Public Speaking: How to Help Your Child Learn this Life Skill!
Kids (and many adults) struggle to speak well in public. Here are some lessons from Intellect Inbox to help get them started on the right track!
In exploring the capabilities of Intellect Inbox, I’ve been impressed by it’s activity suggestions around public speaking for children.
As someone who struggled with public speaking as a kid (and even as an adult), I found all of these lessons quite insightful and things I wish I would have done as a kid.
These are targeted for children ages 9-12, but may be applicable beyond that. Sign up for Intellect Inbox (it’s free) to tailor lessons to young kids or teens, and get new lessons e-mailed straight to you on a regular basis!
I’ll share three lessons here:
Dealing with Nervousness
How to Use Humor in Public Speaking
Audience Engagement Techniques
Each provides an explainer and then dives into an activity you can get your child started on!
Know someone who’d appreciate these lessons? Please share this post with them!
Dealing with Nervousness in Public Speaking
Hello Ben,
Today, we're going to explore a topic that is incredibly useful not only in childhood but throughout life: Dealing with Nervousness in Public Speaking. Public speaking is a valuable skill, whether it's for a school presentation, a debate, or even speaking up in a group setting. It's normal for your child to feel nervous, but there are ways to manage and overcome those jitters.
Core Concepts:
Understanding Nervousness: Nervousness is a natural reaction to being in the spotlight. It's the body's way of preparing for a challenging situation. Symptoms can include a racing heart, sweaty palms, or a shaky voice. Recognizing these signs and knowing they are normal can help manage them.
Preparation is Key: Being well-prepared can significantly reduce nervousness. This includes knowing the topic well, practicing the speech multiple times, and being ready for questions that might arise.
Breathing Techniques: Deep, slow breathing can help calm the body's nervous system and reduce the physical symptoms of nervousness.
Positive Visualization: Encouraging your child to visualize success can boost confidence. Have them imagine delivering their speech confidently and receiving positive feedback.
Conversation Starter:
"Hey, I was thinking about how sometimes we have to talk in front of people, like presenting a project at school, and it can feel a bit scary. Have you ever felt that way? I read that it's actually really common and there are some cool tricks to make it easier. Want to hear about them?"
Learn More:
Practice Sessions: Create a safe space for your child to practice their presentations. Give constructive feedback and praise to build their confidence. You could even record their practice to help them see their progress.
Role-Playing: Take turns being the speaker and the audience. This can help your child get used to speaking in front of others in a low-pressure setting. You can also simulate different scenarios, like answering tough questions.
Attend Public Speaking Workshops: Many communities offer workshops for kids on public speaking. These can provide a supportive environment for your child to learn and practice with peers.
Reading and Research: Encourage your child to read books or watch videos about public speaking. Learning tips from seasoned speakers can be incredibly motivating.
By exploring these strategies and practicing regularly, your child can build the skills and confidence to manage nervousness in public speaking. Remember, it's all about taking small steps and celebrating progress along the way.
Activity Description:
"Conquer the Stage: Public Speaking Challenge" is an engaging activity designed to help your child understand and manage nervousness in public speaking. The activity involves practicing speeches on various topics in front of family members or friends, incorporating techniques to overcome nervousness, and receiving constructive feedback.
Materials Needed:
Index cards
Timer
A list of speech topics
A video recording device (optional)
Feedback forms or a notebook
Step-by-Step Guide to Set Up the Activity:
Preparation of Speech Topics: Write down various speech topics on index cards. These topics can range from simple subjects like "My Favorite Book" to more abstract ones like "The Importance of Recycling." Ensure there are enough topics for multiple rounds of speeches.
Setting the Stage: Arrange a small area in your living room or any suitable space in your home to serve as the 'stage.' Place a small table or podium where your child can place their notes or index cards.
Introduction to Techniques: Before starting the speeches, discuss techniques to manage nervousness with your child. Teach them deep breathing exercises, the power of positive thinking, and the importance of practicing.
Speech Practice: Have your child randomly select a topic from the index cards. Set a timer for preparation (5 minutes) and then another timer for the speech duration (3-5 minutes depending on the complexity of the topic).
Recording and Feedback: Optionally, record their speech so they can watch it later. After each speech, provide constructive feedback focusing on positive aspects and areas for improvement. Use a feedback form or notebook to jot down observations.
Repeat: Allow for multiple rounds by picking different topics and applying different techniques to handle nervousness. Encourage them to try different methods of delivery and even impromptu speaking without preparation.
Ideas to Make the Activity More Engaging:
Audience Participation: Occasionally, involve other family members or friends as part of the audience. They can also provide feedback, making the session more interactive and less predictable.
Rewards System: Introduce a small reward system for improvement and courage. For example, after every few speeches, reward your child with something they value or enjoy as a way to encourage persistence.
Themed Speech Days: Organize speech days around specific themes, such as storytelling, persuasive speeches, or historical figures. This variety will keep the activity exciting and challenging.
