Public speaking is frightening for a majority of the people around the world. It almost equals the number of people afraid of flying or of heights.
The nervous apprehension is felt by adults and children alike, every time they have to speak in front of a crowd. Especially for kids, being the centre of attraction when speaking can be overwhelming, nerve-wracking and anxiety-causing!
The fear of public speaking, often known as stage fright takes a huge toll on self-confidence and self-esteem. It can be a scary experience for a lot of children considering that being on stage nowadays has become a common activity. With more extracurricular activities, it has become important to groom children to beat stage fear. And here's how you can do that:
1) Preparation:
Practice innumerable times before the actual event. Preparation is the key to success! As the saying goes, "there is no glory in practice, but without practice, there is no glory". Make your child imagine the audience and practice, or he/she can even practice in front of the mirror. Teach him/her also to be him/her own critic and spot + correct mistakes accordingly.
2) Perception:
Help your children understand their fear and nervousness, and perceive it as excitement and thrill. This can be a very big step in getting rid of your child’s stage fear. This will help boost their self-confidence. And in the end, performing on a big stage is what matters as the world we live is getting more competitive than ever!
3) Nutritious Diet:
On the big day, let your child eat healthy and nutritious food that’s light on the stomach. An empty stomach may cause your child to faint too! But that doesn't mean you give him/her a heavy meal. Include a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables in his/her diet. And strictly avoid caffeinated drinks, pick lemonade instead.
4) Optimism:
Don't let your child give in to negative thoughts and ruin his/her mind-set. Don't let anything ruin his/her performance. Teach him/her to be optimistic. Help him/her to visualise the scenes where people will be applauding his/her performance. A positive mental picture will help him/her to go a long way up the performance ladder.
5) Staying Relaxed:
Deep breathes, listening to pleasant music or engaging in simple physical exercises like stretching and skipping can help your child calm down before his/her performance. Let not your child be scared at the very thought of getting on to the stage.
Hope these tips will help your child nail his/her next stage performance. We at the Learning Curve strive to boost every child's confidence. We engage them in social conversations with other children which helps them get better with public speaking. Here's to no-more-stage-fright!
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