Public Speaking Tips for Kids | 小朋友公開演講貼士

Public speaking can be daunting for both children and adults; in fact, studies show that public speaking is the No.1 fear. However, with the right approach, anyone can become a confident speaker. The secret lies in consistent practice and positive reinforcement. Here are some effective tips to help your child transition from shy to shining on stage.

Start Small and Build Confidence

Begin with simple exercises, such as having your child read a poem or a short story to the family. This familiar environment can help ease their initial nerves. Gradually, you can increase the audience size and the complexity of the speeches, allowing them to build confidence step by step.

At Mud Pies, we are preparing our students for the 2024 LCM Speech Festival in Hong Kong. This wonderful event fully supports children in developing their public speaking skills. My own children have always thoroughly enjoyed the festival and thrived with the chance to improve their performances.

How often should you practise a performance piece? Parents and children often don't believe me when I say that practise is key. How often do my daughters practice their performance pieces? It's around 8 times a day leading up to the festival! "Where do you get the time I hear?" Here it is - 2x While they brush their teeth in the bathroom, 2x while eating breakfast, while walking to school, when I get home from work, via video if I'm working late, 2x after dinner and any other times we can squeeze in! Performing outside in a park or playground is great as it reminds them to project their voices. What's the point? If children feel completely confident with the pieces they are performing, they can focus on the delivery and shine in their performance.

Tip of the Day: Record and Review Practice Sessions

Recording your child's practice sessions can be incredibly beneficial. Watch the recordings together and highlight what they did well, while also gently pointing out areas for improvement. You'd be surprised what children can identify in their performances to work on. Always conclude with positive reinforcement to boost their confidence and encourage continuous progress.

By incorporating these strategies, you'll help your child develop the skills they need to excel in public speaking, transforming their initial shyness into a shining performance.

由內斂到發光：小朋友公開演講嘅信心提升小貼士

公開演講對大人同小朋友嚟講都可以好有壓力。根據研究，公開演講係最多人驚嘅事情。不過，其實只要用啱方法，任何人都可以成為有自信嘅演講者。秘訣就係持之以恆嘅練習同正面鼓勵。

以下係幾個有效嘅 Public Speaking Tips 公開演講貼士，幫你小朋友由內向慢慢變得自信，喺台上閃閃發光。

由細做起，建立信心

可以由簡單嘅活動開始，例如請小朋友向屋企人朗讀一首詩或者一個短故事。熟悉嘅環境可以幫佢哋減低緊張感。慢慢地，可以增加聽眾人數或者提升內容難度，逐步訓練佢哋嘅信心。

喺 Mud Pies，我哋正為學生準備參加 2024 年 LCM 香港朗誦節。呢個活動幫助小朋友實戰演練，提升佢哋嘅公開表達能力。我自己嘅小朋友都好鍾意呢個活動，每次參加完都進步咗唔少。

練習次數：越多越好！

好多家長都會問：「應該練習幾多次先夠？」其實答案係：愈多愈好！我兩個女參加比賽前，差唔多每日練八次！

你可能會問：「邊有咁多時間？」答案係——每朝刷牙時、食早餐時、返學途中、爸爸收工後錄片回覆、晚飯後、臨訓前⋯⋯只要搵到空檔都可以練。喺公園或者戶外練習，仲可以幫佢哋學識點樣控制聲量。

重點係：當小朋友對演出內容充滿信心，自然可以集中精神做好表達同表現。

Public Speaking Tips 公開演講貼士嘅小習慣：錄影同重溫練習片段

錄低小朋友練習嘅片段會好有幫助。一齊睇片時，可以讚賞做得好嘅地方，亦可以溫和咁指出改善位置。你會發現，小朋友其實好識分析自己表現，甚至會主動提出想改進嘅部分。

記得最後一定要正面回饋，提升佢哋信心，鼓勵持續進步！透過簡單又實用嘅 Public Speaking Tips 公開演講貼士，小朋友可以更有信心咁樣發揮自己！

小結：由害羞變自信，其實可以訓練出嚟！

只要持之以恆練習，加上家長鼓勵，小朋友絕對可以掌握公開演講嘅技巧，將原本嘅怯場轉化成舞台上嘅自信笑容！