Life Skills

Public Speaking for Youth

Professional adults often mention that strong public speaking skills are essential in the workforce. 4H has a program that engages youth in speaking experiences and develops the skills with positive speaking experiences.

In addition, Toastmasters International has a Youth Leadership Program available. I have heard positive comments about this program, but there is not one in our area, so I can comment on it personally.

4H is another organization that can help develop life skills through public speaking. 4H speaking opportunities vary from program to program, but public speaking skills can be honed by giving talks at club meetings, participating as an officer directing a club business meeting, observing others doing a presentation and in many states, participating in a public speaking contest, sometimes knows as a “presentation.”

Presentations are usually a demonstration or talk that uses posters and other visual aids or “props.” Preparing to do a presentation requires research, organization, writing, practice and polishing. Doing a presentation is not just a learning process, but it also makes the “student the teacher” by allowing them to share things they have learned with others.

Rebecca is teaching our club how to make soap.

In our county, we have a day where all the club members come together and give their presentations in front of a panel of judges made up of local community leaders. Those who do well, are advanced to the district level, and the winners at the district level go on to compete at the state level.

Sarah won 3rd at state
for her presentation on dog training.

It is amazing to see how much the children have improved as they have frequent opportunities to speak in front of their peers and parents. Their writing skills have improved and their talks are longer and more complex. Children who would barely speak loud enough to hear they started, are now speaking up with confidence.

If you are interested in developing public speaking in youth, Steven R. Lewis wrote a teaching guide that you may find helpful. You can find it here.

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