New study has found that six in 10 parents feel a pang of nostalgia for the days of getting a roll of film developed after a family trip – even with all the holiday snaps that aren’t perfect
Before smartphones, holiday snaps were a treasure trove of unexpected delights – red-eye, half-heads and that one shot with your thumb obscuring the lens. A recent study has revealed that Britons long for the charm of those perfectly imperfect holiday prints that meant you didn’t know what you were going to get.
The research, conducted by holiday group TUI, found that two thirds of parents experience a twinge of nostalgia for the era when developing a roll of film after a family vacation was the norm. However, with the rise of smartphones, physical copies of family photos from trips abroad have become a rarity.
The survey indicated that 63% of adults believe tangible photos hold more sentimental value than digital ones with as a staggering 52% of respondents confessed they haven’t operated a camera other than an iPhone or similar gadget in the past three years.
The findings suggest that children who capture pictures and then engage with printed photos are more likely to retain these happy memories into adulthood.
Clinical psychiatrist and memory skills expert Dr Tharaka has emphasised how memory is critical to how we learn about the world. She explains that: “On a practical level, it drives our basic functional capabilities, from learning to talk to avoiding things that may cause us harm. On an emotional level, positive memories can improve mental health, build resilience and buffer us against negative experiences.”
In a bid to revive this nostalgia, TUI is introducing new ‘Mini Memory Makers’ photography workshops at selected kids’ clubs this Easter. Budding photographers aged between three and six will be equipped with cameras and tasked with documenting the family holiday by capturing all the things they adore.
To ensure these memories last, they will also receive complimentary prints of their ‘imperfect pictures’ upon returning home; a move that backed by experts.
Dr Tharaka added: “Recalling happy childhood holidays can provide a sense of stability and grounding, and photo albums provide a trigger to transport us back to specific moments, helping to evoke the emotions we felt at that very point in time.
“When children are actively involved in a task, their brains are more engaged, leading to stronger neural connections and better memory formation. So, getting them to call the shots on the holiday photos could make the memories they are capturing far stronger, whether they’re budding photographers or their handiwork captures more than a few imperfections.”
The Mini Memory Makers masterclasses will be rolled out at three kids’ clubs located in the Canary Islands and Cyprus, including TUI BLUE Orquidea, TUI BLUE Aeneas, and TUI BLUE Flamingo Beach.
