Strategies for kids' public speaking

Published: 12 Aug 2022 Tagged: childrenCommunicationConfidence Coachpublic speakingspeakingstrategiesstrategytipstraining

It is common sense that one of the most usual fears of any person is to speak in public. This anxiety manifestation is reasonably common and sometimes might affect important moments in a person’s life, such as in school performance, in socialisation in adulthood and even in better professional opportunities. Due to these reasons, it might be crucial to be prepared to speak in public since early ages of childhood and teenage years in order to overcome this common anxiety. We have listed below seven tips to stimulate children in public speaking towards higher confidence and comfort:

• Start with your passions: People frequently have a say in what they discuss in speeches, even if it means redefining the subject to match their preferences. You're lot more likely to genuinely want to talk about anything if you choose to talk about something you truly care about, whether it be video games, climate change, or unicorns. Not only will this make the procedure seem less overwhelming, but the extra zeal will probably enhance your speaking style as we all become more animated when we are feeling enthusiastic.
• Know the audience: Fundamentally, public speaking is essentially a peculiar form of dialogue between the speaker and the listener. Knowing your audience can make you feel less surprised and stressed before you take the stage by letting you know who will probably be there or at least what kind of people will be there. Knowing your audience can also allow you better adjust your speech to the situation, which will aid in persuading them of your point of view.
• Practice, practice, practice: A superb speech is the result of practise. When we prepare a speech, we often spend the majority of the time considering the exact words we're going to say, but audiences frequently aren't actually interested in this. They really pay a lot more attention to how we portray ourselves, which is something we can only master via preparation. Additionally, through practising, we become more comfortable with the material, which helps us feel less nervous when we really take the stage.
• Visualise the place: Anxiety is the body's natural reaction when we worry about the future. It is the scared anxiety about what we believe will happen. Thinking about what the future will likely bring is one of the greatest methods to deal with nervousness, especially when it comes to public speaking. After all, we've all heard dozens, if not hundreds, of speeches and perhaps given a few ourselves. These presentations often go well, though not always. The speaker stands up, offers their opinion, and then takes a seat to some degree of applause—often sympathetic but occasionally euphoric. When we get up to present, this is the scenario we are all most likely to encounter.
• Focus your stress: Unfortunately, even if we can control it, public speaking fear frequently never really goes away. Although many people would view this as a drawback, it truly isn't. Even a small bit of stress has its benefits. It is an excellent motivator, aids in concentration, and instils in us an excitement we would not otherwise have. A little amount of adrenaline here and there may actually help us achieve, even though too much of it might be harmful to our health. Everything here is beneficial for public speaking. Refocusing our anxious energy on our speech can encourage us to get up and talk (this is a "fight" rather than "flight" reaction), aid in staying on topic, and help us deliver a more impassioned presentation.
• Breathing as a supporting strategy: If meditation has taught us anything, it's that taking a few deep breaths may do wonders for calming the nerves. When you're waiting to deliver your speech, remember to breathe slowly and deliberately, especially if you start to experience any degree of nervousness. Breathing promotes nervous system relaxation and, in many cases, can delay fear until you are back in your seat. However, don't let the beneficial breathing end there. It's a good idea to take one deep breath just before you begin speaking while you're up on stage. This will help you focus and give you the powerful start you need. Continue taking deep breaths as you proceed, especially if your nerves don't subside, since this can assist keep worry at bay.
• Value the power of feedback: The final piece of advice we have is to pay close attention to any comments you receive and make sure to put it into action when you next present. Constructive criticism in particular helps us identify our shortcomings and provides us with steps we may take to avoid them in the future. We learn from this and gain confidence for the next time we stand to speak.

With these seven strategies to implement in every opportunity for a public speech, your children will be more and more prepared for important moments when public speaking will be crucial for their lives. In case you believe your child (or even yourself) needs extra support in confidence to communicate, our team of professionals at Speakable will be ready to provide you the needed help.