good speech topics for 11 13 year olds

101 Incredible Speech Topics for Kids

16 February 2023

Are you looking for some incredible speech topics for kids?

Well, you’ve come to the right place!

In this blog post, we’ll give you 101 amazing ideas for speech topics that will have your young public speaker feeling confident and excited to take the stage for their next presentation. From discussing their favourite sports team to sharing a personal story, there will surely be a topic on this list that resonates with every child.

So without further ado, let’s get started!

Looking for some fun debating topics? Check out our blog on debate topics here !

What makes a good public speaking topic?

Finding good speech topics, especially as a kid, can be an intimidating task.

As children, our interests tend to change, and it may be difficult to find speech topics that we can expand upon and still engage the audience.

It is important to remember that kids should aim to give presentations on any topic they are passionate about. Ideally, when looking for successful kids’ speech topics, school students should pick a particular topic:

• they know well, as this will help them give a good speech without too much extra research;
• that has enough content, which will help with speech length; and
• is interesting and relevant to the audience they’ll be presenting to.

Taking some time to consider all of these factors will go far in making sure kids create informative, valuable presentations that make their parents proud!

The three different kinds of speeches

Whether your child is a budding public speaker or simply looking to bolster their confidence in front of an audience, it’s important to be aware of the three main types of speeches they can give: Informative, Entertaining, and Persuasive speeches.

• An informative speech teaches people something as they explain a process, inform about a topic, or share information with an audience.
• An entertaining speech is more light-hearted and focuses on entertaining an audience with a story, joke, or anecdote.
• A persuasive speech aims to convince an audience of a particular viewpoint. In these types of speeches, it’s important for the speaker to have strong topic knowledge as well as supporting evidence to back up their argument.

By understanding these three speech styles, young public speakers can choose the speaking style that makes them feel the most comfortable and excited about the task of public speaking.

We have provided a range of topics that fit into each of these three speech types and therefore will be perfect for any young public speaker, regardless of their personal preference!

Remember: you can always put a spin on any speech topic to make it more informative, persuasive, or entertaining. Feel free to challenge yourself by turning one of our persuasive speech topics into a comedic presentation or taking an entertaining topic and using it to build a persuasive speech – there is usually no need to restrict yourself to one particular style of expression!

Informative Speech Topics

At our public speaking courses for kids, we know how important it is to find the perfect informative speech topic. We want your young public speakers to explore ideas and topics that resonate with their interests and spark their passion for presenting!

From urban bees to sports nutrition, science experiments to art history, the possibilities are endless!

Our list of kid-friendly speech topics provides a great starting point for creating an informative, engaging presentation. Whether they choose a familiar subject or something new and exciting, our goal is to support student excellence in every way possible.

Check out these informative speech ideas:

• Exploring the Benefits of Outdoor Play
• The History of Video Games
• How to Become an Eco-Friendly Consumer
• The Positive Impact of Music Education
• What Makes a Great Leader?
• The Science Behind Climate Change
• Benefits of a Plant-Based Diet
• Understanding the International Space Station
• Discovering Ancient Civilizations
• Exploring Different Cultures Through Dance and Music
• Effects of Social Media on Mental Health
• The Art and Science of Computer Programming
• Every Day Victories
• The Harms of Violent Video Games
• Types of Alternative Energy Sources
• Exploring Different Types of Art
• The Benefits of a Good Night’s Sleep
• Ancient Mythology and Folklore
• The Science Behind the Human Brain
• Famous Scientists in History
• The Most Delicious Meal of All Time
• Recycling and Waste Management Solutions
• Global Warming vs Climate Change
• Robotics: Past, Present, and Future
• Understanding the Solar System
• The Biggest Social Issues of our Times
• The Secret Life of…
• Investigating Animal Habitats in Nature
• Why E-Books are the Future
• Exploring the Wonders of Chemistry

Entertaining Speech Topics

Figuring out entertaining topics for public speaking can be a challenge, especially when the speaker is young.

However, the right topic can be the key to making a great impression on your audience.

Whether you are interested in discussing robotics or telling stories of your own life experiences, there is bound to be an entertaining speech topic suitable for everyone!

Our rich variety of topics ensures that young public speakers have plenty of choices when it comes to finding what will make for a captivating performance.

Check out these 30 fun topic ideas that can humour, shock, or entertain the audience:

• Proof that We Live in a Computer Game
• The Best Jokes for Kids
• My Imaginary Friend
• My Crazy Summer Vacation
• How I Got In Trouble With My Parents
• Weird Foods Around the World
• Fun Facts About Dinosaurs
• Frighteningly Funny Ghost Stories
• If I Were a Cartoon Character…
• Embarrassing Moments We’d Rather Forget!
• Epic Pranks I’ve Pulled off So Far
• Interesting Reasons Why We Laugh
• Life Through a Dog’s Eyes
• My Favourite Outdoor Activity
• If I had One Superpower…
• Superheroes and Their Amazing Powers
• The Best Thing About Dragons
• Why Too Much TV is a Good Thing
• Funny Things I’ve Heard on the Bus
• Unusual Hobbies Around the World
• Weird Etiquette Rules That Don’t Make Any Sense
• How to Make Your Own Board Game
• Mysteries of the Deep Sea
• Exploring Outer Space: Astronomy for Kids
• Fantastic Fables from Other Countries
• Bizarre Traditions From Around the World
• The Art of Storytelling: Creative Writing Ideas
• Fun Facts About Animals
• Learning with Lego: Building a Better Future
• The Power of Imagination: Mindful Meditation Techniques

Persuasive Speech Topics

Writing a persuasive speech can be intimidating for kids, but it doesn’t have to be.

Not sure where to start? No problem! We have plenty of kid-friendly persuasive speech topics to get students’ creative juices flowing.

From discussing the importance of friendship and relationship building to spurring environmental awareness, we have the perfect persuasive speech topics for any young public speaker.

Become confident and display your power of persuasion with our helpful advice and engaging list of topics.

Have a look at these 30 persuasive speech topics that can help kids call others to action:

• The Benefits of Social Media
• How to Become a Responsible Citizen
• The Value of Having Good Manners
• Taking Care of the Environment: Reducing Pollution and Waste
• The One Thing I Know About Eating Healthy Foods
• Exercise for Kids: Why It Is Important
• The Impact of Technology on Education
• Building Better Communities Through Community Service
• Developing Self-Discipline for Success in Life
• Argumentative Strategies That Can Be Used In Everyday Life
• The Power of Positive Thinking
• Creating Lasting Memories with Family Time
• Exploring Different Cultures with Travel and Adventure
• The Importance of Teamwork and Collaboration
• My Favourite Restaurant
• Why I Learned a Second Language (and You Should Too)
• Exploring Causes for Climate Change and Possible Solutions
• Learning the Benefits of Reading for Pleasure
• Making Wise Choices When Shopping Responsibly
• Understanding Cyberbullying and Taking Action Against It
• Finding Success in Failure: Reframing the Mindset
• Learning About Money Management through Financial Literacy Programs
• Practising Compassion, Kindness, and Respect For Others
• Building Self-Confidence Through Leadership Activities
• Using Creativity to Solve Everyday Problems
• Exploring Ways to Balance School and Extracurricular Activities
• Making Healthy Choices Through Positive Leadership
• The Wisdom of Being a Young Person
• Promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Schools
• Learning How To Analyze Fake News with Critical Thinking Skills

Classic Speech Topics for Kids

Not sure if you want to do an informative, persuasive, or entertaining speech?

Are you looking for classic topics that have been done time and time again but are popular topics for a reason?

Look no further than these classic speech topics:

• My Favorite Book
• What I Learned From My Pet
• How to Have Fun Without Technology
• The Place That Inspires Me the Most
• The Power of Music
• What It Means To Be A Good Friend
• My Best Day Ever
• If I had Three Wishes…
• Living a Simple But Fulfilling Life
• Celebrating Diversity in Our Community
• My Hero: The Person Who Inspires Me the Most

Impromptu and Abstract Speaking Topics

Whilst approaching impromptu and abstract speech topics can be daunting, there actually isn’t much difference between them and normal speech topics.

Impromptu speech topics are usually more generic, providing students with the opportunity to reflect on their own lived experiences and share that with their audience. Rather than spending time finding the perfect content to fit impromptu speech topics, the better approach is generally to bend the topic to something that you’re familiar with and comfortable speaking about, whether it be knitting being the best part of your day or a conversation you had with a friend about time travel.

Being prepared will give your child the confidence necessary to make their presentation successful – so if you’re not sure what speech topic you’re likely to get, make sure to think up plenty of anecdotes before the presentation!

Picking the perfect speech topics for kids

Now that you have a fantastic speech idea, it’s time to get writing!

Let our resources help guide you through the speech crafting process (we’ve got plenty of blogs and videos to help) and give your child the opportunity to shine on the stage. Don’t forget to practice your speaking manner either, including your tone of voice and body language!

Moreover, our in-person and online courses provide step-by-step instruction and guidance throughout each program so kids learn exactly how real-world speaking works – all tailored specifically for your own future speaker.

You can also visit our YouTube Channel for advice to guide you through the entire speech writing process, as well as expert tips for practising your performance!

So don’t wait – take advantage today and get ready to stand out from the crowd with an amazing speech!

100 Persuasive Speech Topics for Kids

Michele is a writer who has been published both locally and internationally.

Learn about our Editorial Policy .

Kids' persuasive speech topics cover everything from current events to age old childhood milestones. If you've been assigned a persuasive writing speech, look for a topic you know a lot about and really stand behind.

Easy Persuasive Speech Topics for Beginners

Students in grades two and up who are just starting to learn about the different types of essays and writing can select easy topics about things they are very familiar with. These persuasive writing prompts work great for short speeches.

• Tips for a Winning Student Council Speech for Treasurer
• Stress-Free Tips on How to Ask a Girl to Be Your Girlfriend
• 23 Simple Ways to Make a Girl Fall in Love With You

Fun and Interesting Topics

• Kids should start every morning with yoga.
• Cereal is not a healthy breakfast.
• Showering every day isn't important.
• Kids' clothing should always be designed by kids.
• Being a YouTube star is a real job.
• Boredom is good for kids.
• Borrowing books from the library is better than buying them from a store.
• Hamsters are the best first pet for kids.
• Every person is completely unique.
• My town is the best place for families with young children to live.
• Being an only child is better than having siblings.
• Kids should have TVs in their bedrooms.
• Jeans are the most uncomfortable article of clothing.

