Why is Public Speaking Important for Children and How to Train Them?

Update: This article was last updated on 8th February 2023 to reflect the accuracy and up-to-date information on the page.

Speaking effectively, speaking in the right flow, using relevant vocabulary, and conveying the desired message to the audience is what public speaking is all about. It is not everyone’s cup of tea because 75% of the population suffers from fear of public speaking or glossophobia, says a report. 

This report highlights the significance of enhancing public speaking skills. 

Why is public speaking important?

Believe it or not, any form of oral communication is an art, just like writing. An eloquent speaker strikes a chord with their audience, and they even inspire and influence their listeners. 

The ability to express yourself in words to an audience is essential to be successful in every sphere of life. As soon as a child starts talking, they have to communicate their needs, desire, and reactions to their parents.

Once they start socializing, they need better communication skills and even better in school to share their thoughts, ideas,  etc, with their mentors and peers. This art can be mastered through practice and a wealth of knowledge. 

How do we instill the art of public speaking in children?

1. Train them to face an audience from an early age
2. Encourage them to participate in debates, discussions, etc
3. Make a practice of communicating with the audience
4. Instill reading habits
5. Build vocabulary 

What are the 4 main purposes of public speaking?

1) Persuasive

A persuasive speech makes people do or believe a particular thing and change their behaviors or policies. Therefore an excellent orator’s speech is often interspersed with information, anecdotes, and other elements. 

2) Informative

While speaking to an audience, the speaker’s responsibility is to ensure that they share information and clear doubts & confusion. For instance, when a school principal decides to speak to the children about a rumored holiday or delay in the examination, the focus should be on clearing the confusion and providing the correct information. 

3) Motivating

Many motivational speakers are invited to various events to deliver pep talks. The idea is to inspire and motivate people in the audience. If you are a successful sportsperson invited to motivate parents to encourage their children to pick any sport, your words should appeal to the audience, and they should take the desired action. 

4) Entertaining

A good speaker gets involved with the audience and uses anecdotes, interesting examples, etc., to keep the audience entertained and alert because the audience loses interest in a  dull and drab speech. 

What are the important elements of public speaking skills?

• Communication: The ability to convey  an idea or thought to an audience
• Articulation: Expressing in a coherent verbal form
• Confidence: From body language to the tone of voice – everything should be convincing, and the speaker should be able to engage the audience. 
• Ability to connect with the audience. 

What are the three most important things about speaking in public?

1) Know your audience

It is important to gather information about the audience you are talking to. So, you should do your home and answer the following questions before addressing an audience:

1. Who is your audience? 
2. What do they know? 
3. What is the nature of the event? 

2) Tone and timing 

The speaker should have command over the tone and speed of the speech. 

3) Body language

From your hand gestures to your posture, everything should be in sync with what you are saying. You may or may not be able to see your audience’s faces, but try to focus on every section of the audience. 

What are the benefits of public speaking skills?

1. Improves leadership skills 
2. Enhances articulation
3. Enhances negotiation and persuasion skills
4. Helps to overcome self-consciousness
5. Helps to advance career

No matter what profession a child chooses, they will have to communicate with their peer groups, appear at forums, and in case of extraordinary achievers, they will have to take the stage to share their journey, tell the world about their achievements and accomplishments, their ideas and innovations, and their thoughts and theories. Eloquence will help them in having the edge over others. 

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