Public Speaking Training At Home

Tim Walz Minnesota Governor and Kamala Harris' running mate connects easily, with the audience. Also, congratulations to all speakers at the 19-22 August DNC in Chicago. Shout out to Republicans that came to support Kamala Harris. They are on the right side of history, which is being written as we speak.

Parents can play games at home that will encourage encourage public speaking, a skill that will come in handy later on in life. Let’s hope your kids don’t want to wade in the murky world of politics but if they do, they must be confident on the campaign trail.

Public speaking used to be human to human, the speaker addressing many people in a room. Centuries come and go and this century is digital. Kids are already familiar with video, which has been the unofficial teacher for quite some time now.

It’s only that parents don’t want to admit it because they regard reading and writing as the real education. Podcasts and YouTube are public speaking in a way, although it is talking to a camera.

It’s easier to build confidence in public speaking if kids accompany mom or dad to places where they address groups of people like conferences, sports or training sessions. What kids do in public is what they do at home.

Public speaking games at home can be fun and educational. Kids rearrange chairs; there’s a microphone somewhere, they write a program by hand or print it if there is a home printer. Before all this activity, kids decide the topic, and workshop it with parents, stressing the following:

- Time limit, speakers are always given a time limit.

- Parents advise about greeting audience

- Focus, stick to the message to hold audience attention.

- Eye contact, speaker must look at the audience although it’s mum and and grandparents

Home is the off-shore school that complements the brick and mortar building, ten minutes away from school. Public speaking skills separate kids from school bullies, who speak to intimidate humiliate.

Nonqaba waka Msimang

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