Use of Props: Allow the use of props during speeches to make them more lively and engaging. This could help in diverting some nervous energy into creative expression.
Public Speaking Games: Incorporate games like 'Extempore' where your child picks a topic and speaks without preparation. Another game could involve reversing roles where you speak and your child gives feedback.
By integrating these elements, "Conquer the Stage: Public Speaking Challenge" not only addresses nervousness in public speaking but also boosts confidence and improves communication skills in a supportive, home-based environment.
How to Use Humor in Public Speaking
Hello, Ben!
Today, we're going to explore how to use humor in public speaking. This is a fantastic skill that can make speeches more engaging, memorable, and enjoyable for any audience. Whether your child is preparing for a class presentation or simply wants to develop their speaking skills, understanding how to effectively incorporate humor will serve them well.
Core Concepts
Understanding Your Audience: Before crafting jokes, it's crucial to know who will be listening. What might be funny to one group might not be to another. Age, interests, and cultural backgrounds can all influence what your audience finds humorous.
Timing and Delivery: The success of humor often hinges on timing. Pausing right before the punchline and maintaining a natural speaking rhythm can enhance the comedic effect. Practice is key here.
Relevance: Humor should be relevant to the topic at hand. Random jokes might get a laugh, but they can also distract and confuse the audience if they don't tie back to the main message.
Self-deprecation: Making light of oneself in a modest way can be an effective strategy to connect with the audience. However, it's important to strike a balance and not undermine one's own credibility.
Conversation Starter
Ben, you might start a conversation with your child by saying, "Did you know that even famous speakers use humor to connect with their audience? For example, when presenting his inventions, Thomas Edison would often make light-hearted jokes to keep his audience engaged. Why do you think that is? Let's think about how adding a bit of humor could make your next presentation more fun and interesting. Can you think of a funny story or joke that relates to what you're going to talk about?"
Learn More
Watch and Learn: Find videos of speakers who effectively use humor in their speeches. TED Talks are a great resource for this. Discuss what made the humorous parts work and how they contributed to the overall message.
Practice Makes Perfect: Encourage your child to write a short speech on a topic they're passionate about. Together, brainstorm ways to add humor to it. They could then practice delivering this speech to family members, paying attention to timing and audience reactions.
Read Up: There are many books and articles on the art of using humor in public speaking. Reading these together can provide both inspiration and practical tips for crafting humorous speeches.
By understanding their audience, practicing timing and delivery, ensuring relevance, and appropriately using self-deprecation, your child can begin to master the art of using humor in public speaking. This skill will not only make their presentations more enjoyable but also help them connect with their audience on a deeper level. Happy speaking, Ben!
Activity: "The Funny Speaker Challenge"
Brief Description:
In "The Funny Speaker Challenge," your child will explore the power of humor in public speaking by preparing and delivering a short, humorous speech to a small audience. This activity will help them understand comedic timing, audience engagement, and the effective use of humor to make an impactful speech.
Materials Needed:
Notepad or writing paper
Pen or pencil
Stopwatch or timer
A list of humorous speech topics (e.g., "Why homework should be banned on weekends," "If animals could talk," "My most embarrassing moment")
A small audience (family members, friends, or stuffed animals)
Step-by-Step Guide to Set Up the Activity:
Select a Topic:
Begin by having your child choose a topic from the list provided or let them come up with their own funny topic. Encourage creativity and originality.
Research and Write:
Allow your child some time to research their topic. They should look for jokes, funny anecdotes, or humorous perspectives related to their chosen subject.
Have them write a short speech (3-5 minutes long) incorporating the humorous elements they’ve gathered. Remind them to include a clear introduction, body, and conclusion.
Practice the Speech:
Encourage your child to practice their speech multiple times. Focus on delivery, timing, and audience reaction. They can practice in front of a mirror or record themselves to refine their performance.
Set Up the Speaking Area:
Arrange a small area in your home as the 'stage'. Set up chairs for the audience to sit and watch the presentation. Ensure your child has enough space to move around slightly as they speak.
The Presentation:
Schedule a time for the speech when the audience (family members or friends) can be attentive and interactive. Use the stopwatch to time the speech, ensuring it stays within the 3-5 minute range.
Ideas to Make it More Engaging:
Feedback Session:
After the speech, allow the audience to give constructive feedback. What did they find most funny? What could be improved? This will help your child understand audience perception and improve their skills.
Incorporate Props:
Suggest using simple props that relate to the topic to make the speech more engaging and visually appealing. For example, if the topic is about pets, they might hold up a pet toy or wear a funny hat.
Multiple Rounds:
Turn this into a recurring activity by having multiple rounds with different topics or styles of humor. This repetition will help your child become more comfortable and skilled in using humor effectively.
Record the Speech:
Record the speech so your child can watch their performance later. This is a great way for them to see their own growth and areas that need improvement.
This activity not only enhances public speaking skills but also boosts confidence, creativity, and the ability to engage an audience effectively using humor.
