Helping children to speak up in class
Children who are shy or reluctant to speak up in class can often miss out on crucial learning, either by being unable to express their knowledge gaps or clarify their ideas with others. This is why helping your child find their voice in class can be empowering and can contribute to their overall success and confidence. Here are some ways to help your child.
There are many reasons why kids don't speak up in class. Speaking out in front of a crowd can be daunting for the best of us. Some children are introverts, others are shouted down by louder voices, some are shy, many don't want to be wrong, and others simply hate the attention.
It's a lot to handle when you're a kid, so if teachers always tell you that your child needs to speak up more and get involved, here's how to help them without making them feel extra pressure to perform.
Build their confidence
Build your child's confidence by acknowledging their ideas and opinions. Let them know that their voice matters and that it's okay to express themselves even if they are unsure. When your child shares their ideas or opinions, give them your full attention. Maintain eye contact and show genuine interest in what they have to say. Avoid interrupting or dismissing their thoughts, and ask siblings to do the same. As hard as it is, avoid dismissing their ideas, imposing your opinions on them, or telling them how to speak up.
Get to the root of the issue
Talk to them about what they find challenging about speaking up. Is it an anxiety issue or fear, or are they afraid of sharing an opinion? Perhaps they have had a bad experience, genuinely dislike raising their hand, or have a fear of being wrong. If so, help your child practice public speaking skills at home. This can include activities like reading aloud, giving presentations to you, or even just having conversations where they share their thoughts and ideas.
Help them to understand why they need to speak up
Aside from showing a teacher that they understand the lesson, asking and answering questions is a good way for them to fine-tune and widen their arguments. Students can then take what they learned from spoken debate and use it in exams and even homework essays. What can help here is to show your child some exam past papers. Look for questions that have 4 to 8 points and show them that they need to be able to elaborate on their knowledge and move beyond a simple answer.
Set goals
In terms of managing anxiety and fear, work with your child to set realistic goals for class participation. Start with small, achievable goals, such as answering one question a week, and gradually increase this goal as your child becomes more comfortable speaking up in class. Also, speak to subject teachers with expert knowledge on how to get children to speak up without calling on them to answer in every lesson. With timid and introverted children, you could ask if they could start working with a peer; it is easier to share opinions one-on-one than in front of a whole class.
Build confidence through practice
Preparing your child beforehand can help them feel more confident speaking up in class. Choose a subject that they like and practice what they want to say. Review relevant material together and encourage them to anticipate questions and handle those with a different opinion.