TEDxKids and TEDxYouth Toolkit
Congratulations! You are now a TEDxKids or TEDxYouth licensee, entrusted with helping spread TEDTalks across the globe. In the spirit of TED and Ideas Worth Spreading, we trust you will nurture the TEDxKids/Youth brand and passionately help it grow.
This TEDxKids/Youth Toolkit contains the tools for hosting a successful TEDxKids/Youth event. Use as much or as little of this Toolkit as you need, depending on what works for your event.
What happens at each TEDxKids/Youth event depends greatly on you. TEDxKids/Youth events can be held in homes, workplaces, schools, universities, libraries or public theaters. Events may last just an hour or extend to a full day; they may include a dozen attendees or several hundred. Some TEDxKids/Youth events will focus solely on recorded TEDTalks while other will be hosted around the live stream of another TEDxKids/Youth event. Others will include short talks from live speakers. Some TEDxKids/Youth events will be organized by adults, others by kids. We encourage each TEDxKids/Youth event to have its own structure and personality.
We have a series of TEDxKids and TEDxYouth case studies. Please visit to get some ideas of what others have done.
As a TEDxKids/Youth event organizer, it is important that you describe both the TEDxKids/Youth program and your TEDxKids/Youth event clearly in all communication with speakers and attendees. This will set the tone and expectations for your event and eliminate any confusion.
In planning and producing TEDxKids/Youth events specifically designed for and/or by kids or youth, we know you will face specific situations that are unique to these types of events. Our hope is that this toolkit will both address the universal guidelines to planning TEDx events, and also help you with the development of your TEDxKids/Youth event. In addition to the TEDxKids/Youth toolkit we have also set up a Google group. If you would like to participate in the conversation around TEDxKids and TEDxYouth events, please email .
TEDxKids/Youth is a large-scale experiment. In addition to hosting your TEDx event you may want to consider joining other TEDx’ers by participating in TEDxYouthDay, a series of youth events occurring on November 20th – Universal Children’s Day. For more information on hosting an event on TEDxYouthDay, please see page 42 of this document. You can also visit
We are excited you are on board. Your ongoing suggestions and feedback will help to improve and grow this mission. All comments or suggestions are welcome: please email .
Table of Contents
TEDxKids/Youth: GETTING STARTED......
Choosing Your Audience......
TEDxKids/Youth VENUE......
Venue Recommendations for Smaller TEDxKids/Youth Events......
Venue Recommendations for Larger TEDxKids/Youth Events......
Outside the Auditorium (optional)......
Miscellaneous Considerations......
TEDxKids/Youth HOST......
Hosting Onstage......
Other Ideas......
TEDxKids/Youth PROGRAM......
Program Structure......
Content......
TEDxKids/Youth SPEAKERS......
Choosing Speakers for your Program......
Identifying your Speakers......
Preparing your Speakers......
Speaker Slides......
Less is More......
Image Size......
Title Safe......
Text Size......
Text Clarity......
Background......
Graphs, Graphics and Photos......
Five Examples......
Technical......
Technical Specs......
TEDxKids/Youth SPEAKER INVITATION......
TEDxKids/Youth SPEAKER PERMISSION RELEASE FORM......
TEDxKids/Youth LOGOS AND BRANDING GUIDELINES......
TEDxKids/Youth PR & MEDIA GUIDELINES......
Publicizing Your TEDxKids/Youth Event......
Press Releases......
Creating a Media Section on Your Website......
Having Media Attend Your TEDxKids/Youth Event......
TEDxKids/Youth Social Media Strategy......
Facebook......
Twitter......
Other Social Media Platforms......
TEDxKids/Youth INTRODUCTION VIDEO......
TEDxKids/Youth ATTENDEE APPLICATION......
Streaming TEDTalks from TED.com......
Download your playlist of TEDTalks from TED.com for free......
How to translate/subtitle your TEDxTalks......
How to film your TEDxKids/YouthTalks......
TEDxKids/Youth WEB TOOLS FOR ORGANIZING YOUR EVENT......
TEDxKids/Youth POST-EVENT CHECKLIST......
TEDx TRANSLATION OPTIONS......
TEDx SPONSORSHIP GUIDELINES......
Basic Guidelines for all TEDxKids/Youth Partner Events......
TEDxKids/Youth Events with Less than 100 People......
TEDxKids/Youth Events for More than 100 People......
Sponsor Packages (For Events Over 100 People)......
Sponsorship Placement on Licensees Print, Video and Web Materials......
For print......
For web......
Become a TEDxKids/Youth Mentor......
Emotional Mentor......
Logistical Mentor......
Become an Ambassador......
TEDxKids/Youth: GETTING STARTED
OK, so now what? You’ve been granted a license to host a TEDxKids/Youth event, but what does that mean? The good news is that as long as you operate within the spirit of the TEDx program and abide by the TEDx guidelines outlined in this document, it’s pretty wide open!
