Edit a skate video
Edit a skate video using clips and simple editing tools to arrange tricks, add music, trim footage, and create a short highlight reel with permission.
About this activity
Edit a skate video using clips and simple editing tools to arrange tricks, add music, trim footage, and create a short highlight reel with permission.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Ask everyone in the clips and their parents for permission to use the footage and music.
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Step 2
Pick a simple video editing app or software you want to use.
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Step 3
Start a new project inside your editing app.
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Step 4
Import your skate clips into the project.
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Step 5
Watch each clip one time to see all the tricks.
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Step 6
Choose the best tricks you want in the highlight reel.
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Step 7
Trim each chosen clip to keep only the trick moment.
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Step 8
Arrange the trimmed clips in the order you want them to play.
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Step 9
Import the music file you have permission to use.
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Step 10
Trim the music so it fits the length of your arranged clips.
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Step 11
Lower the clip audio or background noise so the music can be heard clearly.
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Step 12
Add a short title card or text with your name at the start.
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Step 13
Watch the whole video from start to finish to check for problems.
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Step 14
Export or save your finished video in a shareable format.
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Step 15
Share your finished skate highlight reel on DIY.org.
Fun facts
How do I edit a skate video with my child (with permission)?
Start by collecting clips and getting permission from everyone filmed. Use a simple editor (iMovie, Clipchamp, CapCut) to import footage. Watch clips and mark highlights, then trim and arrange tricks into a short sequence. Add a license-cleared music track, balance audio, use simple cuts or one transition style, and add slow motion on key tricks if desired. Export the highlight reel and review it with the child and participants before sharing.
What materials do I need to edit a skate video?
You’ll need a recording device (phone or camera), a computer or tablet with a user-friendly editing app (iMovie, CapCut, Shotcut), headphones, and enough storage or an external drive. Include chargers, a tripod or stabilizer if available, and royalty-free or permission-cleared music. Keep a folder for clips and backups, and have written consent from anyone filmed. Parent supervision for accounts and file management is recommended.
What ages is editing a skate video suitable for?
This activity suits kids around 8 and up, with younger children helping in simple roles. Ages 8–12 can learn trimming, arranging clips, and picking music with guidance; teens can handle more advanced editing and exporting. Always provide adult supervision for software use, online accounts, and sharing decisions. Break the project into short tasks and assign roles to keep younger children engaged and supported.
What safety and privacy steps should I follow when editing and sharing a child's skate video?
Get written permission from parents or guardians before editing or posting anyone’s footage. Use licensed or royalty-free music. Protect privacy by avoiding precise location or time info, blurring faces if requested, and choosing private sharing settings (links, family-only). Discuss not promoting dangerous tricks and avoid encouraging risky behavior. Keep files secure and review the final video with participants before publishing.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can we use if we don't have a music file you have permission to use or can't install a desktop editor?
Use royalty-free tracks from YouTube Audio Library or Free Music Archive and a free mobile editor like iMovie or CapCut to 'Import the music file', 'Start a new project', and 'Trim the music' as the instructions describe.
If the skate clip audio still drowns out the music after lowering it, how do we fix the sound before exporting?
Mute or reduce each clip's audio track in your editing app, add short fade-ins/fade-outs between trims, and then 'Watch the whole video from start to finish' to confirm levels before 'Export or save your finished video'.
How can this activity be adapted for younger kids or older kids?
For younger kids, a parent can 'Start a new project', 'Import your skate clips', and help 'Trim each chosen clip' into a 15–30 second reel, while older kids can do the full workflow, add a custom 'short title card', and refine timing when they 'Arrange the trimmed clips'.
What are simple ways to extend or personalize the skate highlight reel?
Personalize the reel by adding your name on a custom title card, use slow-motion when you 'Trim each chosen clip' on key tricks, sync cuts to beats when you 'Trim the music so it fits', and include a short voiceover before you 'Export or save your finished video'.