How to Help Your Child Overcome Stage Fright and Shine in Public Speaking
How to Help Your Child Overcome Stage Fright and Shine in Public Speaking
If you’re reading this then you’ve probably tried it all. Endless practice sessions, limitless encouragement, rewards, and recognition, and yet your child is resisting going up on that platform to claim his position in the spotlight.
Stage fright also known as performance or presentation anxiety is a type of fear that children experience when they have to speak or perform in front of an audience. If you are on the edge of a similar situation as a parent, then you aren’t alone. According to the data available, almost 5.5% of children experience a significant level of public speaking anxiety.
The good news is that with proper and timely strategies and public speaking techniques, anxiety when speaking to others can be conquered by most children and they can bounce back with renewed confidence. The key is to be patient with the situation, accept your child’s unique personality, and take baby steps to gradually help your child deal with stage fright. But first and foremost let’s delve into the reasons why your kid has the fear. This may help you understand your child’s problem and take constructive steps toward its resolution.
Key factors affecting fear of public speaking
- Fear of Judgement – All humans have an innate anxiety when speaking to others. Call it social conditioning or the wiring of the brain but we all experience mild presentation anxiety at multiple times in our lives. The root of this fear can be pinned down to the fear of judgment which includes, how will we be perceived by others, what if we sound stupid, etc. Your child has the same thoughts going around in their head and that may be making them nervous before a presentation.
- Inadequate preparation – If the child has not had enough practice then they may experience public speaking anxiety out of fear of making mistakes and appearing silly in front of others.
- Past experience(s) – If your child has had an embarrassing episode on stage or in front of others in the past, they may get afraid of public speaking in the long term.
- Excessive pressure – Unintentionally you may be pressurizing the child to give a perfect performance by setting high and unrealistic expectations.
- Low confidence – Low self-esteem represented as low confidence may be affecting your child’s communication skills and public speaking.
- Personality type – Children who are introverts by nature tend to experience more presentation anxiety and fear of public speaking than other kids.
Overcoming stage fright may not be rocket science but it does take a lot from parents. So let’s go a little beyond the cliched advice and try something different to motivate them.
Helping your child with how to overcome stage fright
Parental support for public speaking is very vital. Here are a few lesser-known yet very effective public speaking techniques to help you.
1- Build up confidence in steps– For some kids, overcoming public speaking anxiety may not happen overnight. Hence a smart way to prepare them is to use little speaking techniques and exercises before the main act. For example, if they are shy you can coax them to ask a stranger for the time, order in a restaurant, ask people in supermarket queues if they can move ahead if they are carrying only one or two items, or sing a song or recite a poem in front of family or friends. This gradually builds up confidence levels and lays a firm foundation for your child to deal with stage fright.
2-Try role reversal– Another offbeat way to help your child handle performance anxiety is reversing roles. Let your kid be the audience while you take center stage. Acting nervous before the presentation, making mistakes, and going ahead courageously to finish the act sends out a very strong and reassuring message to your kid that it’s fine to feel anxious and make mistakes. The important thing is to keep going.
3-Use music to set the stage– We all have a set of songs or musical notes that inspire us and pep up our mood. The same thing can work for our child. You can help your child create a playlist of their favorite music and ask them to listen to it before getting up on the stage or facing any audience. This makes them feel empowered and less afraid of public speaking.
4-Assure a post-performance celebration– An effective public speaking technique is to assure your child that no matter what the outcome is on the stage, you are proud of them for their courage to get up on stage to face an audience and this calls for a celebration. It is vital for kids to feel loved beyond their capabilities and talents.
5- Try breathing techniques for public speaking anxiety– Different breathing techniques can be game changers for kids with presentation anxiety.
- Ask your kid to inhale deeply as if they were smelling a flower. Then exhale as they would while blowing out their birthday candles.
- Let your kid breathe in deeply and exhale with a loud exasperated sigh. This exercise helps them feel calm immediately and is very helpful before going up on the stage.
When to consult a psychologist?
Stage fright is a common trait in most kids and usually is overcome with a little motivation and the above-mentioned techniques. However, if you feel that the anxiety persists and interferes with your child’s self-esteem and spills over to their daily activities, academics, and social interaction then your child may be dealing with Glossophobia, a common social anxiety disorder characterized by excessive and persistent fear of public speaking. If you notice signs of glossophobia it may be advisable to reach out for professional help.
Here are some signs and behavioral traits to look out for before consulting a psychologist.
1-Your child resists participating in class activities, school events, or any kind of social gathering and displays a pattern of withdrawal, anxiety, and fear.
2-If they experience panic attacks, and persistent anxiety when speaking to others and get symptoms like nausea, dizziness, sweating, etc even if they have to talk with others.
3- The child’s sleep and appetite get severely disrupted before an event and they display extreme emotional outbursts.
4-The kid starts avoiding school and struggles to keep up with academics due to the fear of being around people or performing.
5- If your child keeps repeating phrases such as ‘ I’m good for nothing, I can’t do anything, everyone laughs at me and thinks I’m stupid, etc then it may be time to seek professional help for them.
Psychologists can help address the issue through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to guide your child in dealing with stage fright The professionals can help them practice relaxation techniques, identify negative thought patterns, and build confidence to cope with their presentation anxiety more efficiently.
Here are some FAQs to help you understand the situation better for the next steps.
1.What are the signs of stage fright in your child?
The most frequent signs of stage fright and public speaking anxiety are a racing heartbeat, fast breathing, tightness in the throat, dry mouth, trembling limbs, shaky voice, sweaty palms, nausea, stomach uneasiness, and sometimes vision changes.
2.How can I help my child overcome stage fright?
Assuring your child that the performance is only a small activity and not a life decider takes the pressure off them and reduces the nervousness before a presentation. Additionally, you can try the tricks and breathing techniques for public speaking mentioned in the blog above.
3- What can teachers do to help students deal with stage fright?
Teachers at school can create a very supportive and encouraging environment to help the child feel at ease. Positive reinforcement, breaking up the task, and celebrating small wins can go a long way in building communication skills and public speaking confidence in the child.
4-Is it normal for children to experience stage fright?
Yes, absolutely. It is normal for every child to experience mild presentation anxiety due to the pressure of performing in front of a crowd, fear of judgment, and lack of experience.