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7 top reasons to teach your kids public speaking skills
Public speaking skills are rarely considered significant when we are talking about children. Most adults don’t realize how nervous a child can get in a public speaking situation.
However, even the most extroverted and confident child will thank you later in life if you teach them how to speak in public from a young age.
1. Better students
There is no way around presentations in academic life. The sooner they learn how to do them correctly, the better. Besides, this gives your child more confidence to intervene in class, answer the teacher’s questions, or participate in school debates.
A child who actively participates in class learns faster than one who just listens to the teacher. Public speaking also helps develop critical thinking, which is vital for academic achievement.
2. Better Communication skills
Learning public speaking is a way for kids to improve their communication. This is vital because it allows them to express their ideas and thoughts more clearly and assertively.
Yet, and perhaps less obvious, it can also impact written communication since it helps your child to sum up the information and organize it in a clear line of thought. It also improves their vocabulary and pronunciation.
Nothing is more important in society than being able to communicate properly. It makes life easier in every sense.
3. Better Listeners
A good speaker also knows how to listen, observe, and pay attention to the audience’s needs. This way, a kid learning public speaking will be better at the art of listening.
This is important in interpersonal relationships. It develops empathy and connection with family and friends and improves social abilities. It is also important when it’s time to learn complex topics. They will be more focused, pay more attention, and absorb information better.
4. Better Leader
A good leader knows how to communicate and influence their audience. This skill is learned through public speaking.
Your child doesn’t need to be the next president. They can influence and persuade an audience to take action at the right moment, though. And how amazing would that be for their self-esteem?
5. Confidence
Being confident and developing good self-esteem is a huge help for your kid through their whole life. Learning public speaking and communication skills significantly and positively impacts this area.
A child who can communicate with a crowd is always charming, confident, and up to bigger challenges.
6. Organizational abilities
Public speaking requires organization and planning. You must prepare, practice and find the best way to structure a whole presentation in a manner that makes sense to everyone listening to it.
Usually, children are not very organized. Yet, this is a helpful skill throughout their lives, and learning public speaking from an early age can make a difference in their future as students and workers.
7. Better critical thinking
Critical thinking is the ability to analyze, interpret, and use information to solve problems and come to a conclusion.
To make a presentation, the child has to learn how to research, analyze information, make practical choices, and solve problems, and this is a terrific way to improve their critical thinking.
This will also help them form their own opinions and think about things more independently instead of following the majority. This has great and positive implications for forming their individual identities.
Communication is everything
Communication is the basis of all relationships, and public speaking is a vital form of communication. Yet, for most of us, it is dreaded. We all benefit from practicing, imagine if you get to practice since an early age. Can you imagine the difference it would make in your life?
The best time to learn new skills is between 5 and 12 years old; we can’t ignore this. Children who learn public speaking from an early age develop confidence and self-esteem and are ready to face adult life’s challenges. Great public speakers run the world.
Cátia is a psychologist who is passionate about helping children develop and train social skills.