If your kids are interested in video, YouTube provides a great outlet to showcase their creativity -- and even lets you show off family videos to relatives and friends. YouTube is a very sophisticated social network with lots of options for sharing videos, comments, and staying in touch with friends. This video shows you how to set up your own YouTube channel, choose your privacy settings, and upload a video.
Tips for uploading video to YouTube
Follow the rules. YouTube requires users to be over 13 to use the site. Also, to make sure you’re uploading legally, you should take the time to read through the site's terms of service.
Choose your account settings carefully. YouTube offers several tiers of privacy. You can hide your email address, for example, so no one can find you by searching on your name. Kids should limit their network to a fairly tight circle of friends.
Going public. All videos you upload are public by default. But you can change this setting on each video you upload. Kids need to understand that their video can be viewed by a vast anonymous audience unless they restrict the viewers.
Encourage responsible videotaping. Fifteen minutes of online fame can tempt kids to act in ways they may regret later. While it's important that kids have artistic ownership over their videos, help guide them towards responsible videotaping by setting clear guidelines about what subject matter is acceptable (and what's not).
Nurture your kids' creativity. Encourage kids to use video as an artistic pursuit. Kids can write scripts, choose actors, videotape themselves playing an instrument and singing, record video greetings for grandparents, create animation, and more.
