It is important that children are encouraged to engage with a camera and produce their own photobooks from an early age, suggests an online photography magazine.

Small Aperture explained that the best way to get them started was to equip them with a simple point and shoot digital camera so that can easily start snapping pictures and review the results straight way as well.

Speaking to the Chicago Tribune, Daniela Bowker, an editor for Small Aperture and a professional photographer, said: "Besides children being inquisitive by nature, and wanting to imitate adults, the instant gratification of digital photography makes the chances of them wanting to have a go with a camera quite high."

The best way of keeping it fun is to allow children to experiment and learn from their own mistakes. All the important rules about settings, composition and good lighting can come with time and experience.

Unlike traditional film-based cameras, this would not necessarily have been possible as the costs of producing the images would have prevented many families from printing off images.

Now however, digital cameras give people the option to print off whichever images they like. This kind of control for children and young people can be extremely empowering.