Educational Topics

• Cursive writing shouldn't be taught in schools.
• Lunch periods should be longer for younger kids and shorter for older kids.
• Kids shouldn't be allowed to bring homemade treats to share at school.
• Homework should be optional for kids.
• Schools should mandate that all kids learn about all holidays celebrated around the world.
• All schools should have outdoor classrooms available.
• All foods should be grown or raised by small farmers.
• Playing video games is a good hobby for kids.
• Gardening is an easy way to eat healthier.
• Reading is more important than math.
• Kids should get to choose what classes they take in elementary school.

Global Topics

• People's differences make the world a more interesting place.
• Kids under age 13 shouldn't be allowed to have jobs anywhere in the world.
• The world is round.
• Dinosaurs really did exist and go extinct.
• People should only be allowed to eat food that grows or lives in their country.
• International pen pals are good for kids.
• Learning a second language is helpful for everyone.
• There should be one form of money that every country uses.
• Every country should have its own kind of schools.
• Governments should offer free travel to other countries for educational purposes.

Intermediate Persuasive Speech Topics for Children

Kids in upper elementary grades who have some practice in writing persuasive speeches can choose topics that might be a little more controversial. These unique speech topics leave room for longer arguments and feature more interesting subjects.

• Kids should have cell phones.
• Kids, not adults, should decide how much screen time to have each day.
• Every town should be required to have a playground.
• Waffle cones are better than regular ice cream cones.
• Dogs are better companions than cats.
• Wearing pajamas in public is inappropriate.
• Short hair is for boys and long hair is for girls.
• Kids should have fewer toys and more cardboard boxes to play with.
• Girls like to play with action figures.
• Pokemon are cooler than Yo Kai.
• Mosquitos are the most annoying of all bugs.
• Zoos are unsafe for young children.
• Kids under age 13 should be banned from having social media accounts.
• Classrooms shouldn't have traditional desks.
• School lunches should include some junk food options.
• Every school should have child representatives on their hiring committee.
• Naps are important for kids of all ages, not just babies and toddlers.
• The government should stop making paper money and only use coins.
• Robots make life easier for humans.
• Children's books should be written by children.
• Field trips and real-world experiences are more useful than classroom lectures.
• Columbus discovered America.
• Kids should be allowed to skip high school and go to college early if they want.
• Dancing in public should be outlawed.
• Voice recognition locks are safer than fingerprint recognition locks.
• People should only eat foods they grow or catch.
• All people in the world should speak English.
• All countries should have the same rules about weapons.
• Every child should spend a year living in another country with their family.
• Men and women should have the same rights no matter what country they live in.
• Adults should encourage child participation in strikes and marches for important causes.
• The current U.S. President represents the country well.
• Global competition is good for everyone.

Advanced Persuasive Speech Topics for Kids

Upper elementary and lower middle grade students with lots of speech writing experience can pick more complex topics that elicit bigger emotional reactions.

• TV shows and movies for kids should have stronger content guidelines.
• Real life heroes like police officers and firefighters would be more approachable if they dressed like Power Rangers and other super heroes.
• Virtual reality games are better than 3D games.
• Parents of bullies should be punished for their child's actions.
• "Crap" and "Heck" are bad words.
• Riding a bike is not that easy.
• Funny cat videos are funnier than funny baby videos.
• There's no such thing as too many stuffed animals.
• Goats say "maa," not "baa."
• Kids sports are safe.
• Holidays shouldn't be celebrated in schools.
• Kids should rate their teachers at the start and end of every school year.
• Recess and classroom physical activity breaks help kids focus in school.
• School buses should have a driver and at least two aides.
• Classes should be grouped by ability levels rather than ages.
• Technology makes people's lives better.
• Middle school is still elementary school.
• Schools should mandate classes where kids teach each other.
• No one, teachers or students, should be allowed to bring cell phones into the school.
• Kids should be allowed to take off their shoes in their classroom.
• Students should not have to ask permission to take drinks and bathroom breaks.
• Global warming isn't real.
• Every country can have its own guidelines for who is allowed to leave or enter.
• Kids can help combat climate change.
• Astronauts will find life on other planets.
• Daylight Savings Time should be eliminated.
• Aquariums and zoos help with wildlife conservation.
• People should be allowed to clone animals.
• Sugar should be outlawed.
• McDonald's is better than Burger King.
• Tribal cultures should be preserved.
• Companies should not be allowed to build their products in other countries.
• People should call countries by their native name, not a translated name.

More Speech Topics for Kids

Speech topic examples and ideas from other types of speeches can be adapted to persuasive writing with a few minor wording changes.

• Get students started with motivational speech topics for kids that are uplifting and less controversial.
• Beginning writers can select simple kids speech topics for their first persuasive essays.
• Some of the most interesting speech topics for kids include subjects they haven't encountered in real life.
• Use examples of funny speeches for kids to show how students can inject humor into any kind of speech.

State Your Case

Most people agree that writing in elementary school is important because it gives kids a way to express their thoughts and feelings in a way others can understand. Persuasive writing is all about stating your case, or point, and all the facts that support this opinion. Choose a topic you believe in or are passionate about to create the best persuasive speech.

100 Persuasive Speech Topics for Students

• Homework Tips
• Learning Styles & Skills
• Study Methods
• Time Management
• Private School
• College Admissions
• College Life
• Graduate School
• Business School
• Distance Learning
• M.Ed., Education Administration, University of Georgia
• B.A., History, Armstrong State University

If you are planning a persuasive speech, you should think about a topic that can engage your audience. For this reason, you may want to consider a few topics before settling on the one that allows you to be more descriptive and entertaining.

Another important factor when picking a persuasive speech topic is to choose one that can provoke your audience. If you stir up a little emotion in your audience members, you'll keep their attention.

The list below is provided to help you brainstorm. Choose a topic from this list, or use it to generate an idea of your own. It could even be an idea that opposes the proposed example. For instance, instead of arguing American workers should be guaranteed a three-day weekend by law, you could argue why this shouldn't be the case.

How to Pick a Good Persuasive Speech Topic

Persuasive speeches are generally meant to convince an audience to agree with an idea you present. The topics can range from political to scientific or societal, and professional to personal—or even fun. They can be almost anything.

Just remember, a persuasive speech is different than a persuasive essay because you are presenting to an audience. So as you decide on a topic, think about your audience and decide on a subject matter that will be appropriate, compelling, and engaging to discuss. Perhaps it's a timely issue attracting a lot of news coverage, or maybe you want to be motivational and encourage a healthy activity. Whatever it is, structure your argument with a hook to capture attention , a clear definition of the topic or issue, and finally, your proposed solution or opinion.

100 Examples of Persuasive Speech Topics

• Studying martial arts is good for mind and health.
• Competitive sports can teach us about life.
• Reality shows are exploiting people.
• Community service should be a graduation requirement for all high school students.
• The characteristics that make a person a hero.
• It's important to grow things in a garden.
• Violent video games are dangerous.
• Lyrics in a song can impact our lives.
• Traveling and studying abroad are positive experiences.
• Journal writing is therapeutic.
• You should spend time with your grandparents.
• A laptop is better than a tablet.
• Religion and science can go hand in hand.
• School uniforms are good.
• All-female colleges and all-male colleges are bad.
• Multiple-choice tests are better than essay tests .
• We should not spend money on space exploration.
• Open-book tests are as effective as closed-book tests.
• Security cameras keep us safer.
• Parents should have access to students' grades.
• Small classes are better than big classes.
• You need to start saving for retirement now.
• Credit cards are harmful to college students.
• We should have a royal family.
• We should protect endangered animals.
• Texting while driving is dangerous.
• You can write a novel.
• Recycling should be required in the U.S.
• State colleges are better than private colleges.
• Private colleges are better than state colleges.
• We should do away with penny coins.
• Fast food containers hurt the environment.
• Plastic straws are harmful to the environment.
• You can eat and enjoy healthy snacks.
• You can become a millionaire.
• Dogs are better pets than cats.
• You should own a bird.
• It's unethical to keep birds in cages.
• Liberal arts degrees prepare graduates to be better workers than other degrees.
• Hunting animals should be banned.
• Football is a dangerous sport.
• School days should start later.
• Night school is better than day school.
• Technical training is better than a college degree.
• Immigration laws should be more lenient.
• Students should be able to choose their schools.
• Everyone should learn to play a musical instrument.
• Grass lawns should be prohibited.
• Sharks should be protected.
• We should do away with cars and go back to horse and carriage for transportation.
• We should use more wind power.
• We should pay more taxes.
• We should do away with taxes.
• Teachers should be tested like students.
• We should not interfere in the affairs of other countries.
• Every student should join a club.
• Homeschooling is better than traditional schooling.
• People should stay married for life.
• Smoking in public should be illegal.
• College students should live on campus .
• Parents should let students fail.
• Giving to charity is good.
• Education makes us happier people.
• T​he ​ death penalty should be outlawed.
• Bigfoot is real.
• We should increase train travel to save the environment.
• We should read more classic books.
• Fame is bad for young children.
• Athletes should stay loyal to teams.
• We should reform our prisons.
• Juvenile offenders should not go to boot camps.
• Abraham Lincoln was the best president.
• Abraham Lincoln gets too much credit.
• Students should be allowed to have cell phones in elementary, middle, and high school.
• College student-athletes should be paid for playing.
• Elderly citizens on fixed income should receive free public transportation.
• Colleges and universities should be free to attend.
• All American citizens should complete one year of community service.
• Students should be required to take Spanish language classes.
• Every student should be required to learn at least one foreign language .
• Marijuana should be legal for recreational use nationwide.
• Commercial testing of products on animals should no longer be allowed.
• High school students should be required to participate in at least one team sport.
• The minimum drinking age in the U.S. should be 25.
• Replacing fossil fuels with cheaper alternative energy options should be mandated.
• Churches need to contribute their share of taxes.
• The Cuba embargo should be maintained by the U.S.
• America should replace income taxes with a nationwide flat tax.
• Once they reach the age of 18, all U.S. citizens should be automatically registered to vote .
• Doctor-assisted suicide should be legal.
• Spammers—people who bombard the internet with unsolicited email—should be banned from sending junk mail.
• Every automobile driver should be required to take a new driver's test every three years.
• Electroshock treatment is not a humane form of therapy.
• Global warming is not real.
• Single-parent adoption should be encouraged and promoted.
• Gun companies should be held accountable for gun crimes.
• Human cloning is not moral.
• Religion does not belong in public education.
• Juveniles should not be tried as adults.
• American workers should be guaranteed a three-day weekend by law.
• 100 Persuasive Essay Topics
• 62 Middle School Debate Topics
• 50 Argumentative Essay Topics
• 61 General Expository Essay Topic to Practice Academic Writing
• 50 Great Topics for a Process Analysis Essay
• Speech Topics to Meet Oral Communication Standards
• Choosing the Perfect College
• Topic of Your Choice: Common Application Essay Tips
• 49 Opinion Writing Prompts for Students
• 40 Writing Topics for Argumentative and Persuasive Essays
• Understanding a Typical Course of Study for 8th Grade
• What Are Core Academic Classes?
• SAT Sections, Sample Questions and Strategies
• What Is a Blue Book?
• How to Write and Structure a Persuasive Speech
• Second Grade Writing Prompts

Speech Blubs

by Blub Blub

Browse topics

All blog posts 405

Popular topics

100+ fun activities for kids that will keep them entertained for hours! Target speech development through play and games. They won’t even know they are learning!

