The Flexibility of In-the-Picture


                  

As you will have realised by now, In-the-Picture is not prescriptive. This is not about expecting consistent and rigorous adherence to a process. Actually, it is the opposite. The purpose is that is owned by the people who use it. In this section we will explore a little more about the ways in which In-the-Picture can be seen as flexible and hear further views of practitioners about their experiences. 

Why flexible?

In-the-Picture is flexible both in how its component perspectives are gathered and shared as well as in how they are used. There is not a single, correct way to produce a first-person narrative, there is not a single correct way to take and share photos, nor to undertake and build upon the reflective discussion. It is quite possible that you will struggle with a particular perspective or find one more useful for your needs. As it has developed this has been evident from the outset. But it would be a mistake to close down your attitude to particular components without reflecting on whether it may be of use in another context. Thinking about the barriers we create is a key part of supporting participation.

The way in which you plan to use In-the-Picture is also meant to be flexible. Some practitioners will feel it is has to be squeezed into an already packed schedule but you are not required to do it at a particular time, for a particular period or in a particular order. Some people will just want to have it in their tool bag to pull out when they feel it might be useful, others may want to use it at particular moments with all children. How you use it, when and where you use it should suit you. An example of this is a home visitor who used the first person narrative as a running commentary in her head; this brought the child to the front of her thoughts whenever she did it. 




Last modified: Wednesday, 23 November 2022, 4:46 PM