Ted talks are known for their inspiring and thought provoking nature. They help you in critical thinking and learning new habits which will change your life in a positive way. Here is a list of 10 Ted Talks which would help in new skill development and habits for curious teens
1.10 Ways to Have a Better Conversation
Celeste Headlee is a veteran radio host who offers an engaging talk on the art of conversation. She discusses that real conversation takes honesty, brevity, clarity, and listening. Headlee proposes ten practical rules; we need to be present, we shouldn’t multitask, we should ask open-ended questions, and we should listen instead of just waiting to respond. Her observations are particularly timely in today's polarized world where essential human connection is lost in the digital noise.
2.Think Fast, Talk Smart: Communication Tools for Success
Matt Abrahams, a lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business, shares fundamental strategies for communicating confidently and clearly. In this talk, which inspired the popular podcast "Think Fast, Talk Smart," you will learn research-backed techniques for public speaking as well as techniques to improve your everyday communication. Abrahams shows how effective communication is one of the most important aspects of being successful in business and in life, providing actual techniques to help anyone be a better communicator.
3.Breaking Bad Habits with Mindful Curiosity
Psychiatrist Judson Brewer looks at the science of habit formation and addiction, whether it's smoking or snack eating and compulsive snacking. He concludes mindfulness as an effective technique for breaking bad habits, by cultivating curiosity about our urges and cravings, which disrupts the cycle of craving and reward. Dr. Brewer's ideas are both practical and profound, changing the way we think about self-control and behavior.
4.Procrastination Explained: Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator
Tim Urban uses humor and vivid storytelling to explain both why we procrastinate, what happens in our brains when we do, and how we can take control back. Tim's talk is entertaining and enlightening, and he even provides practical advice for dealing with chronic procrastination.
5.The Surprising Habits of Original Thinkers
In this engaging talk on neuroplasticity, discover the amazing ability of our brains to change and adapt when we learn new things. Dr. Lara Boyd describes how we are constantly rewiring our brains based on how we learn, what we experience, and our behaviors. There is no age limit for developing and improving cognitive abilities—anyone can learn new skills if they practice consistently and with enough effort.
What's the takeaway? Learning is not just for children. Teenagers can reshape their brains, too, by positively embracing challenges and developing new habits. This profound notion creates possibilities for unlimited growth and personal change for the rest of your life.
6.Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance
Psychologist and researcher Angela Duckworth explains that success isn't just about talent, it's about grit—the combination of passion and perseverance for long-term goals. Duckworth used her experiences teaching public school students, and studying various populations from West Point cadets to National Spelling Bee finalists, to explain how strong predictability of achievement comes from grit rather than IQ or other components influencing success.
Duckworth said grit is sticking to your future day in and day out, with effort, for a single day, each day over the span of years—not weeks, or months. While talent may contribute to success, it doesn’t ensure it happens. Grit provides resilience when confronting challenges and setbacks.
Duckworth notes the importance of a growth mindset—the belief that one’s abilities can be developed through a person’s own time and effort—as a critical building block for grit. Teaching children responses to failure help them achieve more perseverance in any area.
7.Girl Up | TedXxRVA
Courtney Ferrell's "Girl Up" is a motivating call for young women to embrace their creativity, self-assurance, and authenticity. Courtney taps into her calling as a mentor and mother to share stories from the heart, while also offering useful advice: pack your self-love, trust your gut, and never aim for perfection—just show up as your best self. She implores girls to lift each other up, seek mentors, and remember that being "authentically you" is your biggest superpower. This talk is a powerful reminder that there is great power in their being girl and they all have the ability to create an extraordinary life.
8.You Don’t Have to Be an Artist to Draw!
In this beautifully illustrated TEDx talk, Ralph Ammer, a professor at the Munich University of Applied Sciences, encourages people everywhere to rediscover the power of drawing. He explains that drawing is not only for artists; it is a powerful tool for thinking, creativity, and communication. Anyone can develop their drawing ability.
He shows us some useful exercises to get started, such as covering a page in circles to help strengthen our hand-eye coordination and calm our mind. He reminds us that powerful drawing can change our perspective on seeing and understanding the world around us, and we can transform mundane observations of the world into lasting memories and creative insights; drawing enriches our world.
No matter if you may want to express ideas, think through a problem, or simply enjoy the act of drawing; Ralph's talk provides all of us with an inspiring reminder that you do not need to be an artist to use drawing as a tool: simply pick up a pencil, and start sketching.
9.How I Harnessed the Wind
In this inspiring TED Talk, William Kamkwamba narrates his story of creativity and determination. William grew up in a rural town in Malawi along with his family during a famine, so things were difficult for them before he had to drop out of school because they could not pay for his education. He wanted to do something to help his family and community so he started visiting libraries in his area and began to teach himself physics and engineering using the books he found that had diagrams and pictures in them.
With great imagination and resourcefulness, William built a windmill out of scrap materials from local junkyards - old parts of a bicycle, PVC pipes and a tractor fan - to provide energy for his family's house. This created not only light but hope within his community, by allowing them to irrigate crops, and to charge mobile phones, all which were impossible before. Other villagers saw this development as a motivating tool to begin dreaming of what was possible!
William’s story is a pure depiction of how education, believing in oneself, and persistence regardless of what obstacles there are can have a positive and lasting impact.
10.A 12-Year-Old App Developer
In this empowering TEDx talk, Thomas Suarez, a 12-year-old tech enthusiast, explains how he taught himself to create iPhone apps. Thomas's story includes tips for young people who want to learn to code (like him), the obstacles to learning to code, and the necessity of assistance and mentorship.
Thomas also shares how he started an app club at his school to help kids learn programming and share ideas. This story serves as a reminder that age is not a restraint on invention and innovation, and that curiosity and determination can lead to remarkable outcomes—even at a young age.
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