8 best cameras for kids to get snap happy

There's no mistaking who this cute camera is aimed at — and it's not adults! It's able to print black and white images, record video and there are also simple games for kids to try, making it a great first camera.

They'll be able to get creative by experimenting with different frames and effects, and it comes with two rolls of "till-style" glossy paper, so they can go crazy without you worrying about how much each snap costs. We think little ones will love it.

The Instax Mini 12 works similarly to a Polaroid camera. It’s not digital — kids need to look through the viewfinder with one eye in order to see what they're taking a picture of. Pictures print out within five seconds of snapping a photo and take about 90 seconds to develop.

The downside is that it comes with no film — you must buy it separately if you want your kid to be able to take photos straight away – and it costs about 75 pence per photo. As such, we'd suggest this camera is best for kids aged eight and up, who tend to snap more intentionally and less randomly than preschoolers.

It’s super easy to both charge and to turn on and off by twisting the lens. And it's also great for selfies, with a mirror on the front, close-up mode and built-in automatic flash control that prevents images from getting too washed out. Lastly, the camera comes in fun pastel colours including this light blue, pink, white, mint and lilac.

Suitable for ages three and up, cameras don't come much cuter than this. However, the grippy silicone case makes the Hoppstar Rookie digital camera a practical choice for toddlers too.

It has large buttons for little fingers, photo frames and filters to experiment with, and face recognition. Older kids might want to try the Hoppstar Artist Digital Camera, which is aimed at those five years and over.

We love this honey-coloured version, but it also comes in lots of other super sweet designs, such as Mr Smithy, Pina Coolada, Strawbella and more.

The VTech KidiZoom is affordable, and it’s suitable for younger kids — VTech says a three-year-old can operate it.

Your child can scroll through the photos they’ve taken on the screen, as this camera can capture both still images and video. They can add dozens of silly photo effects to their work and if they’ve made a masterpiece, you can download the images or video to your computer at home. The images are low-quality and grainy, so don’t expect too much, but preschoolers will be delighted.

If your kid tends to take tons of pictures, you could add a micro SD card, sold separately, to increase storage. The camera is robust and durable, so kids should be able to play with it outside, without causing any damage.

The KidiZoom also has four built-in games that kids can play on the camera screen. Overall, we think it's a great toy for younger children, and a good first camera for preschoolers, but if you're shopping for a "real" camera, you might want to look elsewhere.

This simple, point and click camera is unique in that it's a screen-free digital choice. Because there's no screen on the back, just like with a disposable camera, your kid will have to wait to see what they've captured. Once home, they'll be able to plug it in to a computer to see the pictures.

It has a flash, counts pictures as your kid takes them up to 2,000 images, and has a good battery life. But despite being digital, it has a super vintage feel.

This cheerful digital kids camera reminds us of LEGO blocks. It comes in pink or blue, plus you get fun stickers, a useful lanyard and a waterproof case, making it ideal for capturing special moments on holiday. It's lightweight and durable, and even has preloaded photo templates, which we think is a nice touch.

You might remember using one of these cameras yourself, and now they're back. It makes that signature snap-and-print sound, and watching each print develop is as thrilling as ever.

This is another quick-print camera that doesn’t come with any film. Be sure to buy colour Polaroid film, but note that it’s expensive at £1.75 per print. This means we’d give this one to an arty kid who is looking for that specific look, and not a child who wants to take lots of pictures just for fun.

The camera comes with five coloured lens filters and the ability to sync via Bluetooth to a Polaroid app, all of which might appeal to a child interested in learning more about photography and experimenting with creative ideas.

Holding the chunky camera, peering through the lens and clicking the button all at the same time is also easier for tweens and teens versus little kids.

If you're looking for more recommendations for older kids and adults, head to our tech editor's roundup of the best instant cameras.

This camera includes tween-appropriate filters and frames, such as palm trees and hearts, plus stickers and markers for silly decoration.

The lucky recipient should be able to print about 280 images on the four paper scrolls included. When you buy more photo paper you get more stickers, too. The pictures do come out bendy but they are pretty clear, and this is a cheaper alternative to a Polaroid.

The camera charges with a USB cord, and it can be a digital camera and a video. Install a micro SD card, sold separately, for those features.