Here is How to Develop Public Speaking Skills in Children

If by the term public speaking, you think about a stage and all those curious eyes looking at you, let us know that public speaking pervades many more aspects of our lives in the most unexpected ways. Whether children have to express themselves clearly in any conversation with a group of friends or relatives, or whether they have to grow on the professional front, effective public speaking skills and clear communication are the keys to success.

Let’s learn why is public speaking important and how to develop public speaking skills in children.

Let’s also learn why there is a craze for public speaking skills, but only a few individuals have these skills to express, inform, and inspire.

Why is Public Speaking Important?

Public speaking skills are important for a number of reasons, some of which are as follows.

• They help us develop self-esteem and self-confidence.
• They help us lend strength and persuasion to our voices and words.
• Effective public speaking skills help us emerge as a leader and motivate others.
• They also help us inspire people and communities to take positive action.
• They help us grow in our relationships as well as careers.

Our daily lives require us to communicate with a lot of people over different mediums (in person, over phone calls, and over texts), so we and the kids cannot really dispense with learning public speaking skills.

Now that we understand the importance of public speaking skills for kids, and everyone for that matter, let us learn the ways to cultivate those skills. Let us learn how to develop public speaking skills in children.

Ways to Develop and Improve Public Speaking Skills in Kids

Parents and teachers play a crucial role in developing any skill in a child. In addition to choosing a school that takes care of the child’s learning requirements, the parents need to reinforce their child’s learning at home too.

Public speaking activities for kids include varied games, techniques, and exercises.

• Encourage the kids to express themselves as clearly and as fluently as possible. Avoid pointing out their grammatical mistakes or every other error that you notice. It is better to start by highlighting their strengths more than weaknesses.
• Always ask the kids to maintain eye contact while speaking. Give them the reasons and demonstrate to them how the lack of eye contact implies a lack of confidence and how it can affect forming a deep bond or connection with the person in front of them.
• Learning how to develop public speaking skills in children is also a matter of calmness. Encourage the kids to talk about their interests and hobbies, but if they stop at just a line or two, let them know that it is okay and they can try once again.
• Encourage the kids to recite a poem or give a short speech in front of supportive relatives. The importance of public speaking skills for kids merits going the extra mile.
• Reading is also one of the public speaking activities for kids. Teach the kids how to read a passage with proper intonation. Be their active listener.
• Listening is an important part of public speaking. Motivate the kids to be active listeners in order to be effective public speakers. Engage in a mock interview and make them the interviewer and interviewee at different times.

The Art of Public Speaking

The art of public speaking has been flourishing since time immemorial. It has the power to inform and inspire. In the 21st century, however, these skills are rising in prominence because of the digitalization and globalization of everything. We need to give more and more live presentations on screen and we have to establish more connections than ever in order to achieve huge success.

Childhood and adolescence are the foundation of effective public speaking because when individuals learn to address their fears and anxieties at an early age, any skill becomes second nature to them.

So far, this fact has been neglected. Let’s try not to do that anymore and pay heed to how to develop public speaking skills in children with utmost seriousness.

(Also, Read: How to Develop Problem-Solving Skills in School Children)