Using Mindfulness To Help Kids With Public Speaking Anxiety

Written by Kaushiki Gangully

Published: December 2, 2024

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Table of Contents

Introduction

Tips On Using Mindfulness To Help With Public Speaking Anxiety In Kids

Pick A Topic And Prepare Well
Start Small
Write Pointers
Lots And Lots Of Practice
Address Their Fears
Positive Visualization
Meditative Breathing
Addressing The Audience

Conclusion

Introduction

Mindfulness is the art of being present and enjoying every passing moment. It dispels anxieties and stress from the mind, by honing one’s focus and viewing the world through a kind and empathetic lens. Mindfulness is not a belief or made up, it is backed by science. Brain imaging has found changes in cerebral structures after only a few weeks of mindfulness and meditation.

Mindful thinking is also linked with the thickening of the prefrontal cortex, which helps children in decision-making and future planning. Mindfulness also helps improve positive thinking in kids and enhances clarity of thoughts and focus on them. And this is why it is an ideal solution for kids who suffer from public speaking anxiety.

It helps them gain confidence and stand up in front of a crowd to speak. But this confidence is not built in a day. Some are born with it while others work hard to develop it. If your child feels anxious at the thought of public speaking, then here is a quick guide to using mindfulness to address the issue.

Tips On Using Mindfulness To Help With Public Speaking Anxiety In Kids

Pick A Topic And Prepare Well

If your child is afraid of speaking in public, then ask them to start by picking a topic they feel comfortable in. It can be their first time or their fiftieth attempt, it does not matter. What matters is their desire to try and face fear. For example, if your child likes comics and superheroes, they can even begin by mindfully preparing and researching its origin and history before moving onto popular styles and adaptations.

Start Small

Children feel more mindful and confident in familiar and comfortable company, especially when they are about to try something new. If they wish to embark on public speaking, it is ideal to start with a small audience. For example, you can invite some fun relatives over for dinner and bring up the topic your child has prepared to let them shoot some points and steer the conversation from there. If they feel shy, you can pointedly ask questions about it to encourage them to speak. Make them feel supported, not embarrassed in front of people.

Write Pointers

Once your child gets serious and starts delving deep into researching and preparing mindfully, teach them how to write pointers. All they need to do is read and note down the difficult or important bits they may not remember. This creates a rich set of points and notes that your child can refer to before their public speaking stint.

Lots And Lots Of Practice

Kids need to be diligent and mindful during practice. And by practice, lots and lots of it is implied. Kids make mistakes in a new situation. So, try to familiarize them and make them mindful of their actions and worries. For example, help them practice enhancing their vocal range by speaking from the end of a field. Then such odd hurdles will not be faced before public speaking.

Address Their Fears

It is ideal to address your child’s fears through clear communication and mindful thinking. Talk out their worries and anxieties about performing on stage. Is it remembering their speech in front of others, making a mistake, or fumbling and sweating? Whatever their fear, ask them to vocalize the worst- and best-case scenarios. Now ask them to visualize a more realistic and desired path. By rationally addressing fears and improving them mindfully, your kids will gain more confidence to perform.

Positive Visualization

Help your kids visualize a positive outcome to the competition or public speaking event, while they are relaxing or meditating. Ask them to visualize it clearly and believe in it. Only if they believe in something will they start working towards it. Tell them that the future is possible only if they are ready to put in the hard work required to achieve it. This will sharpen your kid’s focus and make them mindful of their actions.

Meditative Breathing

Meditative breathing is the ultimate solution to having a mindful and calm mindset before performance. Ask your child to breathe deeply and focus on nothing but their goal, speaking well and confidently in front of people. As the oxygen supply to their brain increases, their parasympathetic nervous system gets activated and helps them relax before performance.

Addressing The Audience

Teach your kids that the audience is not out to judge them but just there for a good performance. Help them be mindful about their performance and ask them to either focus or address only one person in the audience to avoid being scared. Or else, they can avoid eye contact while looking at judges to not become nervous or anxious.

Conclusion

Mindfulness is a great way to deal with kids suffering from performance anxiety. It not only distracts them from the fear of being judged but also helps them focus on their moment on stage. Scary or thrilling, when your child is on stage, every eye and mind will be awaiting their words and thoughts. With diligent practice of mindfulness, your child will achieve and enjoy this realization in no time.