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10 cool talent show ideas for kids so they can wow their audience

If your child has signed up for a talent show either at school, camp, or your community center, don’t worry. There are a lot of fun talent show ideas for kids that will wow an audience. When deciding on what to do for a talent show, remember to take your child’s individual strengths into account. A talent show highlights the performer’s best attributes. It isn’t the time to learn something totally new unless the activity is on the simple side like juggling or basic magic tricks. When you and your child or teen are thinking of cool things to do for a talent show, it’s best to keep his or her special abilities in mind.

Another point to consider is how long the performance needs to be. Three to five minutes is typically the length of a talent show performance though it may be longer. Be sure to find out how long each talent show performance needs to be beforehand to make planning an act less difficult. It will be harder to try and cut it down the length of the act later. Now, on to the fun part, choosing an amazing act for that talent show.

Girl performs in a talent show

Talent show ideas for kids

Comedy

Stand-up is a rough road and audiences can be unforgiving, but not when it comes to a kids’ talent show. Comedy can be an amusing choice for a talent act, especially if your kiddo has the gift of gab and a knack for storytelling. Even better is an ability to drop funny one-liners.

Dance

Put all those ballet, tap, jazz, and hip-hop lessons to use with an upbeat, toe-tapping dance routine. Plus, you already have a closet full of recital costumes to draw from. A group dance also makes for an entertaining talent show act.

Singing

This is a great option for a talent show for theater kids who love to sing and can carry a tune. Be sure to pick a song that showcases their vocal range.

Lip sync

For kids who love to belt out their favorite radio tunes, put together a stylish lip-sync routine with an engaging costume. Think family karaoke night.

Gymnastics routine

Like dance, if kids love gymnastics and have been doing it for a while, grab the mats and choreograph a floor routine that exhibits their top tricks. Set the routine to music just like the gymnasts do in competitions.

Dramatic reading

A somewhat different talent show idea is to take a favorite song and turn it into a dramatic reading. Actor Morgan Freeman’s video of a dramatic reading of Justin Bieber’s hit, “Love Yourself,” went viral and had adults and kids laughing.

young boy plays the piano in a talent show

Musical performance

If your little performer is a whizz on the piano, violin, drums, or another musical instrument, a talent show act with his or her strongest piece is a perfect pick.

smiling boy ready to perform a magic act in a talent show

Magic

Abracadabra! Magic is always a hit at talent shows, and if your kiddo already has a fascination with magic, it will be fun putting together an amazing act. Your tween doesn’t have to saw a sibling in half to put on a clever magic act. If you need ideas for some tricks, take a look at Justin Flom’s “Everyday Magic for Kids: 30 Amazing Magic Tricks That You Can Do Anywhere.”

Juggling

Who doesn’t enjoy a juggling act? It’s a talent show classic and not that hard to master especially if your child has good hand-eye coordination. Matthew Wall’s “So You Want to Learn: Juggling” offers straightforward, easy-to-follow directions on learning how to juggle. The book is geared toward ages 5 and up. Of course, a set of soft juggling balls is a must. Once your child works out the kinks and is juggling sensation, design a talent show act to highlight the top juggling stunts.

Impersonation

Does your kiddo do an awesome Kermit the Frog imitation? Or how about Elmo or Ariana Grande? Impressions can be an engaging talent show act that will garner laughs and applause.

Applaud your child or teen for even wanting to perform in a talent show. It’s not easy for a lot of kids to voluntarily get up in front of an audience. Ease with speaking and performing in public are both excellent skills to have and will be a huge asset for your child in and out of school. Of course, you want your kid to be successful on stage and not be embarrassed. So, help your child or teen choose a talent show act that plays toward their strengths whether it’s music, art, sports, or magic. Our top 10 list of ideas is sure to inspire a clever talent show act. If you and your child are stumped, try out a dramatic reading of a hit song. It worked for Morgan Freeman!

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Dawn Miller
Dawn Miller began her professional life as an elementary school teacher before returning to her first love, writing. In…
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