Learn about your baby and toddler developmental milestones! Check if you are on track, when to worry, and how to work on skills like language, potty training, and feeding!

Every child is different! Here are speech and language tips and tools for kids with learning differences, alongside information for parents provided by speech therapists.

Parenting starts with your well-being! Here is some advice on how to teach life skills, work from home, distance learning, along with tips for developing parenting coping skills.

We help kids speak no matter their speech challenges! Speech therapists advise parents about late talkers, speech delay, stuttering, apraxia, articulation, and other speech impediments.

From your first worry to your first appointment, and your last speech therapy session – find the information you need to help your child thrive and gain necessary speech skills.

Parent's Academy › Activities for Kids › Preschool Activities › Public Speaking for Kids: 30 Topic Ideas for 30 Days

Public Speaking for Kids: 30 Topic Ideas for 30 Days

Samidha raj.

Writer , Jersey City , New Jersey

A great public speaker, whether a young child or a seasoned professional, is someone who reflects charisma and confidence to captivate their audience. It’s okay to feel nervous or to have fear of public speaking. Great public speakers often get nervous, but this nervous energy keeps their adrenaline flowing. 

However, what is not okay is sounding and looking nervous when speaking in public. This makes the audience feel disconnected from the speaker.  Public speaking training for kids  seems like a daunting task, but it’s really a matter of practice.

Help your children to project magnetism and self-assuredness when they speak with these 30 inspiring speech topics for 30 days. Your kids can practice public speaking by taking one topic every day for the next 30 days. This will help them fire their imaginations to be confident public speakers. Here are some topic ideas for public speaking for children, but feel free to invent your own! Choose a topic today!

Boost Your Child’s Speech Development!

Improve language & communication skills with fun learning!

Public Speaking for Kids: Ideas for Topics

Here are the 30 topic ideas for 30 days of the month:

• The best part about living on Earth 
• Let me tell you about my imaginary friend
• If you were to write a book for your kids your age to read, what it would be about?
• My favorite cartoon character
• My favorite time of the day or week
• The most delicious meal I’ve ever had
• If I could talk to animals
• If I could change one thing about the world, it would be
• My favorite game
• If I had a million dollars, what would I do?
• My dream job
• The funniest movie I have ever seen 
• My typical day at school
• What sports do you like? Why?
• Interesting things you see in the sky
• The best day of my life
• My best friend
• A much-needed invention
• What planet would you visit and why?
• If you could have one superpower, what it would be?
• What’s your favorite outdoor activity?
• Tell us why too much TV is bad for your health 
• If you could make one toy, what would it be?
• What is your favorite thing to do with your family?
• If you were the President for the day, what would you do?
• If you could be any animal, what animal would you be?
• What is your favorite subject in school, and why?
• What is your least favorite food?
• What’s the first thing you think of when you wake up?
• What is your favorite kind of music, and why?

Speaking on the above topic ideas will instill the power of confidence in your kids. When your child is charged with a healthy dose of self-assurance, nothing can get in the way of their success. So, take this 30-day, 30-topic challenge and  boost your child’s confidence  in becoming a great public speaker. You will see a decided improvement in your child’s eye contact, body language, and presentation skills.

Free Assessment!

Take this quiz and get a report on your child’s milestones and a personalized learning plan.

Have a question for our Speech Therapists?

The author’s views are entirely his or her own and may not necessarily reflect the views of Blub Blub Inc. All content provided on this website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgement, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

Related articles

Kids games that teach hygiene.

I have a toddler (3-years-old) and we started around the age of 2 to show her the basics of hygiene: the good handwashing habits and…

Developing Language Understanding at Home

Now, your little ones might not be at school or nursery, or your local speech therapy might not be available, but this doesn’t mean your…

Get started with Speech Blubs

Cancel anytime, hassle-free!

• Grades 6-12
• School Leaders

Easy classroom set up with our FREE email course!

101 Interesting Persuasive Essay Topics for Kids and Teens

Use your words to sway the reader.

Persuasive writing is one of those skills that can help students succeed in real life.  Persuasive essays are similar to argumentative , but they rely less on facts and more on emotion to sway the reader. It’s important to know your audience so you can anticipate any counterarguments they might make and try to overcome them. Try reading some mentor texts to show kids great examples of opinion writing. Then use these persuasive essay topics for practice.

School and Education Persuasive Essay Topics

Life and ethics persuasive essay topics, science and technology persuasive essay topics, sports and entertainment persuasive essay topics, just for fun persuasive essay topics.

• Do you think homework should be required, optional, or not given at all?

• Students should/should not be able to use their phones during the school day.
• Should schools have dress codes?
• If I could change one school rule, it would be …
• Is year-round school a good idea?
• Should we stop giving final exams?
• Is it better to be good at academics or good at sports?

• Which is better, private schools or public schools?
• Should every student have to participate in athletics?
• Do you think schools should ban junk food from their cafeterias?
• Should students be required to volunteer in their communities?
• What is the most important school subject?
• Are letter grades helpful, or should we replace them with something else?

• Is it ever OK to cheat on homework or a test?
• Should students get to grade their teachers?
• Do you think college should be free for anyone who wants to attend?
• Should schools be allowed to ban some books from their libraries?
• Which is better, book smarts or street smarts?

• Should all students have to learn a foreign language?
• Are single-gender schools better or worse for students?
• Is it OK to eat animals?
• What animal makes the best pet?
• Visit an animal shelter, choose an animal that needs a home, and write an essay persuading someone to adopt that animal.
• If you find money on the ground, should you try to find the person who lost it, or is it yours to keep?

• Who faces more peer pressure, girls or boys?
• Should all Americans be required to vote?
• Is it better to be kind or truthful?
• Which is better, giving or receiving?
• Is it OK to keep animals in zoos?
• Should we change the minimum driving age in the United States?

• Which is more important, happiness or success?
• Is democracy the best form of government?
• Is social media helpful or harmful?
• Should parents be punished for their children’s mistakes or crimes?
• Should kids have set bedtimes or just go to bed when they’re sleepy?
• Do you think the government should find a way to provide free health care for everyone?

• Is it better to save your allowance or spend it?
• Should we ban plastic bags and bottles?
• Which is better, living in the city or in the country?
• If I could make a new law, it would be …
• Is Pluto a planet?
• Should human cloning be legal?
• Should vaccines be mandatory?
• Is it right for countries to still maintain nuclear weapon arsenals?

• Should testing on animals be made illegal?
• Will expanded use of artificial intelligence be good for humanity?
• Should all people have free Internet access in their homes?
• Is there intelligent life on other planets?
• Does technology create more jobs than it eliminates?
• Should parents use their children’s cell phones to track where they are?
• Should scientists try to develop a way for people to live forever?

• What’s the best type of smartphone: Android or iPhone?
• Which is better, Macs or PCs?
• Do people rely too much on technology in the modern world?
• Should cryptocurrencies replace cash?
• Should there be a minimum age requirement to own a smartphone?
• Is it important to keep spending money on space exploration, or should we use the money for other things?

• Should kids under 13 be allowed to use social media sites?
• Should we ban cigarette smoking and vaping entirely?
• Is it better to be an animal that lives in the water or on land?
• Should kids be allowed to watch TV on school nights?
• Which is better, paper books or e-books?
• Is the current movie rating system (G, PG, PG-13, etc.) effective?
• Are video games better than board games?
• Should we allow little kids to play competitive sports?

• Which is better, reading books or watching TV?
• Does playing violent video games make people more violent in real life?
• Are graphic novels just as valuable as traditional fictional books?
• Should everyone play on the same sports teams, regardless of gender?
• Choose a book that’s been made into a movie. Which was better, the movie or the book?

• Who is the world’s best athlete, present or past?
• Are professional athletes/musicians/actors overpaid?
• Which is better, fiction or nonfiction?
• The best music genre is …
• What is one book that everyone should read?
• What new sport should be added to the Olympics?

• What’s the best video game system?
• Does playing video games make you smarter?
• Does reality TV actually depict real life?
• Should all neighborhoods have free parks and playgrounds?
• What’s the best holiday?
• The very best food of all time is …
• Which is better, artificial Christmas trees or real ones?

• What’s the best season of the year?
• Should you put ketchup on a hot dog?
• Is a taco a sandwich?
• Does fruit count as dessert?
• Should people have to go to school or work on their birthday?
• Are clowns scary or funny?
• Which is more dangerous, werewolves or vampires?

• The best pizza topping is …
• What would be the best superpower to have?
• Should everyone make their bed every day?
• Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
• Should you put pineapple on a pizza?
• Should you eat macaroni and cheese with a spoon or a fork?

• Describe the world’s best ice cream sundae.
• Is Monday the worst day of the week?
• Would you rather travel back in time or forward in time?
• Is it better to be too hot or too cold?
• Are there aliens living among us here on Earth?

What are your favorite persuasive essay topics for students? Come exchange ideas in the We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook .

Plus, check out the big list of essay topics for high school (120+ ideas) ..

You Might Also Like

The Big List of Essay Topics for High School (120+ Ideas!)

Ideas to inspire every young writer! Continue Reading

Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved. 5335 Gate Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32256

Public Speaking for Kids: 27 Practical Tips

• Filed under: Featured articles , Presentation anxiety , Public speaking tips and tricks

Here’s the thing about public speaking: it’s one of the few things in life where you can be 13 years old or you can be 5 years old, and you can actually be better than your parents or lots of other adults. This is not true with driving and other dangerous skills that are only available to adults. But public speaking is different.

Here’s why.

We’ve all seen really boring public speakers in different settings, whether they are folks speaking in your community about various issues or two parents in front of the class.

As a matter of fact, these days we’re so used to listening to bad speeches that we pray to God that the next one is even a little bit better. We couldn’t ask for more and hope that, “This one will be better than the others we’ve heard so far.”

Table of Contents

Public speaking for kids: the most important things to remember

Guess what? It doesn’t matter if you’re 5 years old or 55 years old: if you’re boring, you’re not communicating.

