Empowering Public Speaking at Home: A Family Guide

It’s one of those skills we want our kids to have, but here’s the short & sweet version: Baby steps matter. Give your kids the intermediate steps along the way and you’ll reap the benefits. 

This isn’t one of those hidden skills kids may or may not need later on…public speaking is a critical skill that benefits children and teens for a lifetime. From your typical science fair presentations to job interviews and community leadership, the ability to speak confidently in front of others can open doors and foster success. For homeschooling families, this skill can be nurtured within the safe creative confines of your home, while beginning to expand to more varied social opportunities.

In this guide, we’ll explore practical tips, creative ideas, and free resources to help your kids grow as confident communicators, no matter their age or current comfort level.

Why Public Speaking Matters

The value of public speaking goes far beyond simply talking in front of a crowd. It develops skills that are vital for every stage of life:

• Confidence: Overcoming fears and learning to speak clearly builds self-assurance.
• Communication: Articulating thoughts effectively and persuasively is a cornerstone of success, not to mention effective writing.
• Critical Thinking: Organizing ideas and responding on the fly sharpens the mind.
• Leadership: Inspiring and motivating others stems from strong speaking skills.

Whether your child is outgoing or reserved, incorporating public speaking into everyday life packs their toolbox to thrive as they head out into varied life experiences.

Opportunities for Younger Learners

For younger children, public speaking can start with playful, low-pressure activities. Here are some ideas to get them comfortable with sharing their voice:

1. Storytelling Nights

Turn storytelling into a family event. Encourage your child to:

• Retell a favorite story or fairy tale.
• Create their own imaginative tale, using prompts like “What would happen if animals could talk?”
• Use puppets or stuffed animals to act out a story they read or one they made up.

These activities help build creativity, vocabulary, and confidence in front of an audience.

2. Show-and-Tell

Adapt the classic school activity for your homeschool setting. Let your child:

• Present a favorite toy, book, or piece of artwork.
• Share why it’s meaningful to them and answer questions from the family.

The interactive element of Q&A fosters quick thinking and conversational skills.

3. Mini Presentations

Give your child a chance to “teach” the family about something they love. Topics could include:

• Their favorite animal or hobby.
• A country they’d like to visit.
• A science experiment they’ve tried.
• A rather silly “would you rather” question that they sussed out.

I loved reading about a group of friends who would periodically have powerpoint parties where they would get together and share what they did for their jobs. It’s one of those moments where we get to shine sharing about something we do well… and public speaking is front and center!

Opportunities for Older Learners

For older kids and teens, public speaking opportunities can become more structured, preparing them for real-world scenarios.

1. Family Debates

Organize friendly debates on lighthearted topics like:

• “Is pineapple on pizza acceptable?”
• “Would you rather visit the mountains or the beach?”

Assign roles for opening arguments, rebuttals, and closing statements. This teaches reasoning, persuasion, and respectful discourse.

2. Dinner Table Discussions

Make mealtime a space for thoughtful conversation. Assign one person to lead a discussion on topics like:

• Current events or history facts.
• Hypothetical questions, such as, “If you could time travel, where would you go?”

These informal discussions build confidence in speaking and encourage critical thinking.

3. Video or Podcast Creation

Teens often enjoy creating content. Encourage them to:

• Record a how-to video.
• Start a podcast about their favorite hobby.
• Share book or movie reviews in vlog format.

We’ve chosen to integrate public speaking into our middle schooler’s history learning. She loves graphic design, as well, so this is really a 3 for 1 deal! At the end of each unit, she’ll get a week to create her slides in Canva, script her presentation, and then deliver it. We’ve given support and made it as low-stakes as possible at the start so that later on we can broaden the audience, use fewer notes, and add in additional gestures. 

Using the Free 30-Day Speaking Challenge

Looking for an easy, structured way to get started? Download our free 30-day public speaking challenge. Each day features a simple prompt to encourage practice, such as:

• “Pretend you’re giving a weather report.”
• “Teach your family how to do something you’re good at.”
• “Explain your favorite hobby to someone who’s never heard of it.”

This free 30-day challenge is designed for kids ages 8–18 and includes prompts for all skill levels. It’s a versatile resource that fits seamlessly into your family’s routine.

CurioSpeak: A Guided Approach to Public Speaking

For families seeking formal instruction, CurioSpeak classes provide expert guidance in small group settings. These classes focus on:

• Building confidence.
• Polishing delivery.
• Developing skills for specific scenarios, like presentations or debates.

While structured classes are not required, combining them with at-home activities creates a well-rounded approach to public speaking.

Other Free Opportunities to Practice Speaking at Home

There are countless ways to incorporate public speaking into everyday family life:

• Virtual Family Gatherings: Have your kids prepare and deliver a short speech during a Zoom or video call. It could be a joke, a story, or even a toast for a special occasion.
• Book Clubs: Create a family book club where everyone takes turns discussing what they’ve read.
• Community Engagement: Encourage older children to volunteer for announcements or presentations at local events, such as church services or neighborhood meetings.
• Scripted Plays or Skits: Let your kids write and perform short plays, complete with props and costumes.
• Improv Games: Play games like “Questions Only” or “Scenes from a Hat” to develop quick thinking and speaking skills.

Parent Next Steps

1. Model Confidence: Let your kids see you speaking confidently, even if it means embracing mistakes as learning opportunities.
2. Provide Constructive Feedback: Offer praise for their efforts and gently guide them on areas to improve.
3. Celebrate Effort: Highlight their progress and encourage them to keep trying.

As you go…

Helping your children develop public speaking skills doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. With fun activities, family-led opportunities, and resources like our free 30-day speaking challenge, you can nurture confident communicators at home.

No matter your child’s age or personality, the journey to becoming an effective speaker is something they can progress in!

What’s your family’s favorite way to practice public speaking at home? Share in the comments

Melissa Muir, MAT, is a homeschooling mom of four and a licensed language teacher in the Commonwealth of Virginia for K-12 Language Learning. With years of experience working with children of all ages and a deep commitment to making language learning accessible, engaging, and personalized, Melissa knows what it takes to inspire language learners. She and her husband run Curio, which seeks to make writing, language-learning, and homeschool easier for families through live classes, resources, and self-paced materials. She shares homeschool and teaching content on YouTube.