Raise a confident public speaker, here's how

Having skills that help your child feel their presence in a crowd or help them influence decisions is important. Public speaking is a skill that could help your child grow into a confident adult. It can help develop leadership qualities, to motivate change, and to socialize effectively. Some children might naturally be good at it, whereas others might fear speaking to an audience. Stage fright is common among adults as well as children. 

If you think your child needs help, here are some pointers to help raise your child into a confident public speaker.
 

Tips to develop your child’s public speaking skills

Let them speak for themselves

When your child is invited to a conversation by adults, do not speak for them. Give them a chance to voice their opinions. Your child could find it intimidating to reply to adults, as it mimics the fear they might feel before a presentation or a speech. Encouraging your child to converse freely with everyone around them can help them overcome that fear.

Make videos 

Whenever your child is rehearsing, be it for dance, theater, or a speech, make a video. After their performance, show them the footage. This can help them realize how well they are doing and can prompt them to self-correct. Practicing like so can finally give them the confidence to perform well on stage.

Impart confidence

While your child is practicing public speaking or reading something from a book, they might make mistakes. Sometimes your child might mispronounce something. If so, correct them politely. Try not to

 make fun of them or talk about it in public. Parents are the first support system for children.

Encourage your child to read 

It is important to have good language skills to be a good public speaker. Reading books can provide information on various topics, introduce them to new words, and even different ways to communicate ideas. So set time aside every day for your child to read. Urge them to complete allotted reading tasks and ask questions about their reading. Encourage your child to express their opinions on what they have read.
 

Do not stress positive outcomes

Encourage them to think positively, but at the same time, let them know it is okay if things do not go well. This could reduce their stress. If you always push them to do well, they might become anxious. So tell them if they mess up, they can try next time. You can assure them what matters is their effort, not the result.

Help your child be presentable

If your child is going to deliver a speech, help them look presentable. Grooming oneself and dressing appropriately can help your child build confidence and gain the audience's attention. Make sure the outfit is comfortable for your child, or it might hinder their speech.

Always remember, the idea is to be a better speaker, but not at the expense of it not being fun! 

Head on over to byjuslearning.com to learn more about our Active Learning approach to Math, Language, and Reading for children between Pre-K and Grade 3.