So, what are the best tips on public speaking for kids? You need to go into every single presentation with a specific goal in mind. Also, you’ve got to focus on the most important ideas that should be remembered.

Therefore, let’s dive in and see what are the other best tips on public speaking for kids.

Why is public speaking important for children?

If you can stand up and speak well in front of an audience, that is a great skill, and you can learn that at any age. Not only is public speaking a great skill you can use right now to help you get through school, but it can also help you with every other school project or even to ask your parents for an increase in your allowance .

The ability to speak in a way that people will listen to you and have a sense that you’re comfortable and relaxed is a good thing.

Therefore, learning how to speak in front of a large group will help you:

• Improve your message delivery skills and other communication skills
• Increase your self-awareness and self-esteem

Additional reading:

• Social anxiety disorder (social phobia) and the stage fear
• Public speaking FAQs: Answers To the Top 22 Most Common Questions

#1 Set up your goals for the presentation

The first thing you’ve got to do before any presentation you give (whether it’s asking for allowance or giving a book report) is you’ve got to really figure out your goals. For example:

• If for an allowance, you want that additional amount of money every single week.
• If it’s a book report, your goals may be more general.

Some goals may be:

• You want people to know a lot of interesting things about this book
• You want the teacher to be impressed
• You want a good grade

Whatever it is, you need to go into every single presentation with a specific goal in mind.

So, think about your specific goals and write them down.

Recommended books

How to Deliver a TED Talk: Secrets of the World's Most Inspiring Presentations

Jeremy Donovan

Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences

Nancy Duarte

Confessions of a Public Speaker

Scott Berkun

Talk Like TED: The 9 Public-Speaking Secrets of the World's Top Minds

Carmine Gallo

The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right

Atul Gawande

The First 20 Hours: How to Learn Anything... Fast!

Josh Kaufman

• Audience analysis: A comprehensive guide for the public speaker
• How to write a speech: 20 good and effective tips

#2 Make Sure Your Most Important Ideas Are Remembered

Once you have decided exactly what your topic and goals are, you need to really focus on what you think is going to motivate your audience to follow up on the goals to do what it is you want them to do.

Now, if it’s in the classroom, you may simply want the other students and the teacher to know that you know all the basic, fundamental, important things about your topic.

If you are asking your parents to go on a particular type of vacation (to Disneyland, for example) then you’ve got to ask yourself what are the specific reasons that are most likely to motivate your parents to take you to Disneyland.

So, you’ve got to focus on the most important ideas that should be remembered.

#3 You can’t just point out every single fact or every single piece of data.

There is no point in saying that Disneyland is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., 365 days a year. That’s a fact about Disneyland and it’s unlikely to motivate your parents to do what you want them to do.

Also, if you’re giving a book report about some famous person, you can’t look at all the facts of a person’s life because…who cares?

Why should anyone really care about that unless you explained it in the proper context? So, the biggest problem for most people is they just throw out so much stuff that, frankly, isn’t interesting.

Therefore, ask yourself:

• Is what I’m saying truly going to be interesting to the people in the room to whom I’m speaking?
• Is it really going to be interesting and important to them?
• Is it just going to seem really boring, and they’re going to think, “Oh, let me just ignore what this kid is saying and let me check my e-mail.”

So, much of being a good public speaker doesn’t have anything to do with how tall you are or whether your speaking voice is deep. Complete nonsense.

• 11 tips how to write a great persuasive speech
• How to deliver a perfect elevator pitch?

#4 Decide what is interesting and what isn’t

So much of being a good public speaker is about simply using judgment about what is interesting and what isn’t. And that’s the main reason you need to come up with a handful of messages that are going to make the case.

Focus on what’s really most important about the topic you are speaking about and, for a starter, come up with the top five ideas. Usually, there is no point in talking about more than five main points, and therefore this should do the trick for you.

#5 Show them what you care about

Anytime you’re presenting and you’re coming up with your messages, you’ve always have to ask:

• What is it I really care about?
• Why do I care about this?

Globally, audiences like when they’re seeing somebody speak who seems like they care about the topic and who seems passionate about the subject.

#6 Find out why this particular topic is more interesting than other stuff

Now, I understand you can’t be passionate and excited about everything your teacher gives out and there are lots of assignments that are just not the most exciting ones in the world.

Nevertheless, you’ve still got to find why this particular topic is more interesting than other stuff.

#7 You’ve got to talk about it with a little passion

If you want people to pay attention to you – if you want to get a good grade, and if you want to seem like you understand a subject – you’ve got to talk about it with a little passion. You’ve got to seem like you care.

Because here’s the thing: if you don’t care, no one else will, either , and everyone else will just be daydreaming and doodling.

If you want to give a great presentation, and if you want to build your skillset, you’re going to have a long lifetime of giving presentations. Why not learn how to get a little bit better every single time and learn how to make each one a little easier?

Therefore, always look at the messages that you’re coming up with and really figure out which ones you care about the most. You’re going to be a lot more interesting to listen to and that is half the battle.

#8 Make your points unforgettable

Here’s a magic phrase for any time you’re speaking, whether you’re giving a book report or a presentation of any sort: “For example….”

That’s it.

#9 Use the magic phrase “For example”

Human beings are trying to learn. They’re trying to listen to you and figure out what it is you’re talking about.

So, anytime you can give an example, you are better off. I’ve never heard anyone in the world say, “I hated the way that the last presenter gave so many interesting, relevant examples.”

And yet I often hear people say, “This speaker was really boring. That was a data dump. I didn’t learn anything. It was sort of vague and fuzzy.”

Therefore, any time you want to make a point, give a specific example.

For example, when I am telling people it’s important not to look nervous and uncomfortable, I don’t just then go on to the next point. Instead, I say, “ For example , if you’re looking down the whole time, and you look like you’re guilty, then people are going to assume that you’re nervous and uncomfortable. They’re going to maybe feel sympathy for you but they’re not going to focus on you. ”

So, think of examples for every one of the messages that you’ve written down and come up with examples for each one of your five main points.

#10 Use a cheat sheet and notes

In school, I would never ever suggest you cheat, because it’s not the right thing to do. Plus, if you get caught the penalties are severe.

But when you are giving a presentation, I do recommend that you have a cheat sheet. By that, I mean just a single sheet of paper.

Here are some tips for the cheat sheet:

• It has notes
• Notes are written in big bold letters
• Notes are not written with whole sentences
• Notes are not written down with whole paragraphs
• Write down any important number, any fact and any date that’s really important that you’re afraid you might forget

#11 Never read when you’re giving a presentation

Human beings can’t stand it when someone reads monotonously from the paper. It’s because when you read to them:

• Your voice goes flat/monotone
• There’s no eye contact
• Facial expressions are flat
• You are ignoring the audience

So, I recommend to never read when you’re giving a presentation.

Useful reading:

• How to Outline a Presentation: A Complete Guide From a Pro
• How to Use Notes in a Speech: 14 valuable tips for a speaker

#12 Get your audience to understand you and to do what you want

Now, of course, there are exceptions. If you are quoting Ronald Reagan, or any other famous person, and you want to get it just right, then it’s fine to glance down and read.

If your teacher requires you to read, by all means, do so. But when it’s up to you, I want you to not read. It’s all about the audience and getting them to understand you and to do what you want.

For example, if you’re asking your parents for an increase in allowance…

• Are your parents hearing this?
• Are your parents understanding it?
• Are they persuaded?
• Are they going to do what you want?

#13 Put a spotlight on an idea

It’s never just about the words. The beauty of public speaking is that it puts a spotlight on an idea and it shows people you think that this is important. That’s why it’s really critical to focus on your audience and to get them to understand that you care about them understanding your ideas.

And that’s why reading is never a good idea. Instead, have notes and have a cheat sheet that is limited to a single sheet of paper.

But beyond that, you need to be looking at your audience when you’re speaking. If you do that, you’ll come across as much more comfortable, more believable and they’re much more likely to do whatever it is you want them to do. Or at least they understand the ideas you’re talking about.

#14 Practice your speech

Public speaking for kids and preparation for your speech is like any other adult presentation. Therefore, it’s time to practice your speech.

But: I need you to do it in a very specific way. I’m talking about video recording yourself.

#15 Rehearse in front of a video camera

So, when you practice your talk, don’t just state it out loud in front of a parent, or a friend or a classmate. Also, practice in front of a mirror. That really doesn’t do much good.

What you need to do is practice your speech on video.   These days, it is easy to find a cell phone video or a webcam. If you’re looking for good cameras, or even for teleprompters for public speaking, then take a look at these cameras or teleprompters, here .

Remember: practicing in front of a video camera is the most important part of this whole process.

If you practice on the video to the point where you like what you see, you’re going to feel so much more confident.

It doesn’t matter if your speech is 2 minutes long or 20 minutes long: every time, practice your speech as if you were doing it for real . All you need to do is to be able to see and hear you once you’ve recorded yourself on video.

• Prepared speech: 10 effective tips on how to practice a speech

How to be comfortable in front of a video camera? 14 great tips

#16 write down everything you liked and disliked about your presentation.

Next thing you need to do is to watch the video, and I need you to grade yourself and be a fair critic. Don’t just look at the negatives – look at the positives, too.

I want you to write down everything. Things like:

• How you came across?
• How you smile?
• How you looked comfortable?
• Whether you seemed interesting?
• Whether you were easy to understand?
• Whether your rate of speaking was good and not rushed?
• If you’re speaking so softly that it’s hard to understand
• If you’re fidgeting with your fingers the whole time and looked nervous.
• Did your tone of voice go up at the end of every sentence, making it sound like you were questioning/doubting yourself?
• Did you look scared?

Sometimes, it’s hard to judge ourselves, so you may want to ask a parent, classmate or someone else to do this with you, too.

It’s good to get independent feedback, but we’re not looking only for criticism, and we’re not looking only for praise. We really want to get an accurate sense of what’s working and what isn’t.

#17 Rehearse again

I hope that after finishing the first rehearsal, you have a decent-sized list of things you like and don’t like.

Now, if you have that list, you’re going to do this all again, but this time, I want you to do more of the things you liked when you presented . And I want you to look at the list of the things you don’t like and I want you to focus on just one of those things .

For example, maybe it was speaking too quickly.  This time, focus on that and try to slow down. You should not try to fix 10 problems if there are 10 things you don’t like.

That’s not how you learned any other skill – you didn’t go to math class one day and instantly learn addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Instead, you learned one step at a time. Therefore, I want you to do the same thing with public speaking.