Some examples of ways TEDx organizers are envisioning TEDxKids/Youth programs include:
Events designed BY students FOR students in a particular school
Events coordinated by adults for students in a particular school
Events designed to bring together diverse groups of students from a broad range of schools and community-based programs
Events with either all-student audiences or a mix of students and adults
Events for middle, high school or college age students
Programs that take place during school hours, nights, weekends and holidays
Programs that bring kids onto college campuses and classrooms
Speaker line-ups featuring all kids/youth speakers or a mix of adults and student speakers
Events with an informal drop-in format, like a lunch talk series
An after school program in which TED Talks are the spring board for action projects
A course in which students study the form and function of TED Talks and then deliver their own
As you can see, it really comes down to what works best for your event in your particular scenario. Please spend time thinking about your end goals, and think about what makes the most sense early on! Time spent up front outlining some basic parameters about audience and speaker line-up will save you countless hours mid-course.
Choosing Your Audience
The key to a successful TEDxKids/Youth event is an interesting, diverse audience. We recommend you carefully curate your audience.
It is optional to have your attendees fill out a registration application or complete some sort of qualifying activity in order to attend (i.e. an essay competition).
In some cases TEDx organizers have had students commit to x number of hours of community service in order to attend
At the very least, all attendees should RSVP.
Arrange the day so all students and chaperones can participate in ALL activities. Coming late or leaving early not only disrupts the experience of the students on a different time schedule, but is also distracting to the rest of the audience.
What should the students to adults ratio be? How many chaperones will you require per group of students? Will the students and chaperones sit together or will you request the chaperones sit separately or in a simulcast room?
Have a clear idea of the make up of the audience, and be able to describe that idea to speakers so they can connect with your audience.
Consider issues of inclusion. Who will have access and how will they learn of your event? What are the best means of reaching your target audience?
Keep in mind: If you are planning on curating an audience under 13 years of age, please make sure your event is COPPA compliant
Here are some additional thoughts on various event sizes and structures for your TEDxKids/Youth event:
TEDxKids/Youth in the Classroom or Cafeteria: An event at a middle school or high school. For ideas, visit
10-50 students
1-2 hours
Themes such as TEDxKids/Youth Science Night or TEDxKids/Youth School Lunch hour
Format: view TEDtalks from ted.com
TEDxKids/Youth at School: A large event, or a smaller seminar, on a school campus.
10-100+ students and attendees
2-3 hours, or a half-day event
Format: reflects the general TEDx format with TEDtalks, live speakers, performance interstitials, conversation breaks, and food.
Option to live stream this event.
TEDxKids/Youth Conference A large event in a museum auditorium, theater or local hall. For an example, visit
100 people
Half-day conference, one-time or annual event
Please keep in mind, to host a TEDxKids/Youth event with over 100 attendees you do need to have attended to an official TED conference.
If you are organizing a TEDxYouth or TEDxKids viewing party around TEDtalks from ted.com only, or around another TEDx licensees live stream there is no limit to the size of your audience.
TEDxKids/Youth VENUE
Venue Recommendations for Smaller TEDxKids/Youth Events
Use a high-quality screen for viewing TEDTalks and speaker slides.
For best viewing, darken the room and try to block out background noise.
Think carefully about seating. Make sure everyone can see the screen and speaker area.
Venue Recommendations for Larger TEDxKids/Youth Events
Select an intimate venue. The venue should be wide rather than deep, with the shortest possible distance to the stage.
Ballrooms are not recommended unless you can add a riser for speakers.
University, corporate and municipal auditoriums tend to work best; most of these venues will have some built-in infrastructure.
Venue should have:
- Ability to project and view video
- Location for food and beverage setup
- Conveniently located bathrooms
- Exhibit space
- Space for lunches and other events
- Good acoustics/audio
Outside the Auditorium (optional)
For large events, consider designating areas outside the main auditorium for art, science exhibits, hands-on experiences, and overflow seating.
TEDxKids/Youth Lab: Sponsors pay to be in the TEDxKids/Youth Lab. This is an area for attendees to try out new software, gadgets, technologies and products. This is also an idea place to set up creative ways for kids to connect with each other during breaks.
Bloggers’ Alley: During TED, we discourage laptop use in the main auditorium. Consider setting up a dedicated bloggers' area outside the auditorium, with desks and power outlets.
Simulcast Lounge: If you anticipate a large crowd, set up monitors outside the main auditorium. An additional plus at a TEDxKids/Youth event is the opportunity to encourage chaperones and adults to sit in the simulcast lounge, thus really driving home the sense that the TEDxKids/Youth event is designed for the students in attendance!
