Watoto Play Children’s Images, Privacy and Creative Expression Policy
Scribbledeedo® is a brand of Watoto Play.
Our Position
At Watoto Play, we do not take photographs or videos of children for marketing, promotional, social media, publicity, or commercial purposes.
This has always been our approach. We may however use discrete stock photography.
Our position is rooted in our commitment to safeguarding, consent, privacy, dignity, emotional safety, and children’s right to develop without unnecessary observation or public exposure.
We believe childhood should include opportunities to play, learn, create, communicate, and grow without the expectation of being photographed, recorded, or shared online.
Privacy and Autonomy
At Watoto Play, we believe children deserve the opportunity to build their own digital identity when they are ready, rather than having one created for them by others.
For this reason, we do not publish:
- Photographs of children
- Videos of children
- First or full names
- Ages or dates of birth
- School or educational setting details
- Personal information
- Medical diagnosis
- Family circumstances
- Any information that could contribute to a child’s identification
Children’s Creative Work
We recognise that children’s artwork, stories, reflections, journals, creative writing, and other forms of self-expression may contain deeply personal thoughts, experiences, emotions, and perspectives.
For this reason, we do not publicly publish private creative work created by children.
We believe children should be free to express themselves without concern that their personal thoughts, feelings, or creations may later be shared publicly.
The Importance of Not Being Watched
Children benefit from spaces where they are not being observed, recorded, documented, evaluated, or displayed.
When children know they may be photographed, filmed, or publicly shared, it can influence how they behave, create, communicate, and express themselves.
At Watoto Play, we believe that not every moment needs to be captured.
Some experiences are valuable simply because they belong to the child.
Children deserve opportunities to:
- Explore freely
- Learn through trial and error
- Be creative without performance pressure
- Express thoughts and feelings honestly
- Develop confidence at their own pace
- Experience privacy and ownership of their experiences
Digital Safety
While concerns about artificial intelligence, facial recognition, image manipulation, and data collection continue to grow, our approach has never been driven solely by technology.
Rather, these developments reinforce the importance of principles that have always guided our work: safeguarding, consent, privacy, dignity, and respect for children.
Image Usage & Attribution
To illustrate our activities, philosophy, and creative processes, Scribbledeedo® uses selected stock photography licensed via Unsplash, alongside AI-generated and brand-commissioned imagery.
All images are carefully curated to align with our children's images policy — we never use stock photographs that show children's faces. Instead, we focus on hands, artwork, materials, and the creative process itself.
Photography is credited to Unsplash where applicable. If you have any questions about an image used on our site, please contact us.
Encouraging Good Practice
Watoto Play encourages parents, grandparents, schools, charities, businesses, and community organisations to carefully consider how children’s images, personal information, and creative work are used and shared.
We believe children deserve privacy, ownership of their stories, and the freedom to develop without unnecessary public exposure.
Working With Other Organisations
As the founder of Watoto Play, I believe children deserve privacy, dignity, and the opportunity to develop without unnecessary public exposure.
While we recognise that organisations may adopt different approaches to photography and digital media, Watoto Play chooses not to use photographs or videos of children in advertising, marketing, promotional materials, websites, or social media.
When considering partnerships, collaborations, sponsorships, or joint projects, we look for organisations that demonstrate a strong commitment to safeguarding, consent, privacy, and the wellbeing of children.
We encourage organisations to carefully consider whether the use of children’s images, stories, artwork, or personal information is necessary, in the child’s best interests, and something the child might choose for themselves in the future.
Our preference is to work with individuals and organisations whose values align with our commitment to protecting children’s privacy, autonomy, dignity, and emotional safety.
Our Guiding Principle
At Watoto Play, we believe that a child’s wellbeing is more important than publicity.
We do not use photographs or videos of children in advertising, marketing, promotional materials, websites, social media, or publicity campaigns.
Where there is any doubt, we will always choose the option that best protects a child’s privacy, dignity, emotional safety, and future autonomy.