Ted Talks for Kids have the potential to move, inspire, and challenge us to be brave. You might give the same opportunity to youngsters. We discovered thirteen distinct TED Talks for kids on topics such as turning trash into treasure, how seemingly insignificant actions may have far-reaching implications, and the power of kindness.
Every year of age, children’s attention spans average two to three minutes. A six-year-old child’s attention span may range from 12 to 18 minutes. Personal interest and knowledge with the topic, as well as biological, emotional, and physiological factors, can all have an impact on the range. Some of these Ted Talks for Kids are suitable for your teen, while others are suitable for your child. With this in mind, we select TED talks for kids that are engaging, timely, and simple to understand.
Why Did We Choose These Ted Talks for Kids?
Short Enough for the Brains of Children
They are brief enough to hold the attention of young minds. While the “rule” for TED talks is 18 minutes, many of the most popular talks last 20 minutes or beyond. One of the principals I met while touring middle schools for my daughters remarked that a child’s attention span is equal to their age minus one. So, if your child is 11, his or her attention span is 10 minutes. You can’t expect him/her to pay attention and be engaged for 18 minutes. All of the speeches in this section are under 15 minutes long. Some are as short as three words.
Life Adventures
They are all full of life lessons that I believe are necessary for today’s youth. This means seeking for speeches that would improve students’ confidence and self-esteem while also allowing them to be authentic to themselves. Discover what it takes to live a happy and prosperous life. How to Fulfill a Big Dream. To interact, connect with, and treat others. Above all, these presentations will show students that they are exceptional and that if they dream big and work hard, anything is possible.
Suitable for Children
They are appropriate for children. You would think this is obvious, but many presenters express political viewpoints, curse, or discuss information or ideas that could be frightening or confusing to young minds. Many people think I’m perhaps a little too cautious about what I expose my children to. That’s just great with me. Adolescents will have more opportunities to see the darker side of the world as they get older. I wouldn’t mind if my seven-year-old saw all of these.
Interesting
They’re enthralling. To watch a video, children must be engaged, interested, and motivated. While it is not always easy, I have tried to select videos with appealing presenters, engaging topics, and inspiring experiences. And don’t worry, these speeches aren’t just for kids; they’re also wonderful for grownups.
Ted Talks for Children
Our children hold the key to our future, but only if they are raised properly and in a healthy environment.
“What Adults Can Learn from Kids”
“Kids don’t think about limitations. They just take into account good ideas.”
Adora Svitak, twelve, speaks and thinks like an adult yet acts like a child. She investigates the dangers of telling youngsters not to be “childish.” She also sees a society in which both students and teachers learn from one another.
“Try Something New Every Day for 30 Days”
“…rather than the months flying by and being forgotten, the time was much more memorable.”
Big aspirations can feel intimidating and unattainable at times, but modest benchmarks, goals, and changes are the stepping stones to realizing them. Matt Cutts outlines a brilliant strategy for making long-term changes in our lives.
“A Life Lesson from a Volunteer Firefighter”
“Not every day will present us with the opportunity to save someone’s life, but every day will present us with the opportunity to influence one.” So join in on the fun. “Please keep the shoes.”
Mark Bezos, a volunteer firefighter, gives a quick yet moving message that can help both children and adults. (Doesn’t that surname sound familiar? Jeff Bezos is Mark Bezos’s brother). It highlights how even small actions may have a big impact.
“Teach girls bravery, not perfection”
“I need each of you to tell every young woman you know — your sister, your niece, your employee, your colleague — to be comfortable with imperfection.”
Reshma Saujani realized she hadn’t done anything courageous until she ran for and lost a congressional seat. This debate focuses on how women can achieve great things when they seek to be courageous. Progress, not perfection.
“Science Is for Everyone, Kids Included”
“This project was really exciting for me, because it brought the process of discovery to life, and it showed me that anyone, and I mean anyone, has the potential to discover something new and that a small question can lead to a big discovery.”
Neuroscientist Beau Lotto describes research as “play” and experiments as “games.” He believes that children should be allowed to participate in the process of discovery. Amy O’Toole, twelve, and 25 of her classmates collaborated to write the first peer-reviewed essay about the Blackawton bees initiative.
“10 Ways to Have a Better Conversation”
“Is there any 21st-century skill more important than being able to sustain a coherent, confident conversation?”
Effective listening needs patience, energy, and focus. Celeste Headlee, a radio DJ, offers ten excellent and effective discussion starters.
“How Boredom Can Lead to Some of Your Most Brilliant Ideas”
“Some personal data and neuroscience gave us permission to be offline a little bit more, and some boredom gave us some clarity and helped some of us set some goals.”
When Manoush Zomorodi realized that our brains respond positively to boredom and that our addiction to technology prevents us from experiencing boredom, she designed the “Bored and Brilliant Challenge.” She advises everyone to “space out.” This TED Talk is great for both adults and kids.
“Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance”
“Grit is committing to your future day in and day out, not just for a week or a month, but for years, and working extremely hard to make that future a reality.” Grit is defined as “approaching life as if it were a marathon rather than a sprint.”
Angela Lee Duckworth, a former teacher who is now a psychologist and researcher, describes and demonstrates the inherent strength of “grit.”
“Hands-On Science with Squishy Circuits” is a scientific experiment for kids.
“We don’t usually think of our kitchen as an electrical engineering lab, or of little kids as circuit designers, but maybe we should.”
In this quick presentation, AnnMarie Thomas shows us how to make two varieties of playdough and how to use them to make circuits. Hopefully, this TED Talk has encouraged you to try some new things at home.
“The Dangers of Silence”
“Use caution when reading. Write with intention. Speak clearly. “Speak the truth.”
Clint Smith, a teacher, addresses the anguish that silence may cause as well as the importance of “telling your truth” in this moving and poetic speech. Only by speaking out can we hope to build a better society. Check in with your child after watching this TED Talk because it may cause them to experience some emotions.
“How One Teenager Unearthed Baseball’s Untold History”
“I’ve worked on a dozen pensions and located over a hundred Negro League ballplayers, constantly finding new ballplayers and connecting them with former teammates.” Bringing baseball back into these athletes’ life and these people back into the game.”
Baseball is a sport that Cam Perron, a teen, adores. He requested signatures from athletes through letters and baseball cards. This eventually led him to the hitherto unknown history of the Negro Leagues. Cam made it his mission to make sure they got the recognition and reconnection to baseball that they deserved.
“Playing with Good Garbage (From Bags to Riches)”
“The most important step in any project, movement, or organization, in my opinion, is execution.” Because an unexecuted idea is equivalent to having no idea at all.”
Akbar Khan, 17, spent his childhood playing with “good garbage.” He noticed that the various bags supplied at conferences were usually discarded when he was 15 years old. He set out to turn trash into gold in an unusual way. He is now the founder of his own non-profit organization dedicated to finishing this project and transforming the world one bag at a time.
