Hello there, friends!
I’m so excited to introduce The Yearlings Project, a self-documentary adventure for kids ages 4-12. Every single child I know has a unique outlook, a singular life, and a special place in history. So does every other child on this planet! Through the Yearlings Project, I’ll be sending out regular self-documentary prompts that allow kids to share what their lives are like and learn more about how other kids live.
Kids will listen to a five-minute podcast to receive the prompt and begin their imagination process, and then use drawing, writing, audio recording, or a camera to respond to open-ended questions about a single, concrete aspect of their lives. I’ll supply a custom Notion template for easy recording and safekeeping of what kids create.
Kids and their grownups can decide to keep their Yearlings entries just for themselves, like a journal, or share them anonymously — no names, no faces— with other Yearlings for inclusion in periodic Sharing Circle episodes of the podcast.
Taken together, kids’ responses will form a rich tapestry of youth voices and perspectives as history unfolds, and a powerful argument for the basic rights of all children.
I love talking to the hundreds of kids that I photograph each year, and I’m so excited to provide them with a tool for sharing their lives, ideas, and experiences in a safe, fun way. I believe that the quiet details of kids’ lives make big arguments for the universal human rights of children. I believe in the power of their voices and their convictions. I believe in the power of storytelling and connection as a way forward during hard times. I believe in us as safe grownups.
So— let’s get going! Below you’ll find the inaugural edition of the Yearlings Project: Show us your shoes! I can’t wait to see what my friends create.
How to participate
Listen to the podcast above with your kid. Let them take in the prompt, then assemble their storytelling tools. They might want to listen more than once!
Help them to record, draw, write, and photograph their answers to the prompt, using the Notion template to organize everything if you’d like. They don’t need to answer every single question or create with every medium— just encourage them to create what they wish and leave the rest. They should be able to finish the entire activity in 10-15 minutes! Of course, they’re always welcome to spend more time if they get in the groove.
Tuck their creation away for safekeeping, or email me at anna@annacarsondewittdewittphotography.com if you child would like to share something they’ve made (no names, no faces) for an upcoming Sharing Circle episode of the podcast. Please ask for your child’s consent before sharing anything they have made.
Celebrate your child’s storytelling! Thank them for sharing! Await the next edition of The Yearlings Project!
This month’s prompt, Show us your shoes, asks kids to engage in description and storytelling about a pair of their shoes. Cool things will happen! The podcast prompt is up top. Start there!
Here’s the storytelling template on Notion. It makes recording and storing text, photo, and audio really easy. You’ll want to make a free Notion account (you only need to do this the first time), then click on the two overlapping squares in upper right hand corner to duplicate the template into your own account. I think it’s worth the extra steps (no kickbacks from Notion for me, it’s just a great tool).
The template is also available below in a text format if you’d rather is it that way.
Happy storytelling, friends! Talk soon!
Yearlings documentary template: Show us your shoes!
Hi kids and grownups! Don’t forget to start by listening to the podcast— it’ll tell you everything about this week’s self-documentary topic. You can use this template to capture and save your kid’s response’s to Yearlings documentary prompts. Keep in mind— kids don’t need respond to every question here. They should pick what looks like fun, and do it till they’re done. Happy storytelling!
Describe it!
We’ve never seen your shoes before— what can you tell us about them so that we know what they are like?
-What color are they?
-What KIND of shoes are they? Sneakers? Ballet slippers? Rain boots?
-Are they clean or dirty?
-Stinky or not stinky?
-What else do you notice about your shoes?
Write it down
Record your voice
Take a picture! Draw a picture!
Tell us the story!
Your shoes are an important part of your story— think about all the adventures you’ve had with them!
Tell us an about THREE THINGS you’ve done while wearing these shoes, like going to school, jumping in puddles, or walking you dog!
Write it down
Record your voice
Draw a picture of yourself doing something interesting in your shoes!
Let’s wonder!
What makes you curious about other kids and the shoes they wear? What would you like to know about other kid’s shoes and the adventures they have while wearing them?
Write it down
Record your voice
Draw a picture of another kid you wonder about, real or imaginary, doing something interesting in their shoes!
Bye for now!
Thanks for sharing about your shoes, friend! I hope you wear them on lots of cool adventures in happiness, freedom, and good health. Your story is so important, just like everyone else’s. Talk soon!
Grownups, if you would like to share your child’s responses anonymously for the Yearlings Project, including audio to appear on a future podcast, email anna@annacarsondewittphotography.com. Please ask for you child’s consent before sharing their story or anything they have made with these prompts.
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