Make a vlog!
Plan, film, and edit a short vlog about a hobby or day, learn simple camera and editing skills, and practice safe sharing with an adult.
About this activity
Plan, film, and edit a short vlog about a hobby or day, learn simple camera and editing skills, and practice safe sharing with an adult.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Choose one hobby or one special day to make your vlog about and give it a short fun title.
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Step 2
Write a tiny plan in your notebook with three lines: one sentence for the intro one for the main part and one for the closing.
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Step 3
Gather the props and tools you will show and place them where you can reach them easily.
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Step 4
Pick a quiet spot with good light facing you and arrange a plain background behind you.
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Step 5
Set your recording device on the tripod or stack of books at eye level and make sure it will not wobble.
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Step 6
Record a 5-second test clip to check how you look and how your voice sounds.
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Step 7
Ask an adult to help fix any lighting or sound problems you noticed in the test clip.
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Step 8
Film your vlog by recording three short clips: an intro a demonstration of your hobby or day and a closing.
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Step 9
Open a simple editing app and import the clips you recorded.
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Step 10
Trim the start and end of each clip so there are no long pauses.
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Step 11
Add a short title card and make sure any background music is quiet enough to hear your voice.
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Step 12
Export or save the finished video file to your device.
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Step 13
With an adult's help check privacy settings and then share your finished vlog on DIY.org.
Fun facts
How do you plan, film, and edit a short vlog with a child?
Start by picking a clear topic (a hobby or a day in their life) and sketch a simple plan: intro, 2–4 short clips, and a closing line. Practice a few lines, choose well-lit locations, and film steady clips of 10–30 seconds each. Use a basic editing app to trim clips, add titles and simple music, and keep the final video under 2–4 minutes. Always review the finished vlog together and decide whether and how to share it online with an adult’s permission.
What materials do I need to make a kid-friendly vlog?
You need a recording device (smartphone, tablet, or camera), a simple tripod or steady surface, and good natural light. Optional items include a small external microphone, headphones, props related to the topic, and a notebook for planning shots. Install a beginner-friendly editing app (free options exist) and have charger and extra storage ready. Always keep an adult nearby for supervision and to help manage privacy settings and publishing.
What ages is making a vlog suitable for?
Vlogging can suit many ages with adult involvement: ages 6–8 enjoy co-creating with heavy adult support for filming and editing; ages 9–12 can lead planning and some filming with an adult editing/reviewing; teens 13+ can handle most steps independently but should still get guidance on privacy, consent, and safe sharing. Tailor tasks to the child’s attention span and skill level, and always supervise online publishing and comments.
What safety tips should parents follow before sharing a child’s vlog online?
Always review every video before publishing, turn off geotags, and avoid using full names, school, home addresses, or other identifying details. Choose private or unlisted settings, restrict who can comment, and check platform age rules. Teach children not to film others without permission and to report uncomfortable interactions. Keep copies offline, discuss digital permanence, and make sharing a joint decision between the child and a supervising adult.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can I use if I don't have a tripod or a fancy microphone?
If you don't have a tripod, stack sturdy books to get your recording device to eye level and, if you lack a microphone, record in a quiet spot and hold the device closer so your voice is clear during the 5-second test clip.
My video wobbles or the sound is fuzzy—what should I check or redo?
Reposition the recording device on a steadier stack of books or a different tripod, redo the 5-second test clip to listen for fixes, and ask an adult to help adjust lighting or move noisy items as suggested in the instructions.
How can I change this activity for different ages?
Younger kids can make a simpler notebook plan with one short intro and one demo line and have an adult do the editing in the app, while older kids can write the full three-line plan, film three clips, and add title cards and quiet background music themselves.
How can I make my vlog more creative or personal before sharing it?
Personalize your vlog by decorating a homemade title card from your notebook art, showing close-up shots of your props during the demonstration, balancing quiet background music so your voice is heard, and then checking privacy settings with an adult before uploading to DIY.org.