• Focus on just one thing
• Video record yourself one more time
• Analyze it again
• Make a detailed list of what you like (ideally, that list grows)
• Make a detailed list of what you don’t like (ideally, that list shrinks)

#18 Rehearse until you are satisfied

After your second rehearsal, chances are you made some mistakes, and maybe it’s not 100 percent but you made some improvement. Now, if you didn’t see improvement, typically that means one of two things.

• You tried to fix 5 or 10 things, and you didn’t focus on just 1 thing, therefore your mind scatters.
• You tried to focus on something that you just can’t change.

For example, if you’re 12 years old, and you want to sound like you have a deep, old man’s voice, you can’t really do that without sounding ridiculous.

You don’t need to do that. There’s nothing wrong with your voice right now. As long as people can understand you, and you don’t sound scared, chances are your voice is perfectly fine.

You have to sound like you, as long as it’s you sounding interested and relaxed and not scared, tense and nervous.

So, the next thing you need to do is to look again at the list of things you like and how you’re presenting and at the list of things you don’t like. And…I need you to practice again on video.

Review it again and figure out what you like what you don’t like. Now, here’s the key. And this is really the most important part of the preparation.

#19 Look at it and keep doing it until you like what you see.

Maybe that only takes 1 more time. Maybe it takes 10 times or 20 times, but if you really want to be well prepared for this presentation, you need to rehearse for as long as it takes.

If you want a great role model for your presentation, it needs to be you and that’s why you need to practice on video.

If you can give your presentation, record it on video and look at it and say, “Wow! That’s great!” then it is going to be much easier to go in front of people and talk well.

You just have to put enough time into it, and this will get easier as you get older and you do this regularly. As you gain more experience, you’ll get to the point where, typically, you really only need to practice once on video.

Most adults never do this because they’re too lazy. Now is your time to build new, strong habits that are going to last you a lifetime. So, keep practicing on video again and again until you like it. Once you’ve done this, you’re going to be ready to give the best possible presentation you can on this topic.

How do children overcome the fear of public speaking?

The way to eliminate the fear of public speaking is to come up with a process – something you can do every single time so that you’re not leaving anything up to chance, and you’re not wondering what to do.

Here are some proven techniques for overcoming stage fright.

#19 Breathing

Belly breathing is the best form of breathing, and it helps calm the nerves. Therefore, try to do several (4-5 times) very deep breaths with your belly to calm your nerves.

Here are some other good breathing techniques.

Sama Vritti technique

• Begin with a slow, steady inhale through your nose while silently counting to four.
• Pause briefly, then exhale through your nose for another count of four.
• Repeat until your heart rate slows and you feel calmer.

Abdominal breathing technique

• Place one hand on your chest and one on your abdomen.
• Breathe in deeply through the nose, making sure your abdomen inflates, not your chest.
• Exhale slowly.
• Repeat six to ten times every minute for approximately ten minutes.
• What is Stage Fright: Everything You Need to Know About it
• Stage fright: A Helpful Illustrated Guide

#20 Accept the fact that you’re going to be nervous

One of the things that makes people nervous standing up in front of the classroom or talking to family members and friends is this idea of, “Oh-oh, I don’t really know how I’m coming across. Maybe I look nervous; maybe I look scared; maybe I look uncomfortable.”

Guess what? You might actually look nervous, uncomfortable or scared, but if you don’t know how you’re coming across, then you just don’t know. So, chances are you might actually look awkward or uncomfortable.

Therefore, this is one of the most important points I need to make. Even seasoned performers and successful entrepreneurs get nervous before going in front of people.

#21 Acknowledge that the audience wouldn’t understand you’re nervous

Also, there’s no point worrying about whether your listeners notice your nervousness, trembling, etc. – they normally won’t. Even if they are aware that you’re slightly nervous, nobody takes it seriously.

You don’t need to excuse yourself for being nervous at the beginning of your presentation. Equally important, don’t start your speech by apologizing for being nervous.

#22 Proper preparation with proper practice

Preparing at home, ask yourself, “ What do I want my listeners to think or do differently after I’ve finished my presentation?”

During preparation, think about who your listeners are and what their interests, needs, and expectations are. If you’re able to do a presentation that listeners can relate to, you’ve done great, offering something valuable to your audience.

#23 Remember that the audience is your greatest ally

Keep in mind that your listeners don’t mean you harm – they’ve come to learn something interesting. A common presumption is that the audience wants you to fail. The reality, however, is the opposite: the audience is your greatest ally because if your presentation fails, so will they.

#24 Remember that no presentation is perfect!

Well, at least not for the speaker. During my public speaking training, I often see how being asked by the presenter how it went right after the presentation, people answer “very poorly.“

As a presenter, you notice all the blips; you remember what you forgot to say, etc. If I ask the audience the same question, they usually say the opposite; e.g. What are you talking about? It went very well!

So, don’t focus on giving a perfect presentation. You’re already better than you think!

• 17 Biggest Public Speaking Myths Debunked
• Is public speaking really more feared than death?

How can a child improve his/her public speaking skills?

In this section, I’ll briefly outline the main things to keep in mind when it comes to preparation and making a presentation. Here are some things I would like to point out.

#25 Know your audience and their background

Who are they? What do they want? What are their expectations? In other words, you need a detailed audience analysis. Some things to consider:

• Are there any experts among the audience?
• Do the listeners know the topic well?
• What is the attitude of the audience?

#26 Try to think through the entire presentation

Think about things like:

• What you can do to draw attention
• Arriving early and adjusting everything according to your needs
• What is your plan B if something goes wrong (for example you’re out of time)
• How to use a video projector or other gadgets if you need one

#27 Feedback

Feedback is the best thing to make you a better speaker. Also, this is something that helps you further improve your speech , even if you’re already quite happy with it. So, in order to become a better public speaker, you should always ask the audience (or friends who participated) for as much feedback as possible.

This way you can avoid mistakes you made this time, and your next listeners will become part of an even better experience.

Final thoughts on public speaking for kids

Remember that most people aren’t very good at public speaking.

If you’ve actually followed the tips we’ve talked about in this post, you’re going to be way ahead of most of your friends, your peers, and your colleagues. It’s because you’re going to know the secret of how to come across confident, comfortable and relaxed.

Therefore, you’re not going to be nervous when you’re giving presentations, and you’re going to know that you’re doing your very best. But more importantly, if you actually follow this on a regular basis, this is a skill that’s going to help you throughout your whole life, because you’re going to be giving a lot of presentations.

Posts about public speaking you may also like

Even if there is no official videographer for your upcoming speech, it is very likely that someone in attendance will be recording on their smartphone

10 great tips on how to give a killer speech without notes?

If you are a fan of the TED talk format, you may have noticed that most of these speakers give a killer speech without the

11 tips on how to write a great persuasive speech

In the case of a good persuasive speech, the speaker’s argumentative skills matter. You may well have the best arguments in the world, but if

• Tags: Introduction to a Speech , Making a speech , Performance anxiety symptoms , Public speaking topics , Speaking anxiety , Speech anxiety , Speech preparation process , Speech writing tips , Stage phobia , Writing a speech

Recommended gear

Best Portable Speakers For The Presentations

Best Video Cameras for Public Speakers

Best rresenter remotes for public speakers

Best Portable Thumb Drives And Hard Drives for the Presentations

Who is janek tuttar.

My name is Janek Tuttar , and I am the founder and author of Speak and Conquer website.

I have been teaching public speaking at Estonian Entrepreneurship University of Applied Sciences

Here, I am sharing the wisdom of how to cope in different public speaking situations.

More information about Janek »

Share this post

Hi! My name is Janek Tuttar, and I am the founder and author of SpeakAndConquer.com.

I have been teaching and blogging about public speaking since spring 2007. Here, I am sharing the wisdom of how to cope in different public speaking situations.

Send me an e-mail: [email protected]

LEGAL INFORMATION

This site is owned and operated by Janek Tuttar. SpeakAndConquer.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies.

Best teleprompters

Best Computer Mice for the Presentations

Best Laptop Backpacks for Public Speakers

Talks by brilliant kids and teens

Talks from scientists, musicians, innovators, activists -- all under the age of 20. Watch these amazing wunderkinds.

Yup, I built a nuclear fusion reactor

A promising test for pancreatic cancer ... from a teenager

A warrior’s cry against child marriage

An 11-year-old's magical violin

My invention that made peace with lions

A 12-year-old app developer

Science is for everyone, kids included

Bluegrass virtuosity from ... New Jersey?

How I harnessed the wind

A teen just trying to figure it out

Award-winning teenage science in action

17 Ted Talks for Kids to Inspire Little Minds to Do Big Things

A few years ago, I watched Brene Brown’s TED Talk on Vulnerability . Her story, her research, her authenticity, and yes, her vulnerability resonated with me deeply. One of the concepts that stood out the most was that in order to live wholeheartedly, we must feel the full range of emotions. The positive: joy, gratitude, happiness. And the not so positive: grief, fear, shame, sadness, disappointment.

This talk moved me, changed me and challenged me to think differently. And that is what TED talks have the power to do. They can make the hairs on the back of our neck stand up, bring us to tears, and most importantly, motivate, inspire and challenge our thinking.

Which is why I’m so excited to share these TED Talks for kids. I’ve always had a passion for working with children; I have three daughters of my own, co-lead two local Girl Scout Troops, spent time in my career working in education and am a member of the Galileo community advisory board (an innovation camp for kids).

I’m involved in all of these because I feel deeply how important it is to help our kids build their confidence, self-esteem, innovation and creativity. I want every kid to realize they are awesome just as they are. That they have the ability to make anything happen if they dream big and work hard. Imagine what that would do for our youth.

If you Google or scour lists of top TED talks, you tend to get similar ones popping up. That’s because they’re awesome. But they’re not all appropriate for kids.

How I shortlisted these TED Talks

I’ve done the hard work for you. Along with my family, kids, their friends and a few others, we vetted over 100 TED Talks and picked out the 17 that I believe send powerful and inspiring messages our kids desperately need.

So, whether your kid is 6 or 16, I hope you find something that inspires, moves, motivates and challenges them.

