help tweens with speaking, sharing, and video reviews: kidzvuz

Nov 11, 2013 // No Comment // Categories: computer time, digital literacy // Tags: 6-8 years, 9-12 years, computer time, critical thinking, digital literacy, speaking, vlogs.

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As a parent of a tween, I’m up for almost anything that will help her become better at speaking, thinking, and sharing her ideas and opinions.

As an educator, I know that kids love more than anything to have their ideas heard.

Mixing it all together in a safe, moderated environment is key. Especially for our digital kids, having a platform where tweens can get some serious practice with speaking, sharing, reviewing and putting it all to video is absolutely awesome.

Enter: KidzVuz.

KidzVuz is a safe online video sharing site for kids ages 7-12 years old.

Kids can literally share their thoughts, ideas, and opinions on just about anything from pets to books to games to movies. They share reviews on sports, toys, and travel.

It’s a platform where tweens can be heard, pick up some recommendations, and create connections.

Here’s the skinny. . .

Help Tweens with Speaking, Sharing, and Video Reviews– KidzVuz: An ideal online stepping stone for tweens, KidzVuz is something that my kids have been playing with for some time now, and they love it.

And I love it.

I love that:

membership must be approved by a parent or caregiver first;

users don’t use their real names–they create ‘screen names’;

all videos are moderated before publishing;

kids can leave and receive feedback for other videos;

KidzVuz provides ‘lessons’ on what makes great video reviews (click on ‘want your video to rule’ on the right sidebar);

it is a certified ‘kidSAFE‘ site;

users can become ‘Star Reviewers‘ and actually receive products to review on the site;

it’s not spammy or full of distracting ads;

this is a super confidence-builder for kids and a great way to get them started with video and technology.

Maddy has done a few reviews, and she has loved, loved, loved sitting down to read the feedback she’s received. She loves watching other videos and leaving comments for other reviewers.

What I really, really love is that these reviews can be as simple or as complex as the user can handle. Reviews can be quickie, 20 second, I love this toy because. . . or a video share of a well-planned three-reason persuasive argument for a favorite sport, book, or pet.

It’s been an opportunity for Maddy to practice summarizing, planning, and thinking. It’s been a great mini-practice for public speaking. It’s been an exercise in getting her point across clearly and concisely.

I think it’s more than ideal support for teachers in summary or review writing, and kids would love to create videos to accompany their writing.

Gulp. Makes my heart ache for the classroom again. . .

Right now, if you check out the site, kids can enter to win a signed copy of Mr. Max: The Book of Lost Things by Cynthia Voigt and a $20 Visa Gift Card. Woot! Pretty darn cool if you ask me (or my tween!).

What do you think? Have your kids tried KidzVuz yet? Do you think they’d go for it? Parent-Teacher Conferences are around the corner for many–consider recommending it to teachers of tweens!

Just another way of supporting our Digital Kids!