We all know YouTube is fun to watch for kids, but is it educational? Our answer: yes!
Especially with expert guidance, YouTube is one of the best ed tech tools out there today. In addition to boasting hundreds of educational channels, this platform offers some awesome learning benefits for kids looking to get creative, or even create a profitable side hustle.
As of 2021, YouTube is the second most popular social media platform, so in addition to learning the video editing and creation skills needed to gather followers, it is an excellent platform for kids to get their voice out there! The key lies in lots of practice, learning from successful streamers and other experts, and of course, using the platform in a safe manner.
But don’t just take our word for it.
We’re so excited to be partnering with Dude Perfect, legendary YouTubers and creators of a channel with 56 million subscribers (and counting). Their success didn’t just happen; it happened as the result of hard work, trial and error, and learning while having a blast enjoying the journey!
To us, that sounds like an exciting way to learn, and we’re so excited to see a new generation of content creators follow in Dude Perfect’s footsteps through Video Editing with Dude Perfect and Video Editing and Effects with Dude Perfect, plus more adventures ahead at our in-person camps!
Let’s zoom in on some of the most powerful learning benefits kids and teens can gain from learning with YouTube.
Top 5 Benefits of Learning with YouTube
YouTube provides virtually limitless potential for kids and teens to share their interests and ideas, but how can they unlock that potential? Going from consuming content to creating content is the game-changer.
When young people approach YouTube from an analytical creator’s lens, the site becomes more than just entertainment or a quick tutorial. They can learn the skills they’ll need to build a following and potentially monetize their channel, all while learning valuable STEM skills and being inspired by other YouTubers to keep the momentum going.
Here are 5 learning benefits kids can enjoy as they grow their skills with YouTube.
1. Kids can practice planning skills
A typical Dude Perfect video receives tens of millions of views, but how does it get there? To create a great video, a tremendous amount of planning goes on behind the scenes.
According to Coby and Cory Cotton, every video they make spends at least a week in editing, and that’s after an extensive planning and shooting process! When it’s time to upload, most of their videos, even the most famous ones, end up including about 5% of what was actually filmed; only the best of the best footage makes the cut.
Planning can be tedious for kids when it comes to juggling homework, or say planning out a presentation for school, but when they can see the tangible results of their hard work and it’s for something they’re actually excited about, it becomes more fun than a chore.
2. Kids can layer creative projects and pursuits
When we think of streaming on YouTube, cameras and video editing software instantly come to mind, right?
But that’s just the beginning of the creative potential of this platform!
From writing scripts, to brainstorming video concepts and designing and animating logos (and more!) YouTube makes it easy to combine creative interests. If your child thrives with interdisciplinary learning, launching a YouTube channel could be the perfect glue to bring all their ideas together.
3. Kids can embrace the entrepreneurial spirit
On top of the intrinsic motivations involved in doing what you enjoy most, there’s real potential to monetize YouTube channels.
In terms of motivating kids to learn with YouTube, it’s no secret that the most successful YouTubers are earning millions of dollars a year; in fact, by 2028, the global streaming market is estimated to be worth $223.98 billion.
And while that may seem like a far-off, unattainable goal, all the biggest names in streaming started somewhere!
4. Kids can collaborate and share their ideas and interests
Creating a YouTube channel allows a lot more flexibility than creating, say, a book report on what was assigned in class. Choice is an extremely powerful learning motivator! Kids can talk about what genuinely interests them, see how their hobbies connect with others, and join a community of like-minded people.
So, if your child is passionate about video games, or the latest YA fiction series, baking, or creating their own DIY tutorials, they’re not alone! By creating the best content that personally resonates, kids increase their chances of connecting with an audience.
Plus, by learning with YouTube, kids can learn firsthand that teamwork really does make the dream work.
Take the folks at Dude Perfect for example: their team is composed of experts from a wide variety of fields. By combining expertise in finance, social media, planning behind the scenes, video editing and production, storytelling, and more, they’re able to collaborate to make awesome videos.
There are ample opportunities for kids to collaborate on their YouTube content, even as they find their personal style and voice, which further enriches the learning potential.
5. Kids can find infinite inspiration
We all know that there are billions of hours of content out there from kid streamers to virtual tours of amazing places and thousands of TED Talks, so there’s no shortage of ideas to jumpstart kids’ next creations.
Once kids get started, they can continue to find inspiration from their favorite influencers to learn how to create signatures for their very own YouTube channel, or simply try their hand at video editing for videos to share with family and friends.
The best part?
YouTube has plenty to offer kids in terms of peer inspiration if needed, a nice break from grown ups telling them what to do!
Go from scrolling to creating
Taking that first step can seem like a big leap at first. An inspirational mentor who knows their stuff can make that a lot easier (and more fun!).