There are a lot of kids who are getting anxious when their parents force them to go out and meet other people. This is because children don’t like being forced to do something they don’t enjoy. As the saying goes: where there is a will, there is a way; and that holds true here as well. Fortunately, there is now an answer to this problem: teaching public speaking skills in children.
How to teach public speaking to kids: Using more videos and visual than words, playing fun activity games and telling memorable stories are proven ways to get your ideas through. Also, breaking children into smaller groups allows your students to practice their skills under a more controlled environment without as much pressure.
PS! See also this post “Public Speaking for Kids: 27 Practical Tips”
Table of Contents
#1 Use a good structure
A good structure for teaching public speaking could be something like this:
- Start with a story about a time when you were nervous and then tell them about how you overcame that anxiety and did well.
- Next, introduce some role playing activities (think of an “audience”), give them instructions on how to speak in front of that audience, and then have them go through those instructions.
- Finally, have them try it out without any real audience, so they can practice their skills and make sure they feel confident in what they are doing.
#2 Do something memorable
To teach public speaking skills to your child, you need to do something memorable. After all, the idea is to remember what they are learning, right?
The best way to do this is by making it fun and interesting. Engaging in activities that children enjoy can help with this. The more they find these activities engaging, the more likely they will stick with them. In addition, be sure to have your kids take part in real-world situations so that they can learn how to cope under pressure and act appropriately when put on the spot.
Additionally, role-playing is another great way to get students engaged in a given activity. For example, giving them a task where they need to speak about their favorite color can help them master the skill of public speaking.
#3 Use more videos and visuals than words
One way to make public speaking easier for children is to use more video and visuals than words. A child has to see the action happening in front of him or her before it can be accomplished.
Videos of showing successes and failures allow them to see what to do in different public speaking situations (how to maintain eye contact, speak clearly without sounding too anxious etc.).
Also, showing videos can teach them how to deal with stage fright and what they should do before, during, and after a presentation.
Kids love looking at pictures, so using pictures in your presentations can help. This will help children not focus on their own nervousness when they are speaking, but rather on the person they are presenting to.
Using stories and role-playing can also be a great way to teach kids how to act in different situations under pressure.
#4 Play fun Activity games
It is important to teach children public speaking skills by engaging them in fun activities that they enjoy doing. There are many ways to teach these skills over time, but one effective strategy is using public speaking activities with kids so they feel comfortable doing it. This helps children become curious about the world around them and learn how to act under pressure.
One way to do this is by playing impromptu games with your child during conversations that you are having with him or her. This will help expose your child to new experiences, encourage their curiosity, and teach them how to act in different situations.
For example, you could ask your students to participate in a role-playing activity where they have to deliver a speech about a topic that embarrasses them.
Recommended books
The key is to make sure the experience is fun and engaging so that your child feels confident about practicing public speaking skills. You should also make sure that you capture any unique ideas or insights from the activity so that you can incorporate those into your lessons going forward.
#5 Don’t be afraid of using apps
As a parent, you are likely concerned about whether your child will be able to effectively learn these skills with apps.
Here are some apps that may help you along the way:
- Virtual Speech – This app will help you practice your public speaking, by providing photo-realistic environments to train in.
- Ummo – Whether you are practicing for a presentation or interested in improving your everyday communication, use Ummo to track your “Umm”s and “Uhh”s, pace, word power, clarity, and more
- Speeko – Get A.I.-powered coaching for your presentations, meetings, and interviews. Speeko will teach you the core speaking techniques to achieve effective delivery of your message when it matters most.
However, it is important to keep in mind that these apps are still just tools and an app has no effect on the child’s actual learning capabilities. It is also worth considering that kids actually tend to have more fun using apps than traditional methods for teaching public speaking.
#6 Use gestures and keep eye contact
One way to teach public speaking skills to children is to use gestures and keep eye contact. Whether it’s a classroom or an individual, make sure that you are giving your students the attention they need by keeping contact with them.
Gestures are appealing because they allow people to express themselves without verbalizing their thoughts.
Keeping eye contact helps you become more focused on the person you are speaking with. Also, you’ll get instant feedback from the listeners about whether your speech is any good.
Also, teach your student the importance of eye contact. This can help them use good techniques and give them confidence when they speak in front of the audience.
#7 Give them valuable feedback
The best way to teach public speaking is by providing your students with valuable feedback. By showing them how to speak publicly, you are giving them valuable feedback on how they should act in different situations. What’s more, they will be able to apply all this knowledge at a younger age and start practicing public speaking skills early in life.
It also helps when you give your kids helpful tips on what they can do to improve their speaking abilities. If you have trouble thinking of ways that you can give your child great feedback, try role-playing with them.
It’s good to get valuable feedback, but we’re not looking only for criticism, and we’re not looking only for praise. We really want to get an accurate sense of what’s working and what isn’t.
#8 Break Children Into Smaller Groups
One of the best ways to teach public speaking skills to kids is by breaking them into smaller groups. This allows your students to practice their skills under a more controlled environment without as much pressure.
Also, when you break children into smaller groups, you are able to focus on each individual student and ensure that they are receiving the right amount of attention. As a result, it becomes easier for them to receive feedback on how well they are performing.
#9 Tell memorable stories
Children can learn public speaking skills by telling memorable stories. They can also learn from the mistakes of others in an interactive activity.
Tell stories and bring colourful examples
“Make a point, tell a story” is a good rule to keep in mind. Stories (especially, personal ones) are more impressive than unrealistic examples or confusing facts.
Use Small exaggerations
John Grisham said once that, “There is no story in the world which cannot be improved with a small exaggeration.”
For example, “This guy was as big as a basketball player; he weighed 300 pounds. Now, since I am very short, it was like looking at a skyscraper during our face-to-face conversation.”
Tell Personal Stories
Tell personal stories as they tend to be much more effective than all other examples. Keep in mind that a good speaker must also be a good storyteller. I’ve already mentioned that making a speech doesn’t have to be dry.
How to Teach Public Speaking to Kids?
In order for children to survive in today’s world, they need to learn how to speak in front of people and handle different situations under pressure. Children today are constantly bombarded with technology, social media, and digital content. They have never known a world without these things.
Teaching public speaking can be accomplished by engaging students in fun activities that they enjoy doing as well. It can also be achieved by exposing children to new experiences so that they become curious about the world around them. Lastly, it can happen through role-playing activities with your child so that they learn how to act in different situations under pressure.
Related questions
How to use a teleprompter during your speech? Vary your speaking speed and volume. Move your head slowly and consciously and pause appropriately. Rehearse beforehand using a timer and video camera. (full article here)
How to use humor in a speech? Here are some quick tips: Never start your joke by saying, “I’m going to tell you a joke,” and never laugh at your own jokes. Also, keep it short and simple and try not to insult your listeners. (full article here)
How to practice a speech? The poorer your preparation is and the less work you do, the greater the probability that no-one can relate to your speech, in a way that will make the audience forget you already during your presentation (Read more about it here…)