Audience Engagement Techniques in Public Speaking
Hello Ben,
Today, we're diving into an exciting and essential skill that's beneficial not just for public speakers but for anyone who wishes to communicate effectively: Audience Engagement Techniques in Public Speaking. This topic is crucial for your child to learn as it builds confidence, enhances communication skills, and prepares them for various situations where they need to present ideas clearly and persuasively.
Core Concepts:
Audience engagement is the art of keeping your audience interested, involved, and actively participating during a speech or presentation. It involves several key techniques:
Knowing Your Audience: Understanding who the audience is, what they care about, and why they are there.
Eye Contact: Making eye contact with audience members makes them feel involved and keeps their attention.
Asking Questions: Posing questions to the audience can stimulate thinking and encourage participation.
Using Stories and Examples: Relatable stories or examples help illustrate points and make the content more engaging.
Varying Your Tone and Pace: Changing your speaking pace and tone can keep the audience alert and interested.
Using Visual Aids: Effective use of slides, videos, or props can enhance understanding and retention.
Encouraging Participation: Inviting the audience to share their thoughts or answer questions can boost engagement.
Conversation Starter:
To introduce this topic to your child, you might start with a scenario they can relate to. For example, "Imagine you're telling your friends about your favorite movie, and you notice they're hanging on to every word, laughing, and asking questions. How does that make you feel? Now, think about how you can make your school presentations just as engaging. Let's explore some techniques that can help you grab and keep your audience's attention."
Learn More:
Practice Sessions: Encourage your child to prepare a short presentation on a topic they're passionate about. They can then practice using the engagement techniques we've discussed. Family members can serve as the audience, providing feedback on how engaged they felt.
Analyze Speeches: Watch famous speeches or presentations together (TED Talks are a great resource). Discuss what techniques the speakers used to engage their audience. This can help your child see real-world applications of these techniques.
Public Speaking Games: Engage in fun activities that build public speaking skills, such as impromptu storytelling, where your child has to make up a story on the spot about a given topic. This can help them think on their feet and engage listeners.
Join a Public Speaking Group: Consider enrolling your child in a youth public speaking group or club, such as those offered by libraries or schools. This provides them with a supportive environment to practice and refine their skills.
By exploring audience engagement techniques in public speaking, your child will not only become a more effective communicator but also gain valuable life skills in expressing their ideas confidently and persuasively. Happy learning, Ben!
Activity Description:
The activity involves your child preparing and delivering a mini-presentation to a small group. The focus will be on using different audience engagement techniques to make their speech more interactive and captivating. This exercise will help enhance their public speaking skills, understanding of audience dynamics, and ability to keep the audience interested throughout the presentation.
Materials Needed:
Index cards or sticky notes
Timer or stopwatch
A list of topics (prepared by the parent)
A small audience (family members or friends)
Video recording device (optional, for review)
Step-by-Step Guide to Set Up the Activity:
Select a Topic: Write down 5-10 broad topics on individual index cards. These could range from 'The importance of recycling' to 'My favorite book and why'. Let your child pick one at random. This adds an element of surprise and challenges them to think on their feet.
Preparation Time: Give your child 30 minutes to prepare a 5-minute presentation on the chosen topic. Encourage them to think about who their audience will be and what their interests might be related to the topic.
Discuss Engagement Techniques: Before they start preparing, discuss various audience engagement techniques such as asking rhetorical questions, using props, incorporating a short story or anecdote, showing a quick demonstration or visual, and inviting questions during or after the presentation.
Rehearsal: Allow your child to rehearse their speech while using at least three different engagement techniques. They can practice in front of a mirror or with a family member.
Presentation Time: Gather a small audience of family members or friends. Have your child deliver their presentation, using the engagement techniques discussed. Use a timer to keep track of time.
Feedback Session: After the presentation, have the audience provide constructive feedback on what they liked and which engagement techniques were most effective. Discuss what could be improved for next time.
Review and Reflect: If the presentation was recorded, watch the video with your child. Point out moments where the engagement techniques were effectively used and discuss moments where there could be improvement.
Ideas to Make it More Engaging:
Incorporate Technology: If possible, allow the use of digital tools like PowerPoint for visual aids or to play short clips relevant to the topic.
Interactive Q&A: Encourage your child to design a part of their presentation around audience participation. They could prepare a mini-quiz or a thought-provoking question related to the topic, inviting answers or opinions.
Role Switch: After the presentation, allow another family member to give a presentation and have your child give feedback based on what they learned about audience engagement.
Public Speaking Game: Turn the activity into a game where each presenter (family members can take turns) scores points based on the use of engagement techniques and how well they kept the audience interested.
Progressive Storytelling: Start a story that relates to the topic and ask each audience member to add a sentence or idea as it goes along, making the presentation a group effort.
This activity not only improves public speaking skills but also enhances critical thinking as your child learns to adapt their speech to actively involve their audience.
Did you try any of these? Let us know how it went, we’d love to hear about it!