Take a silly selfie
Take a silly selfie using a phone or camera with props, funny faces, and different angles to practice creativity and safe photo sharing.
About this activity
Take a silly selfie using a phone or camera with props, funny faces, and different angles to practice creativity and safe photo sharing.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Gather your assorted props and place them on a table within reach.
- 2
Step 2
Use colouring materials to decorate a paper mask or make silly cutouts.
- 3
Step 3
Put on or hold one prop so it is clearly visible in the photo.
- 4
Step 4
Move to the plain wall or sheet and stand or sit in front of it.
- 5
Step 5
Look in the mirror and practice one silly face until you like it.
- 6
Step 6
Try a different silly face in the mirror to make a new expression.
- 7
Step 7
Ask a helper to hold the camera steady for you.
- 8
Step 8
Tilt the camera high above your head and take one selfie.
- 9
Step 9
Tilt the camera low below your chin and take one selfie.
- 10
Step 10
Turn the camera sideways or tilt your head and take one selfie.
- 11
Step 11
Look through your photos and pick your favorite silly selfie.
- 12
Step 12
Show your favorite photo to an adult and ask them to help check it is safe to share.
- 13
Step 13
Share your finished silly selfie on DIY.org.
Fun facts
How do you do a silly selfie activity with kids?
To do a silly selfie activity, set up a phone or camera in a safe spot or use a timer/tripod. Gather simple props (hats, glasses, scarves) and pick a clear, uncluttered background with good light. Encourage kids to try funny faces, mixed angles, and movement—use burst mode to capture moments. Let children choose favorites, edit minimally with them, and always review sharing choices together so parents approve any photos before posting.
What materials do I need for a silly selfie activity?
You need a smartphone or camera with enough battery and storage, plus simple props like hats, scarves, sunglasses, and printable signs. Good lighting (natural window light or a lamp), a plain backdrop, and a stable surface or tripod help. Optional items: a remote shutter, sticker props, safe photo apps for editing, wet wipes for sticky hands, and a parent’s supervision to manage privacy settings before sharing.
What ages is the silly selfie activity suitable for?
This activity suits many ages. Toddlers (2–3) enjoy posed selfies with adult help; preschoolers (3–5) can make funny faces and choose props with supervision. School-age children (6–12) can experiment with angles, editing, and safe sharing rules. Teens can explore creativity and privacy boundaries. Always supervise younger kids, turn off location services, and discuss who can see photos. Adjust complexity and devices to each child’s attention and motor skills.
What are the safety tips and benefits of taking silly selfies with kids?
Silly selfies build creativity, self-expression, and confidence while improving social and motor skills. For safety: disable location tagging, check backgrounds for personal information, use private albums or approved contact lists, and ask permission before posting. Teach children to avoid strangers and to only share with family or close friends. Limit editing to age-appropriate filters and always have a parent review and approve images first.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can we use instead of paper masks or special colouring materials if we don't have them?
If you don't have paper masks or colouring materials for step 2, cut silly shapes from cereal-box cardboard or use crayons, washable markers, or stickers on plain printer paper to make the cutouts.
My selfies keep coming out blurry or the prop isn't visible—how do I fix that?
If photos are blurry or the prop from step 3 isn't clear in shots from steps 8–10, ask the helper from step 7 to steady the camera by bracing their arms, move closer to the plain sheet or wall in step 4, and hold the prop slightly toward the camera for better focus.
How can I change this activity for different ages so it's safe and fun?
For toddlers, use large soft props and have an adult complete steps 6–9 while the child practices one silly face in step 5, for early school-age kids let them decorate pre-cut masks in step 2 and try the three camera angles in steps 8–10, and for older kids encourage designing complex cutouts and choosing a favorite to edit before sharing on DIY.org in the final step.
What are some creative ways to extend or personalize our silly selfie activity?
To extend the activity, create a theme (superheroes, animals), make props from recyclables when gathering materials in step 1, add captions or simple edits after picking your favorite in step 11, or assemble a collage of the three angle shots from steps 8–10 to share on DIY.org.