By Wg Cdr Sonika Tanwar (Veteran, Indian Air Force)
Introduction
Let me say this straight—no child is born with a mic in hand. But every child has something worth saying.
As a military veteran, I’ve delivered battlefield briefings, addressed troops, spoken at podiums—and still, nothing compares to the stage fear in children I saw in my 8-year-old daughter the day she had to speak four lines in her school assembly.
Hands cold. Voice shaky. And that classic line before stepping on stage: “Mumma, can I disappear?”
Sound familiar?
Public speaking for kids is not just a skill—it’s a life advantage. And the earlier we help our kids embrace it, the more fearless and articulate they’ll become.
Let’s dive into how you, as a parent, can turn nervous whispers into confident speeches.
- Start With the Dinner Table, Not the Stage
Big speeches begin at small tables. Encourage your child to:
Share their day as if presenting news.
Narrate a funny incident like a story.
Pick a “word of the day” and speak about it for 30 seconds.
Military secret: Every confident officer first learned to speak confidently in the Officers’ Mess. Your dining table is no less prestigious.
- Praise the Effort, Not the Volume
Not all children will roar like a lion on day one. Some will whisper, pause, stammer—and that’s okay.
Your job? Applaud the attempt.
“I loved how you looked up and smiled!”
“That pause made your sentence sound powerful.”
“You tried, and that’s already winning.”
Say things like:
Because when effort is celebrated, fear steps back. Parenting tips for shy kids often start here.
- Turn Story Time Into Stage Time
Instead of you reading bedtime stories, flip the roles:
Let them read to you.
Ask them to “tell the story like a movie trailer.”
Or even better: let them rewrite the ending!
Storytelling for children isn’t about memorizing—it’s about expressing.
- Mirror Mirror, Say It Clearer
Let them practice in front of a mirror:
Notice their expressions.
Play with tone.
Laugh at their own bloopers.
It’s theatre, therapy, and training—all rolled into one. Mirror practice for kids builds self-awareness and confidence.
- Record. Replay. Repeat.
In today’s world, your phone is your greatest coaching tool.
Record your child speaking:
A joke
A short speech
A story or a poem
Play it back. They’ll notice things even you missed—tone, pace, confidence levels. Boost confidence in children by showing them their progress.
- Enrol Them in Real Opportunities
Schools, hobby clubs, community events—grab every opportunity.
Even if it’s just announcing “The next performance is…” — it counts.
Also explore:
Elocution contests
Storytelling workshops
Model UNs (even junior versions!)
Or even better—military-style stage drills (Don’t worry, no push-ups involved!)
Why It Matters?
Because public speaking in children is not about becoming a stage performer. It’s about becoming a self-assured communicator. A child who speaks confidently, shares clearly, and listens actively will never be afraid to take the lead—whether it’s at a school debate, a boardroom, or in life.
Final Words from the Parade Ground of Parenting
Dear parents, don’t wait for your child to “outgrow” shyness. Help them outshine it.
Today, it may be a poem recital. Tomorrow, it could be a TED Talk.
Stand behind them, coach with love, and clap the loudest—even if their speech was all of 12 seconds.
Because confidence building in kids doesn’t come from perfection. It comes from knowing someone believes in you—loudly and without hesitation.
And trust me, when your child ends a speech with a smile and a twinkle, that mic drop moment? It’s yours too.