Kids Like Video Blogs Too!
Published by Josh Leo on 16 Sep 2005 at 6:19 pm.
4 Comments.
Filed under Vlog News.
The other day, I saw this hilarious video and it got me thinking about children’s place in the vlogosphere. Kids have been a part of video blogging since the very beginning. Parents have displayed their children’s cuteness in an uncountable number of videos. But surely children are capable of being more than just the subjects of videos, right?
Kids are pumped full of creative juices just waiting to be released. In addition to being creative, kids also enjoy other people’s creativity. But how can we get them interested in video blogs? How do we filter content that is appropriate for their innocent minds? How do we keep them safe in the, sometimes dangerous, world of the internet? These are all important questions to ask, I hope I can help to answer them.
First, if we want to get them interested in videoblogging, we need talk with them about it. We need to show them what we are doing as content creators, and encourage them to make their own videos (even if they don’t end up on a vlog.) That is what Nathan Peters did with his two kids. Jordan and Daniel have made a few videos that made their way onto their dad’s vlog. (other videos on this site may not be suitable for children) Their unique perspectives on the world are what the world needs.
Even though there is plenty of content out there on the internet that is not appropriate for kids, there is also lot’s that is perfect for them. One great place to start to find this content is over at mefeedia in the “kidsafe” tag. This page (and feed) is filled with videos that are great for kids of all ages, just check out Eric Rice’s son enjoying them in FireANT if you happen to find a video that you think your kids will like, then call them on over and show them how great the medium is. Stephanie at Reel Fun has shared a few videos with her son and then shared those moments with us! Just take a look at how watching video blogs can be a great bonding moment.
Obviously, some children are too young to make their own video blogs, some will not be interested in this form of creative expression. But some kids will really enjoy it, it is our job as adults, to give them the opportunities to get involved. That is what Michael Verdi did with his daughter Dylan. Now she has one of the most popular video blogs and has been featured in a bunch of news outlets.
So go get your kids involved, be it making or watching videos. Teach them about what we do and why it is great. Share the knowledge, share the time, share the energy, share the vlogs.
Do you know of any great videos of kids making or enjoying video blogs? leave us a comment with the link!
Michael Meiser on 18 Sep 2005 at 9:55 am: 1
Both public betas of ANT now support Flash, so maybe it’s time to take the content from PBS Postcards from Buster site, which include flash based interactive games, videos and audio and make a demo feed to pitch to PBS to demonstrate particualrly how FireANT Mac is the perfect platform for multimedia interaction with the website. Perhaps Buster will be the first ficticous character with a vlog. Well, actually I guess he already is, but he needs a multimedia feed.
Josh Leo on 18 Sep 2005 at 9:21 pm: 2
found a great video with a kid… http://www.ymimexico.org/2005/09/nathan-talks.html
Erin Nealey on 19 Sep 2005 at 8:03 am: 3
Interesting post Josh. The mefeedia kidsafe tag is a great idea. Just wanted to tell ya, my kids watch YOUR videos
Sometimes I sit at my desk and watch videos while they are playing. Since most of yours I would consider kidsafe, Jordan comes over and watches them with me. She calls them “Josh videos”. I should really vlog that sometime 
We Are The Media : Introducing Thje digiKID on 24 Sep 2005 at 11:07 am: 4
[…] Remember that post I did about kids and video blogs? Well the digiKID is a perfect example of kids getting involved. This kid has his own blog, podcast, and video blog (with an rss 2.0 feed), and he’s only nine years old! His “show” focuses on helping kids, and adults with technology. He covers a lot of stuff that deals with the Sony PSP and even has his videos encoded for to be played on it. Check it out and learn something new…This just goes to show you that you’re never too young to be a video blogger. […]