• They’re short enough for young brains to stay engaged. While there is an 18 minute “rule” for TED talks, many of the most popular talks are 20+ minutes. Recently, as I toured middle schools for my daughters, one of the principals shared that a kid’s attention span is the kids age minus one. So, if you have an 11 year old, then 10 minutes is his/her attention span. You can’t expect him/her to listen to 18 minutes and stay focused the whole time. All of the talks highlighted below are under 15 minutes. Some are as short as three.
• They all include life lessons I believe are important for today’s youth. For me, this meant searching for talks that would build confidence and self-esteem; help kids be true to themselves. Understand what makes a happy and successful life. How to dream big. To communicate, interact and treat others. Above all, these talks will help kids see that they are awesome and that anything is possible when they dream big and work hard.
• They’re kid-friendly. You might think this is obvious, but I found many speakers share political views, curse, or share content or concepts that that could be scary or confusing for young minds. If you ask those around me, I’m probably a little overcautious about what I expose my kids too. I’m ok with that. They have plenty of time to see the darker side of the world as they age. I would be comfortable with my seven-year-old watching all of these.
• They’re interesting. Kids need to be engaged, interested and motivated to even sit through a video. While this isn’t always easy to do, I’ve tried to find videos with likeable speakers, compelling topics and inspiring stories. And don’t worry, they’re not just for kids – these are awesome talks for adults as well.

Top 17 Ted Talks for kids

1. a life lesson from a volunteer firefighter (4:01).

I started with this one because all of my kids absolutely loved it. It’s an easy entry point for kids – short and sweet with a powerful message. (And what kid doesn’t like a firefighter?!)

Volunteer Firefighter and Activist Mark Bezos shares his story about how small things can make a big difference.

My 11-year-old’s key takeway? “It shows we don’t have to do something big to make a difference”.

Here’s a key piece of his message:

“In both my vocation at Robin Hood and my avocation as a volunteer firefighter, I am witness to acts of generosity and kindness on a monumental scale, but I’m also witness to acts of grace and courage on an individual basis. And you know what I’ve learned? They all matter.”

2. What Adults Can Learn From Kids (8:06)

One of my 11-year-olds was riveted by this one. In fact, at one point, I tried to increase the volume on the iPad while she kept pushing me out of the way so she didn’t miss anything.

Twelve-year-old Adora Svitak is incredible. This talk is inspiring not only because of what she says, but because of how incredible and confident this young girl is as she presents.

Here are some of my favorite excerpts from her talk:

“Kids don’t think about limitations…they just think about good ideas.” “Learning between grown-ups and kids should be reciprocal.” “When expectations are low, trust me, we (kids) will sink to them.”

3. Teach Girls Bravery, Not Perfection (8:50)

Recommended by several people when I was asking around, I found myself choking up in the first two minutes as Reshma shares her personal story about bravery in the face of failure.

“This is not a story about failure or resilience…it’s about bravery.”

She talks about our “bravery deficit”.

“When we teach girls to be brave, and we have a supportive network cheering them on, they will build incredible things.”

She shares one of my favorite philosophies: Progress, not perfection.

This is a great one for those who need a little more confidence to raise their hand, try out for that team, or face an upcoming challenge.

4. 10 Ways To Have a Better Conversation (11:30)

This is one of my all-time favorites. I’m becoming increasingly concerned about our kids’ ability to have a face-to-face conversation. Just look around at a restaurant and see how many kids have their faces in phones. One recent survey of managers said 46% of recent grads need to hone their communication skills.

As someone who spent many years earning a living helping people communicate better, I think this is necessary for every kid. It’s a lost art. A skill that is becoming extinct with the world of technology.

Radio Host Celeste Headlee provides great tips for how to have a better conversation, and, more importantly, how to listen.

At one point, she shares this thought written in the Atlantic by a high school teacher named Paul Barnewell.

“I came to realize that conversational competence might be the single most overlooked skill we fail to teach. Kids spend hours each day engaging with ideas and each other through screens, but rarely do they have an opportunity to hone their interpersonal communications skills. It might sound like a funny question, but we have to ask ourselves: Is there any 21st Century skill more important than being able to sustain coherent, confident conversation?”

My older daughters both really enjoyed this talk. They learned “how important it is to listen and to think about other people, not just yourself”.

My favorite line of all time: “There’s no reason to show you’re paying attention, if in fact, you are actually paying attention.”

This is a great one to share with your teenagers – even if you need to text them the link?

5. A Promising Test for Pancreatic Cancer… From A Teenager (10:46)

I just love this one. Jack shares his story, how as a teenager he searched for and found a promising cure for pancreatic cancer. Motivated by the death of a close family friend, Jack shows some of my favorite attributes: thinking, process, initiative, perseverance, determination, courage…and humor. He’s a fantastic speaker and will keep your kids interested and engaged.

One of my favorite quotes:

“You don’t have to be a professor with multiple degrees to have your ideas valued…Just imagine what you could do.”

“He did that all by himself?” One of my daughters asked at the end. Yep, he did. And you can, too.

6. Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance (6:09)

With three kids, I’m always driving a car full of kids somewhere. As I was researching for this article, during each of my rides, I took the opportunity to ask whoever was in the car about their recommendations. This talk was recommended by a 16-year-old high school student. (Thank you, Bella!) I had seen it before and was so glad she liked it as much as I did.

Angela Lee Duckworth left her consulting career and became a 7th grade math teacher in the New York public school system. She was fascinated by what helped students succeed. This talk is the story of what she found.

Here’s a quick preview:

“Grit is passion and perseverance for very long-term goals. Grit is having stamina. Grit is sticking with your future, day in, day out, not just for the week, not just for the month, but for years, and working really hard to make that future a reality. Grit is living life like it’s a marathon, not a sprint. “

Need another reason to share this with your kid? Angela highlights that kids with grit are more likely to graduate…and be successful in their chosen careers.

We all know how important grit and perseverance are; let’s help our children see that.

7. Dare To Dream Big (8:49)

With just over 22,000 views, this video hasn’t hit “mainstream” TED world yet, but Isabella Rose Taylor, a freshman in college and a working fashion designer, tells a fantastic story.

“Today I want to talk to you about dreams and stories.”

She shares one of my favorite stories about the 4-minute mile and how belief is such an important part of success.

“They didn’t all the sudden get faster or stronger, they just believed it was possible.”

The rest of her talk is filled with lessons on dreaming big, believing in yourself, courage, authenticity, and the importance of relationships.

“We should aim as high as possible and dream big.”

Yes. We. Should.

8. Yup, I built a nuclear fusion reactor (3:26)

Even the title shows the confidence that 17-year-old Nuclear Physicist Taylor Wilson has. As he says…and proves,

“Kids can really change the world.”

I love his passion and confidence. He started out with a dream and ended up meeting the President.

9. Underwater Astonishments (5:18)

While this may not have any explicit life lessons, it’s incredibly interesting and fun to watch with kids. Approved by my 7-year-old, who said, “It was very interesting and I liked the pictures. I didn’t know an octopus could do that.”

The underlying lesson? For me, it shows how everything is incredible. When we look for beauty and awe, we will find it.

I also think it’s fascinating as Geologist David Gallow shares:

“And in a place where we thought no life at all, we find more life…there’s still 97 percent, and either that 97 percent is empty or just full of surprises.”

This teaches kids that there is so much in life and in their world to discover.

10. What Makes A Good Life? Lessons From the Longest Study on Happiness (12:40)

I’d say this talk is better for older kids. Robert Waldinger shares what makes a good life, from the longest study in history on happiness.

If your kids are having a hard time getting into it, head to 5:51 for the highlights:

“So what have we learned? What are the lessons that come from the tens of thousands of pages of information that we’ve generated on these lives? Well, the lessons aren’t about wealth or fame or working harder and harder. The clearest message that we get from this 75-year study is this: Good relationships keep us happier and healthier. Period.”

I love the focus on the importance of relationships and friendships.

11. The Happy Secret To Better Work (12:14)

Positive Psychologist Shawn Achor is funny, fast and witty. He begins his talk with an incredibly funny story about his sister and him when they were little.

He shares that:

“90 percent of your long-term happiness is predicted not by the external world, but by the way your brain processes the world. And if we change it, if we change our formula for happiness and success, we can change the way that we can then affect reality.”

If you want to get to the essence, head to 9:09 for his suggestions.

This is another one that’s probably best for older kids and teenagers.

12. Weird, or Just Different? (2:35)

The shortest talk on this list, Derek Sivers talks about the power of perspective. It teaches kids that we all have a different lens through which we see the world and we need to be aware of our assumptions and bias.

One of Derek’s thoughts:

There’s a saying that whatever true thing you can say about India, the opposite is also true. So, let’s never forget…that whatever brilliant ideas you have or hear, that the opposite may also be true.

My daughter’s thoughts: “ It shows we can both be right .” YES.

13. Living Beyond Limits (9:44)

When I said earlier that I would let my 7-year-old watch all of these talks, this might be my one exception. Amy Purdy’s message is incredible but with an illness and near-death experience, it could be scary for little ones.

When she was just 19, Amy got bacterial meningitis and after a long fight for her life, she survived, but lost both legs below the knee. Now, a pro-snowboarder, she shows how  “It’s believing in those dreams and facing our fears head-on that allows us to live our lives beyond our limits.”

Her message:

“If your life was a book, and you were the author, how would you want your story to go?”

As my daughter and her friend watched this video, they loved Amy, were completely engaged by her story and got this lesson – “Don’t give up on our dreams just because something bad happens.”

14. 8 Secrets of Success (3:26)

In this short video, Analyst Richard St. John condenses a decade of research on success into three minutes. It’s a two-hour presentation he gives to high school students on what’s needed to be successful. Quick. Fast. Interesting with lots of great life lessons including serving, persisting, hard work and passion.

15. Nature. Beauty. Gratitude. (9:47)

The title says it all.

Filmmaker Louie Schwartzberg’s beautiful cinematic time lapse imagery is paired with words of perspective from a little girl and an elderly man about what makes life so beautiful.

It may feel slow for some kids, but contains a compelling and valuable message.

I loved when the little girl shared her perspective about why we should be exploring nature and not watching TV and when the elderly gentlemen shared these thoughts:

“You think this is just another day in your life? It’s not just another day. It’s the one day that is given to you today. It’s given to you. It’s a gift. It’s the only gift that you have right now, and the only appropriate response is gratefulness.”

Kids might also find it interesting why we say OMG. I did.

16. Why Some Of Us Don’t Have One True Calling (12:26)

This is a great talk, especially for high school students who are trying to figure out what to do with their life! In my coaching practice, this question still evokes a sense of stress, whether someone is going into high school, graduating from college, or in a mid-life career change.

Emilie’s powerful message:

If you have multiple dreams, goals and interests, “There’s nothing wrong with you. What you are, is a multipotentialite. Someone with many interests and creative pursuits.”

The statistics back up this concept. Studies have shown that only 27 percent of college grads have a job related to their major; the average person changes jobs 10-15 times during his or her career; and people change careers anywhere from 3-7 times over the course of their lifetime.

Emilie then goes on to share the skills and benefits of being a multipotentialite, complete with examples of successful individuals who have created a life that works for them.