Quiet Spaces: Students often need time to process the incredible amount of information that is disseminated during a TEDxKids/Youth session. It is helpful and strongly encouraged to consider cultivating space where students can go to have reflective time during the breaks. Out door space is ideal.
Environment: Put up posters of your speakers outside the auditorium. It will help your audience recognize the speakers during the breaks.
Miscellaneous Considerations
Find out whether your venue is union or non-union. This will impact your budget.
Lunches and snack should be healthy. Consider having fruits, vegetables, milk, etc. We do not recommend soda, candy or anything with sugar.
TEDxKids/Youth HOST
Hosting Onstage
The following are some recommendations to share with the person who will host your TEDxKids/Youth event. Select your onstage host(s) carefully. The person who runs the conference and curates the program does not have to be the onstage host.
It’s important to find someone who will bring energy to the room and will be able to bring the audience back to attention after a particularly high-intensity talk or performance or re-engaging the audience if a speaker fails to keep their attention. A sense of play is a key characteristic of your TEDx host. Try to select someone who can infuse a sense of fun while still explaining and connecting the kids to the speakers and subject matter.
Some key messages for your onstage host:
It is key the host sets the tone from the get go. The host needs to win over the kids immediately.
Keep speaker and video introductions short. It helps to have a printed or online program with full bios so introductions can be kept to 30 seconds or less.
Keep speakers on track; don't hesitate to redirect them.
Also, keep your audience on track! It’s the host(s)’s job to give each speaker a clean slate at the start of each talk. As such, it’s the host job to “reset” the audience after each speaker.
Let the audience draw the connections between presentations. You don’t need to draw inferences from the talks.
Only in rare circumstances should the host do any Q&A.
It’s a great idea to have a few “back pocket” flash cards on topics to discuss in case of a technical glitch. It can be housekeeping items or a funny story about something that happened during the planning of the event. This could include getting some of the kids up on stage to participate in some quirky activity. For example, ask a couple of kids to come up on stage and answer a question like: “My mother does not know…”
Don’t leave your speakers hanging onstage! If a speaker’s technology fails, your host should go onstage and offer them an “out” so the event takes the flack…NEVER the speaker!
Important: Keep speakers on time – no talk should run over the allotted time.
We recommend 9-12 minutes (NOT 18 munites) as the maximum time for TEDxTalks at TEDxKids/Youth events. Shorter talks are welcome as they help to pace the program and also keep the attention of the kids/youth.
Other Ideas
Mentor Program: Reach out to those who have hosted TEDxKids/Youthevents before for advice and assistance. Find a list of mentors organized by region on the TEDx Organizers wiki : or join the TEDxKids/Youth Google Group at (to join the Google Group, you must request an invitation using either a Gmail account or a Google account).
TEDxKids/Youth PROGRAM
Consider choosing a broad theme for your TEDxKids/Youth event … a common thread that ties your live speakers, TEDTalks and performances together and helps the ideas flow one into the next. Past TED themes have included:
The Great Unveiling
The Big Questions
Icons. Geniuses. Mavericks.
Inspired by Nature
The Pursuit of Happiness
Keep the theme of you TEDxKids/Youth event fun and relevant. Get advice from kids. Listen to what is relevant in their lives and what and who they would like to hear from.
Regardless of whether you are a group of kids or adults organizing this event, you may want to reach out to the kids in your community and crowd source the theme. The more you are able to get kids participating from the outset, the better. Create a sense of wonderment……..
Program Structure
To capture the spirit of a TED conference, we recommend you follow the TED program structure – it has been developed over 25 years of TED. For a detailed full-day, half-day and 3-hour TEDxKids/Youth event schedule with timings, see thesample programs on the TEDx Community PB Wiki at The following are some basic guidelines:
No keynotes – all speakers are equal.
No panel discussions.
No Q&A.
No podiums.
Use a mix of talk lengths. Going from 12 minute talks to three minute talks to nine minute talks keeps the audience engaged more than just several back to back talks of the same length.
Consider including several processing breaks. The audience remains seated but is asked to turn and talk to their seatmate in response to an open-ended question pertaining to some aspect of the session (2-3 minutes).
Important: Generous breaks between sessions (60-75 minutes long) are a vital part of the TED experience. Your audience needs the time to think about what they've seen and to share their thoughts with other students and interact with speakers.
No sessions longer than 105 minutes. For TEDxKids/Youth events, consider making the sessions even shorter (90 minutes)!
Pad each session with 15 minutes – it is inevitable you will run over.
Important: Don’t over program – it is stressful for you and for your audience. A successful event is one that is paced throughout the day and has sufficient breaks for your speakers and attendees.
Include kids in the program: Audience/kids participation is fun and helps keep kids engaged. Invite random kids up on stage and have them answer a question or take part in an onstage activity/performance.
Remember to draw in and engage your attendees. By adding a few simple elements to your pre-event and event program, you can make your event so much more dynamic. For example: