Benefits of Kids’ Debate Clubs for Critical Thinking and Communication

The Role of Public Speaking Activities In Building Confidence in Kids

Introduction

A child’s school has several clubs that cater to specific learning requirements. Out of these, debate clubs foster a very stimulating environment with children being exposed to spontaneous activities where they have to speak and counterbalance against an opponent. Debates are viewed as a perfect opportunity for kids to improve their communication skills and listening skills. It requires a lot of teamwork and presenting one's opinion, even if it's clashing with the other person. All of this is done while maintaining a formal decorum.

It also makes the child more confident about their opinions and amplifies their ability to express their thoughts more precisely. Also, the hybrid environment created in a debate setting offers a great learning experience to the child. Listening to others’ perspectives and logic, a child can view a certain situation or happening from a more nuanced perspective.

Benefits of Debates Clubs for Critical Thinking & Communication

• Develops Problem-Solving Skills

Debate is an activity where one has to constantly look for new analogies and explanations to counter their opponent's point. It's an intellectual argument where you have to postulate your point and not just say anything that doesn't have a logical backup. This develops problem-solving skills among the kids, and they can join two different dots together to make a meaningful explanation.

• Increased Awareness

Debate requires the child to be constantly present in the moment to be able to actively hear what the other person is saying and process it. Without continuous presence of mind, the kid wouldn't be able to provide a counter to the other person's point. Hence it increases a child's attention span, and they can think more critically when they're present in the moment.

• Boosts Confidence

With time, you will see that your child is getting better at debating and expressing their opinion more articulately. This will enhance their confidence and motivation level. Another important thing to learn from debating is that the child understands the importance of proper research and study. This develops a habit of pre-preparation that helps them in other spheres of life as well.

• Makes The Child More Dynamic

Debate is a very spontaneous and dynamic activity that requires the child to upgrade their knowledge with every session. This encourages the child to read and research more about various topics. This assists in developing more critical thinking skills and enhancing one's knowledge about geopolitics and other world-related knowledge that they might generally not know.

• Command Over Language

Since debating requires continuous speaking, it helps the child become more confident with delivering long speeches and explanations. With continuous practice and consistency, one may see visible changes in their child's speaking skills and command over language. The intense reading and research also help in developing vocabulary.

• Learning From Others

Every child has a different way of presenting their thoughts and opinions. While all of these are unique and appreciable in their way, there is something to learn from everyone. Listening to so many debates and being part of one allows a child to not just know factual things but also learn new ways of debating and usage of language.

How To Encourage Your Child To Debate

If you're wondering how to encourage your child to debate and take part in such activities, here is how you can get started.

• Introduce Them To The Debate Club

The first step is to introduce your child to a proper debate club. While your child may have one at school, it is not necessary to only refer to that. You may also decide to enroll them in a different debate club outside of school where they have the needed professional help. Let them explore the activities done regularly before asking them to become a part of a debate competition.

• Support Their Research

In the early days of debate practice, your child may need your help with research and structuring a reasonable explanation for the counter opinions. In this case, you can also help them by providing books and resources that can speed up their process of researching by jotting down all the important points.

• Practice Debates at Home

To make your child better at debating, you can also practice a proper formal debating session with your kid at home. Just randomly choose a topic and give them some time to research. Then do a proper debating session and in the end, give your feedback to your kid.

• Don't Pressurize The Kid

Try not to put a lot of performance pressure on your child. Encourage them to participate in all these activities to learn new things and make friends. This way, they would like to attend the club regularly while also learning substantially.

Conclusion

Debating is a restorative activity that leads to the development of a lot of skills. Critical thinking and communication are the major outcomes of regular debating practice. Parents’ support and encouragement can help the child become a part of these clubs without the fear of embarrassment and thrive in life.