My absolute favorite message from this talk is one that I’m deeply aligned with in my coaching practice:

“We should all be designing lives and careers that are aligned with how we’re wired… Embracing our inner wiring leads to a happier, more authentic life.”

17. How I Harnessed the Wind (5:52)

Incredible and inspiring. At the age of 14, William Kamkwamba, with very little education or resources, motivated by poverty and famine, created a windmill to power his family’s home. As he looked at his life, he felt that what he was living was a fate he couldn’t accept. So rather than live the life he was “destined” to live, he decided to change it.

Not only is this story about courage, drive and innovation, it will also help kids gain perspective about what others in the world are facing on a daily basis.

He closes with these words of wisdom:

“I would like to say something to all the people out there like me, to the Africans, and the poor who are struggling with your dreams. God bless. Maybe one day you will watch this on the Internet. I say to you, trust yourself and believe. Whatever happens, don’t give up.”

BONUS: I Think We All Need a Pep Talk (3:28)

Ok, so it’s not officially a TED Talk, but it was on their site [1] and I just had to include it! Many of you have probably seen this Soul Pancake video before. I don’t need to say much. Just watch it.

Here are three of my favorite lines from 9-year old “Kid President”:

“We’re all on the same team.” “We were made to be awesome.” “Give the world a reason to dance, so get to it.”

Now What? Watch these with your kids!

Now that you’ve read through these options, it’s time to pick a few and watch them with your kid(s). I recommend you choose three that are relevant to your family, a situation your kid is in, a life lesson you feel is important for them to learn, or something that you’re just excited to share.

That’s the easy part. Now you have to get them to watch it!

Here are a few recommendations for sharing these with your kids:

1. Share your thoughts and a few W’s

Who is this talk about, why you think it’s important for them to watch and what you think they’ll find interesting. Get them hooked before they watch it. Giving them high-level context will not only get them interested, but get their minds primed for learning.

2. After you watch the video, have a discussion.

Not sure what to ask? Here are some ideas:

• What did you think of the video?
• What did you enjoy?
• What do you think motivated this speaker to speak on this topic?
• What did you learn?
• What do you think you’ll do differently as a result of watching this?

3. Ask them to stick with it and be patient.

When I started testing these with my daughters, I could see in the first minute they were wondering if they really wanted to do this. I asked them to be patient, keep an open mind and stick with it. Once they got through the initial, “Ugh, Mom!”…. they enjoyed watching.

Lucky for you, the ones they couldn’t get through didn’t make this cut! Watch one (maybe two) at time. Stick with the age minus one rule.

I loved researching these talks, watching them with my kids and their friends, and hearing their thoughts and reactions. I hope they provide a great discussion for you and your family, some inspiration for your kids and something that moves, motivates and challenges you both.

I’d love to hear which of these resonated with you and your kids – and if you have other favorite TED talks you think would be great for kids, please let me know!

Featured photo credit: Pexels via pexels.com

How to Use a Planner Effectively

How to Be a Better Planner: Avoid the Planning Fallacy

5 Best Apps to Help You Delegate Tasks Easily

Delegating Leadership Style: What Is It & When To Use It?

The Fear of Delegating Work To Others

Why Is Delegation Important in Leadership?

7 Best Tools for Prioritizing Work

How to Deal with Competing Priorities Effectively

What Is the RICE Prioritization Model And How Does It Work?

4 Exercises to Improve Your Focus

What Is Chronic Procrastination and How To Deal with It

How to Snap Out of Procrastination With ADHD

Are Depression And Procrastination Connected?

Procrastination And Laziness: Their Differences & Connections

Bedtime Procrastination: Why You Do It And How To Break It

15 Books on Procrastination To Help You Start Taking Action

Productive Procrastination: Is It Good or Bad?

The Impact of Procrastination on Productivity

How to Cope With Anxiety-Induced Procrastination

How to Break the Perfectionism-Procrastination Loop

15 Work-Life Balance Books to Help You Take Control of Life

Work Life Balance for Women: What It Means & How to Find It

6 Essential Mindsets For Continuous Career Growth

How to Discover Your Next Career Move Amid the Great Resignation

The Key to Creating a Vibrant (And Magical Life) by Lee Cockerell

9 Tips on How To Disconnect From Work And Stay Present

Work-Life Integration vs Work-Life Balance: Is One Better Than the Other?

How To Practice Self-Advocacy in the Workplace (Go-to Guide)

How to Boost Your Focus And Attention Span

What Are Distractions in a Nutshell?

What Is Procrastination And How To End It

Prioritization — Using Your Time & Energy Effectively

Delegation — Leveraging Your Time & Resources

Your Guide to Effective Planning & Scheduling

The Ultimate Guide to Achieving Goals

How to Find Lasting Motivation

Complete Guide to Getting Back Your Energy

How to Have a Good Life Balance

Explore the time flow system.

About the Time Flow System

Key Philosophy I: Fluid Progress, Like Water

Key Philosophy II: Pragmatic Priorities

Key Philosophy III: Sustainable Momentum

Key Philosophy IV: Three Goal Focus

How the Time Flow System Works

• Delivery Techniques →

Public Speaking for Kids: Help Your Child Overcome Fear and Shine Onstage

Are you looking for ways to encourage your child to take the stage and share their ideas with confidence? Public speaking is a skill that many of us find challenging and intimidating, and us adults usually lack the foundational skills to even teach our children how to confidently share their voice with an audience. But public speaking is an invaluable skill that every child should learn. It can help them in school, future job interviews, and any other type of setting where they need to speak their mind. And the earlier this skill is developed, the easier it can be to hone it over the next few years.

Building Confidence

Building confidence is essential to succeeding in public speaking, and it’s something that takes time and hard work for children to practice. It’s important to focus on building systematic encouragement by setting achievable goals. This can lead to the child feeling more comfortable each time they take the stage. It is helpful to accept that there are going to be moments of discomfort when taking the stage, but teaching children that their discomfort is an opportunity to grow through it is key. Kids must also understand that mistakes are okay. Focusing on success rather than failure will help future performances become more natural and engaging. This also means teaching children how to physically adjust in front of a crowd while speaking – such as walking around, not standing still or slouching. Teaching children to move comfortably and make eye contact with those in the audience can build on their confidence and reduce any fear or anxiety they may be experiencing. Additionally, rehearsing out loud rather than silently can help kids adjust to the sound of their own voice in front of an audience. It is also worthwhile for parents to encourage their children with positive reinforcement after each performance – no matter how big or small – as this helps build self-confidence and further instill a sense of awareness for future opportunities. It can also remind children that tackling something challenging can result in a positive outcome, which is invaluable once mastered. Ultimately, empowering children with the confidence they need to feel comfortable on stage will provide them with beneficial tools they can use throughout their lives. While it’s possible that building confidence may take some time and effort when getting started, consistently focusing on achievable goals will pay off in the long run – leading naturally into the next section: Setting Small Goals.

Setting Small Goals

The goal of public speaking for kids should be to help them overcome their fear and get comfortable talking in front of an audience. One way a parent or instructor can do this is by setting small goals. This is especially helpful for children who become overwhelmed when faced with a large task or unfamiliar situation. When setting small goals, it’s important to keep them achievable but still challenging enough so that your child will be able to feel successful when they complete it. Examples could include memorizing a certain number of lines in a speech they need to give, working through a difficult paragraph in the presentation they are giving, or delivering the speech in front of close family members or friends. As your child achieves each goal, they should be encouraged with positive reinforcement and given credit for their hard work. On the other hand, setting too low of expectations could lead to your child not feeling as though they have made any progress or accomplished something meaningful. To avoid this, it is important to push them outside their comfort zone while being supportive at the same time. By breaking down public speaking tasks into smaller goals and objectives, your child grows confidence and gain experience doing something that may have scared them in the past. With a dedicated attitude and the right approach your child can succeed and reach their goal of presenting effectively and shining in front of an audience. Now that we’ve addressed approaches to setting small goals for public speaking success let’s move on to discussing practicing out loud!

A study conducted in 2018 showed that giving children opportunities to practice their speeches and receiving feedback from the audience increased children’s self-confidence when delivering a speech.

Practicing Out Loud

Practicing out loud is one of the most important steps to help a child prepare for public speaking. It is an opportunity for them to become comfortable with the material and gain confidence in their ability to speak in front of people. By practicing out loud, children get familiar with the sound of their own voice and will be able to work on their pronunciation, intonation and speech patterns . Through this practice, they can better gauge how the audience will receive their presentation. The importance of practicing out loud should not be underestimated. Rehearsing a presentation helps a child focus more on what they want to say, instead of worrying about their fear or trying to remember all their talking points. As kids rehearse, they are invariably going to make mistakes which gives them an opportunity to identify areas that need improvement before they get up onstage. Regular practice also helps children get comfortable with the material as well as build up experience in public speaking so that they can feel more confident during the actual performance. At the same time, there is a risk that too much practice can strip away a presentation’s spontaneity and make it appear rehearsed and robotic. Therefore, it is important to ensure that children only start practicing once they have read through the material several times and have a good understanding of it, so that they can focus on developing their fluency and delivery more than memorizing words. To sum up, practicing out loud is a critical step for helping children overcome their fear and shine onstage since it provides an opportunity for them to gain confidence in their speech as well as familiarize themselves with any materials that need to be presented. Now that we have discussed the power of practice through repeating out loud, let’s look at how preparation and outlining can help prepare your child for success in public speaking.

Crucial Points

Practicing a speech out loud is an essential step in public speaking preparation for children. It helps to build their fluency, delivery, and confidence. Rehearsal also allows for mistakes and improvement before the performance, but too much practice can make a child’s speech appear robotic. Therefore, it is important to ensure that sufficient time beforehand is spent understanding the material before spoken rehearsing begins. Additionally, preparation and outlining will help contribute to a successful performance.

Preparation and Outlining

Preparation and Outlining are two of the most important factors in helping kids overcome their fear of public speaking. A well-thought-out presentation will help reduce anxiety and give children a confidence boost. By preparing thoroughly , children can focus on delivering the speech rather than worrying about what they’re going to say next. To begin, kids should first outline their presentation . Write down all of the main points they want to make and order them logically. To add more depth to their presentation, they can research the topic and come up with supportive facts or examples to illustrate their point. Rehearse the speech before getting up in front of an audience, starting with small cues like talking just above a whisper or practicing with a mirror. Going into too much detail may also make it more difficult for children to remember their speech, so only include necessary information without making it too long or complicated. One alternative is to practice with cue cards which contain key words or phrases that can act as prompts to move from one idea to the next. However, kids should still aim for complete memorization instead of having heavily dependent on those cards when delivering their speech. When guiding kids in preparation for a public speaking event, it is equally important for parents and teachers to monitor the amount of practice time recommended for each individual child. There is no one size fits all method here: some prefer spending more time honing their delivery while others feel secure with mastering the full talk. It’s important to find out what works best for each kid since overworking could lead to burnout while not preparing enough would not be beneficial either. With proper preparation and outlining, any child can become comfortable delivering speeches in public. Helping kids structure their thoughts allows them to easily recall points during performances and reduces stress higher levels of stress when standing in front of an audience. Now that we understand the role preparation plays in public speaking for kids, let’s look closer at creating a plan tailored specifically for your child’s needs in our next section.

