Public speaking in general is a challenging task. It takes a long time and a tremendous amount of practice for one to be finally able to master the art of public speaking. Developing such an essential skill takes time. Giving your kid a head start so they grow up to be much more confident in public speaking is always a good thing. So, here is a list of 19 unique public speaking activities for kids that you can try with your child from time to time or daily to give them a kick start into the world of public speaking.

• Benefits of teaching public speaking to kids
• Public Speaking Activities for Kids
• Challenges and how to overcome them

Benefits of teaching public speaking to kids

1. Improved Communication Skills
2. Boosted Confidence
3. Enhanced Critical Thinking
4. Greater Self-Awareness
5. Empathy and Understanding
6. Improved Academic Performance
7. Leadership Development
8. Overcoming Fear and Nervousness
9. Professional Growth
10. Better Social Skills
11. Acquiring Presentation Skills
12. Improving body language
13. Fostering Creativity
14. Developing Resilience
15. Building a Sense of Achievement
16. Preparation for Real-World Situations

Before we get into the details of the public speaking activities for kids, let’s look into the benefits of teaching your kids the basics of public speaking from a young age. It offers a wide range of benefits that extend far beyond just the ability to deliver a speech.

Improved Communication Skills

Public speaking teaches kids how to articulate their thoughts clearly and effectively, which enhances their overall communication abilities. It also encourages them to think independently and develop analytical thinking skills.

Boosted Confidence

Through practice and positive reinforcement, kids gain confidence in their ability to speak in front of others. This confidence often extends to other areas of their lives. Public speaking allows children to share their opinions leading to increased self-assurance. With more exposure, their comfort level will improve, leading to a continuous cycle of progress and growth.

Enhanced Critical Thinking

Planning and delivering a speech requires kids to organize their thoughts, analyze information, and structure their arguments, which fosters critical thinking skills.

Greater Self-Awareness

Public speaking encourages kids to reflect on their beliefs, values, and experiences, leading to increased self-awareness and self-expression.

Empathy and Understanding

Through the process of presenting and listening to others, kids develop empathy by understanding different perspectives and learning to relate to their audience.

Improved Academic Performance

Strong communication skills are valuable in all academic subjects. Kids who excel in public speaking often perform better in writing, reading, and other verbal tasks.

Leadership Development

Public speaking instills leadership qualities like confidence, decision-making, and the ability to influence and inspire others.

Overcoming Fear and Nervousness

Learning to manage stage fright and nervousness is an important life skill that can help kids face challenges with courage.

Professional Growth

Effective public speaking is a valuable skill in many careers. It can open doors to opportunities for leadership roles and advancement in various fields.  Effective communication is increasingly essential in the working world, and public speaking is a vital skill to have. By learning public speaking at a young age, children can develop the skills necessary for future job opportunities.

Better Social Skills

Public speaking encourages kids to interact with peers and adults, leading to improved social skills, including listening, empathizing, and responding appropriately.

Acquiring Presentation Skills

Kids learn how to use visual aids, body language, and tone of voice effectively, which are important components of delivering a compelling presentation.

Improving body language

Public speaking can have significant benefits on body language. When speaking effectively in front of an audience, children become more aware of their body language and how they can use it to communicate more effectively

Fostering Creativity

Crafting engaging speeches encourages kids to think creatively, use their imagination, and find innovative ways to present information.

Developing Resilience

Public speaking may come with challenges, such as forgetting a line or facing a tough audience. Overcoming these hurdles builds resilience and determination.

Building a Sense of Achievement

Successfully delivering a speech provides a sense of accomplishment and pride, boosting a child’s self-esteem and motivation to tackle new challenges.

Preparation for Real-World Situations

Whether in school, extracurricular activities, or future career endeavours, the ability to communicate effectively in public is an invaluable skill.

Overall, teaching public speaking to kids equips them with skills and confidence that can positively impact their personal, academic, and professional lives. It empowers them to express themselves, connect with others, and navigate a variety of social and professional situations. Read more at “10 Benefits Of Public Speaking For Kids (How To Teach Them)“

Public Speaking Activities for Kids

For Middle School Children:

1. Show and Tell with a Twist
2. Impromptu Storytelling
3. Tongue Twisters
4. Simon Says
5. Role-Playing Scenarios
6. Observe the Journey
7. Showcase a Talent or Hobby
8. Picture Prompt Presentation
9. Mystery Box Presentation

For High School Kids:

1. The Cooperation Game
2. Conversation Dice
3. Mini Debates
4. Alternative Endings
5. Creative Poetry Slam
6. News Reporter Exercise
7. Interview a Fictional Character
8. TED-Style Talks
9. Time Capsule Presentation
10. Inventor’s Pitch

Public speaking activities for kids can help them develop their communication skills and overcome their fear of speaking in front of others. Here are some fun and engaging public speaking activities kids in middle school:

1. Show and Tell with a Twist

Instead of just showing an object or a funny image, ask the child to present a story or information about it. Encourage them to use descriptive language, engage the audience, and encourages them to think creatively.

2. Impromptu Storytelling

Provide a prompt or a few random objects and ask the child to create a short story on the spot. This helps them think on their feet and improve improvisational skills.

3. Tongue Twisters

Tongue twisters are diction exercises that help children learn to speak more clearly and slowly.

4. Simon Says

This classic game helps with both listening and speaking. The kids completing the actions have to listen, but you can also have a child be Simon, allowing them to practice leadership skills.

