I let my son have a gaming youtube channel this summer. He’s been asking for five years now and he’s been learning the ins and outs of screen recording on his ipad or using a capture card for his nintendo switch – but he hates editing. So he is doing the editing? Me. 😂 And I haven’t used iMovie (I have a MacBook) in forever. It’s been a learning experience for me and I’m finally getting the hang of it…sort of. Also I’ve learned to use youtube for their audio library and uploading, etc…see I learn so much being a stay at home mom!
Outside of his gaming videos he and his sister have started making Pikmin videos. What are Pikmin you ask? It’s these creatures:
They are from a Nintendo game called PIKMIN and from what I learned from my son (since I only played the game with him a handful of times)…they are flower creatures. They come from the ground, which is kind of cute but they all have a different elemental power. Now as you can see from this collection, some are store bough plushies (those are the more durable looking ones) and the rest – well…I sewed them 🤣 with left over fabric (old tshirts) or felt. It was a lot of work…and now that we have a puppy – he loves them too. As you can see, Pink Pikmin has not faired well at all…and some eyes have gone missing even. 😭
They use my cell phone to film the videos. I did the first couple “takes” and taught them how to prop the phone etc…so at least now they can set it up and shoot a video without me directing them. Oh yes…I’m director, co-producer, tantrum calmer (for his sister who wants to be included), brainstormer mediator and editor….oh and social media coordinator or whatever title that is – I post the videos to Facebook so Nana in Philadelphia can watch them and whoever else. It’s exhausting but my kids and I feel so accomplished when we actually finish an “episode”.
According to my son, there are 2 series he’s making – 1st one is called The Pikmin Quests ~ where there is some storyline in my son’s head (yeah there is NO scriptwriting in this process lol)…there is danger, there is drama, there are plushy fights…you get it.
Here are the first two episodes:
And then he wanted a 2nd series where the Pikmin just go around our house and neighborhood and have fun. 🤷🏻♀️ Here is the first video for that series:
So obviously, I can’t already see things on here that bug me – like the first 2 videos I saved at different sizes I think. I couldn’t remember what settings I used for the first video like fonts for the title etc…so now I’m writing notes down in a notebook when I create these things – like song titles, fonts, and to remember to film in landscape mode instead of using my phone upright! 🤦🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️
Anyway that was my life outside of books this past weekend! The videos were filmed weeks ago…but I finally sat my booty down to edit all the clips and make into a “video”. It’s just been so busy with my son back in school, entertaining my daughter who is not in school and a puppy who wants to be outside all the time and it’s so HOT. 🥵
Leave me any tips below if you are a youtuber and make videos! Stay safe and thanks for reading!
❤️ ~ Yolanda
Past Midnight Book Reviews & More 
Aw, this is so sweet! It does sound like a lot of work but hopefully, you’re having fun too aside from learning some great new skills! Honestly, video editing is something that I still haven’t gotten the hang of (even though I do it for work occasionally) but I have mad respect for everyone on YT who constantly creates and uploads really great videos! Lol good luck and happy editing!
I have total respect for all these content creators too after just doing the little bit I do for my son. Now he is getting an idea of the effort these content creators put into their videos also. The kids think it’s so easy to do these videos lol and my hubby and I keep telling them it’s a lot of work. Now they know! But I do think it’s cute how they get excited to grab my phone and film a Pikmin video, they create the story all themselves and the “script” haha (there is no script) – but these videos get their creative juices going!
It sounds like a great bonding time for you and your kids! It’s awesome that you let them explore their interests. Who knows, maybe it will turn into a great career!
I hope so! I am just so blown away when they create their own stories because I’m always escaping into books so it’s fun to see what they come up with haha and kids are so creative.