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Katja Tongucer
Moscow
Russian Federation

Host TED Attendee TED Translator Language Coordinator

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Which TEDTalks would you show to children and at what age?

As my 9-year-old daughter has just discovered that she can use youtube videos to learn e.g. how to draw mangas (and the results are amazing!), I was thinking about showing her some TEDTalks to encourage her to learn, being curious, discover things, using the internet for other things than playing games like her friends do.

At what age would you start showing these talks to your kids and which ones?

Topics: TED children education

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Kristine Sargsyan 500+
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TED Attendee TED Translator TEDx Organizer Associate Language Coordinator

Mar 14 2011: Great question. I have shown to my son William Kamkwamba’s talk when he was 8. I have shown this talk to his classmates as well. Kids were so exited.

Some talks are worth showing really at early age. I believe starting from 1st, 2nd, 3rd grade of school.
Now I am working on turning this into a continuing project…Showing TED talks at school s and discussing the talks with kids….
- Katja Tongucer 200+
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  Host TED Attendee TED Translator Language Coordinator
  
  Mar 14 2011: Hi Kristina,
  one minute ago I've seen my daughter reading a book from school about forces and machines. I've just told her that I will show her this talk tomorrow! Maybe I should send the link to her teacher.
  
  Hope to hear more from your project, it sounds great!
joyce svitak 500+
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TED Attendee TEDx Organizer

Mar 14 2011: There are so many great talks that children will enjoy. The best way is to visit the site with them together and pick the talks that interest them and watch and discuss them together. There is a TEDx event called TEDxredmond (www.tedxredmond.com) which is organized by kids. All the speakers are kids. Great talks to introduce to your kids and students to.
- Katja Tongucer 200+
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  Host TED Attendee TED Translator Language Coordinator
  
  Mar 14 2011: Thank you for this link, I will check that.
- Karen Kring
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  Mar 14 2011: Adora is amazing. I'm sure you're proud.
Indigo cantor
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Mar 14 2011: Great question...... I was actually thinking of doing one a day!!!
Scott Taylor
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Mar 8 2011: My young children have also discovered media delivery in the Internet age. Shouldn't we be steering them to the "good stuff?" I'm on the cusp of showing my 11-year old Gever Tully's TED Talk about the Tinkering School. What a wonderful way for her to see the power of inquiry!
Mark Meijer 100+
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Host Associate

Mar 5 2011: I'd guess that TED talks which depend less on "adult" world views will make more sense to children (for the mere fact that "adult" world views often make no sense at all). As an adult, this could be quite tricky to identify ;)

But ultimately, maybe the question is whether children really need anyone to select their TED talks for them.
Matthieu Miossec 100+
- +1
TED Translator Associate

Mar 5 2011: Being still quite young myself, I have done the opposite and introduced TEDtalks to my parents, choosing the ones that are more likely to interest them. I do hope TEDtalks will still be around when I have my own family. Maybe by then there will be a special branch of TED designed to dazzle younger minds!
- Gina Clifford 500+
  - +2
  TED Attendee TEDx Organizer
  
  Mar 6 2011: Matthieu,
  
  There are TEDx programs specifically for youth. Do a search on the TEDx website for TEDxYouth events near you! Great to hear that you've introduced TED to your parents!
  - Karen Kring
    
    +1
    Mar 14 2011: There's going to be some big fun, neat stuff happening the weekend of November 20, 2011, it seems - http://www.tedxyouthday.com/
Gina Clifford 500+
- +2
TED Attendee TEDx Organizer

Mar 5 2011: Great question Katja!

I have a list! Some are funny, some are informative, and some are serious, but they are all engaging. Let's not assume kids only relate to cartoons or simplistic concepts. TEDTalks are filled with passion about ideas -- share that passion with kids. Definitely screen talks for disturbing content before sharing with kids under 12, but start sharing talks with kids early. My eight year old's favorite TED video is Charles Fleischer's Moleeds talk.

Here are a few
Sirena Huang: http://www.ted.com/talks/sirena_huang_dazzles_on_violin.html
William Kamkwamba: http://www.ted.com/talks/william_kamkwamba_on_building_a_windmill.html
Willard Wigan: http://www.ted.com/talks/willard_wigan_hold_your_breath_for_micro_sculpture.html
Patty Maes and Pranav Mistry: http://www.ted.com/talks/pattie_maes_demos_the_sixth_sense.html
Birke Baehr - http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/birke_baehr_what_s_wrong_with_our_food_system.html
- Katja Tongucer 200+
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  Host TED Attendee TED Translator Language Coordinator
  
  Mar 5 2011: Thank you Gina, I will check them out and watch them with my girls.
M.A. Lucas-Green
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Mar 4 2011: Hi Katja,
My pupils (5-18 years of age) and I use TEDTalks frequently. Most of the talks they view are based on my recommendations (which means I've previewed each and every one in its entirety). Below you will find a few of the hits among the ten and under crowd.

http://www.ted.com/talks/natasha_tsakos_multimedia_theatrical_adventure.html
http://www.ted.com/talks/birke_baehr_what_s_wrong_with_our_food_system.html
http://www.ted.com/talks/a_whistleblower_you_haven_t_heard.html
http://www.ted.com/talks/arthur_benjamin_does_mathemagic.html
- Katja Tongucer 200+
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  Host TED Attendee TED Translator Language Coordinator
  
  Mar 5 2011: Thank you too, I watched the Mathemagic-Talk and I am very curious what my 9-year-old maths-hater will think about it. ;)
Comment deleted
- Katja Tongucer 200+
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  Host TED Attendee TED Translator Language Coordinator
  
  Mar 5 2011: Nafissa, yes you are right, children are open-minded and we shouldn't underestimate their interest and understanding of the world.
  
  But it would be good to start with TEDTalks that are easy to understand as a kind of a teaser...

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