How do you help a kid who tells amazing stories at home but mumbles and rushes through presentations at school?

My 5th grader is loud and funny at home, then during school presentations he looks down and talks so fast nobody can hear him. If I say let’s practice, he gets embarrassed. How do you build public speaking without making it a big awkward thing?

Category: Confidence & Resilience

We practiced for 30 seconds only. Not the whole thing. Record, watch one good thing and one thing to try. Short kept it from being painful.

Yutong Wen

Have him practice to a pet first. Sounds silly, worked for us. The dog was a very forgiving audience.

Jason Chan

Teach pauses. My son thought fast meant done sooner. We practiced breathing at periods and commas.

Vivian Chan

Let the topic be something he loves if possible. My quiet kid did a snake presentation and suddenly had a voice.

Arielle Kalifowitz