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How to write a speech for kids

 Create an engaging presentation for children 

By: Susan Dugdale | Last modified: 04-28-2021

Writing a speech for kids and then giving it is relatively straightforward. Truly! Once you've gained some experience you'll find it fun, as well as hugely rewarding.

You'll follow exactly the same steps as you would when preparing a speech for adults but with minor, yet crucial variations. 

You'll plan, make an outline, write up your notes, prepare cue cards if you need them, rehearse and finally, deliver your speech.

However because you are presenting to children you'll need to adapt some of the processes. Kids are a very different audience!

Use the on-page quick links below to follow my 3 part outline, and you'll be fine.

What's on this page

Part One: Background & audience research

Part Two: Techniques to gain & hold their attention

Part Three: Rehearsal

Whoops, that went down like the proverbial lead balloon:  Traps for the unwary

Part 1: Background & audience research

To get the answers, ask the person or people, who invited you to speak.

Ask also:

• How long you're expected to speak for. This is critical. A child's attention span is not the same as an adults, and there are big differences between a 6 year old and a 16 year old. Find out more: Normal attention span expectations by age
  
  
• What the purpose is behind inviting you to speak. Are you being asked to inform, to persuade, to entertain ...?
  
  
• If the group has members with special needs you should be aware of like children who are deaf, sight impaired or emotionally fragile

Once you've got that information you're ready to begin shaping your material.

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Part 2: How to gain & hold attention

Bear in mind the following as you plan:

• Keep the structure simple and clear: introduction, body of speech, conclusion.
  
  Kids, just like adults, appreciate knowing what is going on and knowing why they're being asked to listen.
  
  
• Use conversational language rather than formal. In your mind choose a child to give your speech to. This will help you keep it 'real'.
  
  
• Limit the number of main points you wish to make about your topic to one or two. 
  
  
• Keep the formal or structured part of your speech brief.
  
  
• Allow time for, and encourage questions.
  
  
• Relate the topic back to themselves, their experience, from the beginning. This gives them an anchor, a place they know and understand as a starting point for the journey you're about to take them on. 
  
  

Kids love to laugh

Vocabulary choices, questions & props

Vocabulary

• Use specific words rather than general ones. 'I love being outdoors' is less evocative than 'I love puddle jumping, building a bonfire at the beach...'
  
  
• Use inclusive words: 'we' and 'our' as well as personal ones: 'yours', 'you'
  
  
• Vary your sentence length and your word choice to keep it interesting to listen to. Children, like adults, appreciate variation.
  
  

Questions, instructions and involvement

Use interactive questions, and instructions, to ensure they're following you throughout your speech. For example: 'Have you got that? Nod your heads if you have.'

Or, 'Wave your hand like this (demonstrate) if you can see the picture I put on the board.'

Get them involved by asking for volunteers to help hand things around.

Play simple chorus answer and action games like, 'When I say, who has got a good thinking brain, you say ME and pat your head. Let's try it now. Ready? Who's got ...'

Or, 'When I get to a scary bit in the story you're going to go ooooooh,oooooh in a very frightened sort of way and make yourselves very small like this.' (Demonstrate.) 'Now, let's try it together...That's fantastic. I've never seen a better bunch of scared kids.' 

Props or visual aids

Where possible incorporate 'showing' as well as 'telling'. Take along things children can see and if at all possible, handle. This gives your speech another dimension. And don't be afraid to break out your silly wig, or a clown's nose ...

Check this page on using props well in speeches.

Once you have the basic outline of your speech planned you're ready for the next step.

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Part Three: Rehearsal

Now you're going to trial your work.

Rehearsal will help you identify what you've done well and where you need to fine tune.

If you can, practice in front of several children of the same age and background you're going to talk to.

If they're old enough to understand, ask them before you give the speech, if they can help you make it better and collect their feedback at the end.

If they're not old enough, look for cues like looking away, looking puzzled, talking through it, or wriggling. If it's too long and without relevance or connection to them they'll soon let you know.

Children don't have filters. They'll show and tell you like it is. They're not being deliberately rude. It's actually quite simple. They're not interested and haven't learned to pretend otherwise, yet. Don't make the mistake of taking their responses personally! 

Before you go on to finalize your speech incorporate your changes.

If you'd like pointers on how to rehearse you'll find them here:

• how to rehearse

Do try and give your speech without a word-for-word script. It might feel safer for you but for children, listening to you read is not as effective as you talking to, or interacting with them, directly.

Use cue cards if you can.  Rehearse until you know it fluently and the cue cards are merely a safety net should you need them.

And finally run through the checklist below.

These are the pitfalls I've either fallen into myself or watched others tumble down. Knowing will help you avoid them.

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Whoops - traps for the unwary

• assuming that because a child is a child and you're an adult you automatically know more than they do
  
  
• patronizing your audience through using either over-simplified or baby language
  
  
• talking over their heads by using either non-explained jargon or a vocabulary beyond their experience
  
  
• not rehearsing and then finding that your speech doesn't flow logically. Or it's too long.  Or that it doesn't have enough relevance so the kids are bored. Or the props you brought don't work as you wished. They're too small to be seen from the stage. And the stories you planned fall flat.
  
  
• introducing inappropriate subject matter for the group or an individual in the group. Always check.
  
  
• trying to fit too much information into the time allotted.
  
  
• inadvertently making fun of a child's comments and concerns therefore shaming them in front of their peers.
  
  
• exploiting their trust and naivety by presenting material persuasively that is ultimately of no benefit to them and at worst destructive.
  
  
• getting flustered by bit of very ordinary spontaneous child behavior (talking while you are talking, wriggling ...) and not knowing how to handle it and move on with ease
  
  
• not having established the rules of engagement at the beginning for asking questions, handling props, or any activity involving interaction ...
  
  

There is a common sense remedy for all of them. Trial your speech in rehearsal! And if it helps get a trusted and experienced colleague in to give you feedback!

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