Public speaking for kids in front of both a small and large encounter is a scenario that your kids will face throughout their entire life. As of reading, they might be standing in front of their class, braving their way through a show-and-tell session. And in the future, they might be needing this skill to impress their potential bosses in a job interview. Anything can go in public speaking for kids, right?
While some children love talking and taking in the spotlight, several individuals panic when they’re called in front. Make sure to address this problem as soon as possible.
Curious about how you can do so? Learn all about public speaking for kids in this post.
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What Is Public Speaking For Kids?
A lot of people often overlook the importance of public speaking in kids. Do you know that this can define the child’s formative years, and has the capability to strongly impact their confidence and view on themselves?
Public speaking is not only about standing in front of a broad audience and effectively addressing them. This aspect also covers your kid’s regular conversations with the people around him.
Think about a child just sitting on the corner instead of delivering his report.
Or imagine him not delivering eye contact with who he is talking with because he is shy.
There is a significant possibility that his classmates will see him in a more negative light in these kinds of situations. They’ll consider him as an outlier, and nothing more.
We don’t want that to happen with your child, right?
With this in mind, here are some tips that will guide you on how to train kids for public speaking.
How To Train Kids For Public Speaking
Practice More, Study Less
Do you remember your middle school days where you have to ‘study speeches?’ Did it do you good? Was it useful in the long run?
Believe it or not, most experts in this field believe that studying speeches is a waste of time.
Yes, lectures are still necessary, but they should only comprise 20% of your training. The other 80% percent should be allotted to practical applications – basically public speaking practice.
What you can do with your child is to let him watch several great speeches on the internet. Once he’s done, discuss with him what made it a great address and pinpoint the techniques that he should embody. At the end of this discussion, let him get up in front of a small audience and deliver a speech he desires.
That’s what we call authentic training!
Give Feedback At The End
Whenever your child is practicing a public speaking piece, do not forget to provide your feedback. Do not just please them with comments like “I liked it” or “It’s the best speech I have heard in my life.” This kind of approach won’t be value-adding to their improvement.
You can tell them how they can further improve their thought process or delivery tone. You may also give feedback regarding their gestures.
Take note, however, that there is the perfect time to provide your comments. Do not give out corrections while they’re in the middle of their piece. Interrupting them will only distract them and will slowly add to their nerves.
You may also assess them using the 5C’s and 5E’s.
5 C’s
- Confidence
- Conviction
- Clarity
- Control
- Customization
5 E’s
- Enjoy
- Explore
- Expression
- Eye Contact
- Engage Your Audience
Play Enjoyable Impromptu Games
Playing impromptu games is one strategy to build confidence among children quickly. Ensure to choose those games that are fun and won’t put the kids into an uncomfortable position if they fail. Pick something that they can laugh at even if they do not get it right on several tries.
This approach is also essential to help kids learn to step outside of their box and learn to think on the spot.
Experts believe that the fear of public speaking stems from the fact that people are scared that we do not know what we’ll do should we commit a mistake. We do not want to fall apart because of trying.
However, changing the kids’ mindset with regards to failure will help them get over this fear, and eventually, gather their confidence in public speaking.
Record The Practice Sessions
It’s not enough that other people comment on how the kids’ public speaking performances went. They also have to provide feedback on themselves.
Take note that the easiest way to make improvements in how the kids handle themselves in delivering speeches is by viewing their work in a video.
For instance, if your child is practicing for a presentation, even as simple as a short book report, allow yourself to record him while delivering his piece. Then, play it back to them afterward. Let them pinpoint themselves what aspects they did well and what areas they can still improve on.
Teach Content Before Technique
Most individuals often teach technique first when tackling public speaking. Well, that’s the easiest one to explain. However, keep in mind that you should focus more on content as compared to the technique.
We don’t want your kid speaking in front of a massive audience, with all eyes on him, while he’s delivering nonsense and non-value adding piece. Aside from their stance, he should also sound smart.
So, what’s the best way to do this?
Well, the most effective strategy to address this is not to limit yourselves to a particular genre. When doing practice sessions, make sure to cover any topic under the sun. This way, your kid will be able to expose himself with different themes and broaden his perspective when delivering his messages.
Public Speaking For Kids Topics
As mentioned, there are numerous public speaking for kids topics that they should dwell in. Remember, children always perform their best whenever they’re interested in what they are discussing.
To help, here is a broad range of speech topics that your kids can choose from.
- Why I love my parents
- Who is my imaginary friend?
- My family’s tradition
- My favorite song
- The funniest joke I did in April Fool’s Day
- The most delicious meal I have tried
- Should I care about the “five-second rule?”
- Things I would say if I could talk to animals
- A day at the zoo
- What planet will I visit first?
- Biggest birthday wish
- My dream vacation
- Coolest superhero power
Remember, transforming your child into becoming an excellent public speaker does not happen overnight. It comes with a process. At Kid’s World Preschool, we will ensure that your kid undergoes the said process that will enhance his speaking skills. Our curriculum does not only focus on a series of lectures, but also incorporates practical applications in it. This way, your kid will slowly gain confidence little by little until he can confidently face a large crowd.
If you want to enroll your child into our effective programs, feel free to contact us via phone or email. Just visit this link for the details.
