and subtle way.”
---
“Who is leading whom?
(I’ll bet dad thinks he’s in charge.)”
Love
of
Learning
Parents are a
child’s
first and best teacher. Children reach towards their full potential
when we encourage positive values, skills and a life-long love of
learning.
Love Notes
Alison Wawrzyniak
“How
wonderful when grandparents are involved in a child’s
lifelong learning. Who
knows what musical talent is brewing in this child.”
 Measure Twice
Janice Wilkinson
“I
love that the child is learning by doing. Children just want to participate and
help along with their parents and other adults.”
---
“It’s so much faster to
do it yourself, but Uncle is taking the time to teach. Twice the time - twice
the ultimate reward of sharing and eventual self sufficiency.”
---
“Passing on your
knowledge is invaluable. Spending time with a child doing that is
priceless. This shot tells the tale.”
 Circle of Learning
Melissa Cowan
“Special time to read a book between
grandmother and grandchild helps to
lay the foundation for life long learning. This photo captures a
special
moment, planting the seed for the love of literacy.”
---
“This
picture is particularly heartwarming. I loved the way the child
seemed to be captivated by a picture in the book. She seemed genuinely
interested. Her grandmother had selected an ideal book for her age: A
board
book with lots of interesting pictures.”
Security and
Trust
Children’s
happiness and
future success is founded on security
and trust—trust in
parents and other caregivers, in our home and neighbourhood,
as
well as basic needs such as food, shelter and supervision.
Time
Together
Parenting is about building
lifelong positive relationships with our children, and time with
parents and other caring adults is the best investment we can make for
our children.
 Discovering
Teresa Crosato
“Love
the intimacy of this photo.”
---
“The warmth of the colour
and emotion is wonderful.”
 Joy!
Cheri Chevalier
“Sure,
it isn’t a big enough fish to fry. But when you’re fishing for the first time,
reeling in a baby fish is as exhilarating as reeling in a five-pound Atlantic
salmon.”
---
“Invest your time in
children. There is nothing that can replace the smile from a child. Way
to go Grampa!”
 Fun Together at the Splashpad
Diana Church
“So simple, so special.”
The
Understanding the
Early Years initiative is funded by Human Resources and Social
Development
Canada. For further information, visit www.hrsdc.gc.ca.
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