Activities: Make a Weekend Update Video
Move over Anderson Cooper, there's a new anchor in town!
Submitted by
Kayla Chong
Kayla Chong
Got so many pictures that all the albums on Shutterfly couldn't hold them? Here's a new way to preserve your family's memories. Break out the video camera and have your kid do a "Weekend Update" news clip on what everyone in the family is up to. It'll be fun to make, and even more fun to giggle over in 10 years!
- Journalist:Your kid.
- Cameraman:You or your partner. We know you've had lots of practice snapping away still photos of your kid!
- Paper and pen
- A large marker
- Video camera
- Cue card holder:The perfect job for a younger sibling.
First, help your kid prepare the program. Ask him what he thinks is the coolest, most interesting thing everyone in the family is up to. Dad won his bowling league tournament, Mom got highlights, the puppy stopped peeing on the carpet! Whatever your kid deems newsworthy, is newsworthy!
Then help him write down the script. Make it short and sweet. Four or five minutes, max. If your kid can't read yet, just have him memorize two or three news items.
If he needs a little help, jot down bullet points in bold marker on "cue cards." All anchors use teleprompters!
Then set your kid up at the dining room table (er, newsroom), grab the video camera and 3, 2, 1 ...
Rolling! Shoot your kid as he reports on the "Jones Family Weekend Update." Have a sibling or your partner hold the cue cards if needed.
Then plug the camera into the TV and have the whole family gather to watch Junior and his breaking news before you flip on 20/20.
- Make this activity a family tradition. Bust out the video camera every few weeks (or months) and have your kid dish up the inside scoop on the family.
Submit!