5. Role-Playing Scenarios

Have the child take on different roles and present as if they were that character. This can be a fun way to practice different styles of speaking.

6. Observe the Journey

While driving, walking, or on public transport, ask your child to describe as much of their surroundings as they can within one minute. This activity helps children develop their observation and descriptive skills.

7. Showcase a Talent or Hobby

Invite kids to present something they’re passionate about, like a musical instrument, a dance, or a craft they’ve made.

8. Picture Prompt Presentation

Show the child an image and ask them to speak about what they see, or create a story around it. This activity helps them practice observational skills and storytelling.

9. Mystery Box Presentation

Place an object in a box and have the child guess what it is without looking. Then, they can give a short presentation about the object. The element of surprise makes it all the most interesting for the kids.

Going ahead let’s look into the public speaking activities for kids in high school:

10. The Cooperation Game

Have three volunteers tell a story. The catch is each person can only say one phrase of the story, and the story must end with a predetermined ending. With this children will learn to be accommodative and develop team spirit and narrative skills.

11. Conversation Dice

For this activity, you need dice with topics of discussion written on the sides. Put students into small groups. Students will roll the dice and then discuss the topic that appears on the dice.

12. Mini Debates

Organize a small debate where kids can express their opinions on a given topic. This encourages critical thinking and persuasive speaking skills. But ensure the topics given are child-friendly and appropriate.

13. Alternative Endings

Have your child tell a story, and then ask them to come up with an alternative ending. This activity helps children develop their creative thinking skills.

14. Creative Poetry Slam

Encourage kids to write and perform their own poems. This activity not only fosters creativity but also helps them practice rhythm and intonation.

15. News Reporter Exercise

Pretend to be a news anchor and have the child report on a made-up event or a real news story. This helps with articulation and clarity.

16. Interview a Fictional Character

Have the child imagine they are interviewing a character from a book, movie, or history. This encourages creative thinking and empathy.

17. TED-Style Talks

Have kids watch age-appropriate TED Talks and then encourage them to give their own short talks on a topic of their choice.

18. Time Capsule Presentation

Ask kids to imagine they’re from the future and they’re presenting about life in the present day. What would they include in their time capsule?

19. Inventor’s Pitch

Have kids come up with an imaginary invention and present it as if they were pitching it to potential investors.

These are just a few ideas to get you started. There are many other unique public speaking activities that you can come up with. The most important thing is to find something that your child is interested in and that will help them develop their public speaking skills.

Here are some additional tips for making public speaking activities more unique and engaging for kids:

• Use props and costumes. Props and costumes can help kids to be more creative and expressive in their public speaking.
• Have them work in groups. Working in groups can help kids to learn from each other and to support each other.
• Give them a specific challenge. For example, you could challenge them to give a speech without using any filler words, or to give a speech in a different language.
• Make it fun! Public speaking should be an enjoyable experience for kids. Try to find ways to make the activities fun and engaging for them.

Here is a list of other resources for you to learn more from:

5 Ways to Teach Public Speaking to Kids

24 Public Speaking Games for Kids

7 Public Speaking Exercises for Kids

Importance of Public Speaking Skill for Kids

7 Tips To Improve Public Speaking Skills in Children

9 Effective Ways How To Teach Public Speaking To Kids

Challenges and how to overcome them

• Fear of public speaking
• Lack of interest
• Lack of practice
• Poor organization and planning
• Stress and anxiety

Teaching public speaking to kids can be challenging, but there are ways to overcome these challenges. Here are some common challenges and how to overcome them:

Fear of public speaking

Many children are afraid of speaking in front of others. To overcome this, parents can encourage their child to develop positive self-talk patterns and challenge negative thoughts with more empowering ones. Gradually introducing more formal speaking situations, such as school presentations or community events, can also help children develop a sense of familiarity and confidence in expressing themselves.

Lack of interest

Some children may not be interested in public speaking. To overcome this, parents can try to incorporate public speaking into normal activities, such as storytelling or conversation dice. Letting children pick a topic they like and practice with their friends can also make public speaking more engaging.

Lack of practice

Public speaking requires practice to improve. To overcome this, parents can encourage their child to practice speaking in front of a mirror or with a friend. Public speaking coaching classes can also help children develop their skills and receive feedback from professionals.

Poor organization and planning

Poor organization and planning can lead to a lack of confidence and clarity when speaking. To overcome this, parents can encourage their child to plan and organize their thoughts before speaking. They can also teach their child to use visual aids, such as PowerPoint presentations, to help organize their ideas.

Stress and anxiety

Stress and anxiety can make public speaking more challenging. To overcome this, parents can teach their child relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing or visualization. They can also encourage their child to practice speaking in a comfortable and familiar environment before moving on to more formal speaking situations.

By addressing these challenges and providing children with the necessary support and resources, parents can help their children develop strong public speaking skills and overcome their fear of speaking in front of others. Remember, every child is unique, so it’s important to be flexible and adjust your approach based on their individual needs and interests. Patience, encouragement, and a positive learning environment are key to helping kids overcome these challenges and develop their public speaking skills.

Conclusion

Engaging and unique public speaking activities can make the learning process enjoyable for kids. Remember to provide constructive feedback after each activity and create a supportive environment where kids feel comfortable expressing themselves. These activities can be adjusted based on the age and interests of the children involved. You can always get in touch with our professionals to help you help your kid get better at public speaking. Check out our services!