Why You Should Wait to Show Your Kids Videos of Themselves

A recent New York Times article by Julia Cho explores how watching videos of ourselves can reshape children’s memories. The piece is prompted by an adult recollection: as a shy child performing in community musicals, the embarrassment returned whenever a VHS recording played immediately after visitors arrived—turning the moment into something viewed from the outside. Cho’s reporting cites research on photography’s effect on memory, then extends the idea to children as constant subjects of recording through phones. She finds that showing clips of a child’s “big moments” can shift them from participant to distant observer, potentially warping how they remember. The article notes exceptions, such as using video to improve skills, and suggests waiting before playback after major events.