Creating a Plan

Creating a Plan is an essential step in helping children overcome their fear of public speaking . By designing and completing a solid action plan, a child can practice and develop skills that will help them become more confident in their ability to speak publicly. When coming up with a plan for your child, it’s important to consider their learning style and the best environment in which they learn from. For example, some kids may be better solo learners and only need someone there to listen while they practice or offer feedback. Other kids may prefer a more collaborative process and could benefit from additional instruction or guidance. In addition to considering your child’s learning style, it’s important to discuss manageable goals with them. Being able to successfully complete each step of the plan will provide highlights along the way as well as inspire motivation and confidence as they move forward each step of the way. Celebrate successes with them every chance you get. Once a plan has been created and agreed upon by both parent and child, then comes the challenging part – staying focused on working towards the goal of becoming an accomplished public speaker! parents should remain guided by the plan but also flexible enough when it’s necessary to make adjustments throughout the process if needed. Creating a Plan is an essential part of preparing for public speaking success, offering momentum, clarity, structure and communication for both parent and child working together towards one common goal. Now that you have a plan in place, let’s take a closer look at strategies for giving a speech that your child can practice so they can shine onstage!

Strategies for Giving a Speech

When it comes to delivering a speech, there are two strategies that can help kids be successful. The first is to practice reading aloud to gain experience in navigating through the material. This technique helps youngsters develop their fluency, vocal mechanics, and public speaking skills. It also helps them become comfortable with the text and build the confidence to present in front of an audience. The second strategy is to write the speech out beforehand. Writing a speech gives kids more control over the content and can hep them better organize their thoughts into a narrative. Furthermore, writing gives kids the opportunity to rehearse and edit their material as many times as necessary until it reaches a more polished state. While this approach may take more time than simply reading, it is generally considered by experts to have a higher success rate than just memorizing lines because it focuses on the mastery of concepts rather than words. By utilizing these two strategies, kids can start using public speaking as an important tool to influence others , which will likely serve them well throughout their lives. Now let’s look at some tips specifically designed for children when they are giving a speech. This wraps up our discussion on strategies for giving a speech. In our next section we’ll be exploring speaking tips for kids so they can shine onstage with confidence!

Speaking Tips for Kids

When it comes to public speaking for kids, teaching them useful tips can give them a huge edge in the confidence game. Public speaking is an essential skill and kids as young as 8 years old can benefit from knowing how to deliver prepared remarks before an audience. Speaking tips for kids generally include elements such as preparation and body language . Building confidence through practice is key; emphasizing that mistakes while speaking are natural and using the opportunity to learn from them will be beneficial in the long run. The importance of visual aids is also something that should be emphasized when discussing public speaking with children. Visual aids are a great tool for speakers because they provide brevity and clarity when communicating complex ideas on stage. Allowing children to practice using visuals such as PowerPoint slides or posters during rehearsals or prep time can be incredibly helpful. It also provides younger children with a chance to become more comfortable using technology while speaking. Another crucial element of public speaking for kids involves speech delivery. Kids should be shown how to use voice inflection , pausing, and slowing down their pace to connect with their audience. Practicing beforehand and getting feedback from parents or professionals can help build their confidence and ensure that what is being said resonates with the audience. Finally, it is important for kids to remember that, when faced with fear, admitting it is normal and taking a deep breath can help calm nerves before stepping onto the stage. Knowing all of these different elements beforehand can decrease feelings of nervousness before having to speak in front of an audience. Leading into the next section, there are many ways that parents, teachers, and even kids themselves can work together to help overcome fear while preparing for public speaking engagements .

Ways to Overcome Fear

Overcoming fear of public speaking is an important first step in helping kids to shine onstage. Children tend to be timid when they are asked to talk in front of a large group, but with the right strategies it can be possible to reduce their anxiety. Here are some ways to help children overcome their fear: 1. Be Encouraging: A supportive attitude from parents can go a long way towards helping children get through their fear of public speaking. Emphasize the importance of taking risks and remind them that mistakes can be learning experiences. Encourage them to stay positive and keep practicing until they feel confident. 2. Break it Up into Manageable Steps: Kids can begin by speaking in smaller groups and slowly build up their nerves for larger audiences. Giving the child time between performances can also help them recharge and refocus on their presentation without feeling overwhelmed. 3. Practice Making Eye Contact With Audience Members: Helping kids practice making eye contact with members of the audience can help boost their confidence and make them feel more at ease on stage. 4. Visualize Successful Outcomes: Some experts argue that visualization is an important tool in helping kids overcome their fear of public speaking. Encourage your child to envision how they want to come across before even stepping foot on a stage or podium, this could help alleviate some of their nervousness and make it easier for them to deliver successful presentations. 5. Simplify the Language: If you notice that your child is struggling with complex language or vocabulary, suggest simplifying the language in order to better communicate their ideas. This will make them feel more comfortable, as they won’t have to worry about stumbling over unfamiliar words, which could potentially slow down the pace of their speech and cause anxiety. 6. Allow for Natural Pauses: Again, if your child is having difficulty getting through complicated topics or language, allow for natural pauses in their speech where they can take a deep breath before continuing on with their presentation. This will allow for more clarity when discussing certain nuances, without inundating the audience with too much information at once. 7. Use Supporting Materials: Allow your child to bring visuals or props with them onto the stage as tools for communication and support; these items can serve as helpful reminders throughout the presentation if need be and give them something tangible to help break up any potential monotony during longer speeches or talks . The next step in helping children shine onstage is finding the right topics that are both interesting and engaging for both speakers and audiences alike.

Interesting Presentation Topics

When it comes to public speaking, choosing an interesting topic can be the key to giving a great presentation and helping kids overcome their fear of speaking in front of an audience. Kids are often inquisitive and passionate about the world around them, so finding topics that capture this curiosity is essential. One option for selecting an interesting and engaging presentation topic is allowing kids to select their own topics. This approach provides kids with the freedom to explore something they are genuinely interested in or have a genuine connection with. It also allows them to showcase their knowledge on whatever topic they choose; this could even be a strong motivator for getting them involved with public speaking. However, it is important to note that parents should use their judgement and help guide children in picking a topic that is age-appropriate and not too complicated to explain. Another option for understanding what type of topics would make good presentations is researching popular, relevant issues in the media related to kids or young adults. For example, if news reports are discussing how young people feel about climate action, then this might be a good topic for an age-appropriate presentation. Not only does this enable children to discuss topics from real-world events but will give them experience discussing more complex matters in public discourse as well. One caveat is that parents must take extra care in monitoring the source of reports used so as to ensure accuracy and quality information for the presentation topic chosen. Interesting presentation topics create avenues for further engagement when done properly. This can benefit both children and audiences alike as supports their skillset and maintains interest throughout the talk respectively.

Conclusion and Best Practices for Public Speaking for Kids

Public speaking is an invaluable skill that many children can benefit from developing . It is a great way to help children learn how to express themselves, work through their fears and build confidence. With the right guidance and practice, children can master this skill and become confident public speakers. When it comes to incorporating public speaking into your child’s routine, there are a few things that parents can do to maximize the chances of success. First and foremost, encourage active engagement in activities like storytelling, theater or lessons related to public speaking . This will give them a platform to practice and feel comfortable with their words before delivering an audience-facing speech. Secondly, create an environment in which your child feels safe to share their ideas and opinions without fear of judgement or criticism. Finally, allow them to practice as much as possible – even if it’s just you or family members in the house – so they gain more self-belief as they gain skills. Overall, while there may be no “one-size-fits-all” approach when it comes to teaching public speaking to kids, implementing the right strategies can help increase their chances of success in the long run. By following these tips and creating a supportive environment for them to explore the world of public speaking, parents can help boost their child’s self-esteem and lay the foundation for a successful future in this craft.

Responses to Frequently Asked Questions with Explanations

What age is appropriate for kids to start learning public speaking.

Starting young is the key to developing public speaking skills . To foster good public speaking habits, children should begin honing their skills at around age six or seven. At this stage, children have already had enough practice with verbal communication that they can begin learning how to respond appropriately to an audience as well as manage their stage fright. Not only will providing your kids with some guidance help them become more confident speakers, but it will also teach them how to communicate efficiently and effectively.

What resources are available to help kids become better public speakers?

There are several resources available to help kids become better public speakers . First and foremost, parents can provide kids with the support and encouragement they need to be successful public speakers. Visual aids such as white boards, visuals, flash cards, and speech outlines can also be effective teaching tools for helping kids practice delivering their speeches. Additionally, courses in public speaking , debate clubs, or join local theater groups are great options for children who want to gain more confidence in their public speaking abilities. Moreover, having a mentor or someone the child trusts to review and give valuable feedback on their speeches is essential in helping them progress. Lastly, finding meaningful workshops and seminars that focus on topics such as developing a powerful voice, storytelling techniques, body language skills, and stage presence are excellent ways to help young people become strong communicators while honing their public speaking skills.

What activities or exercises can help my child develop public speaking skills?

To help your child develop public speaking skills, there are a variety of activities and exercises that can provide practice while decreasing anxiety associated with speaking in front of a crowd. One activity is to have them practice speaking in front of a mirror or recording their speeches to gain confidence in their own delivery. This will also allow them to see and hear where they can improve on pauses, intonation and speed. Another activity is to have them deliver presentations or speeches with friends or family in comfortable settings. This can help build confidence for larger audiences when the time comes. Reading out loud regularly is also an excellent way to increase their fluency and word choice . Engaging age-appropriate literature with entertaining stories will make this exercise more enjoyable for them. Finally, empowering children by providing opportunities to participate in class discussions and school debates will increase their ability to think critically as well as become more self-assured when responding publicly.

• Choosing Good Topics
• Controversial
• Demonstration
• Extemporaneous
• Informative
• School/College
• Special Occasion
• Public Speaking Help
• Writing a Speech
• Free Sample Speeches
• Share Your Speech
• Speech Topics for Kids

Speech topics for kids should include more than "how I spent my summer vacation!".

I remember having to do this every year in elementary school... blah, boring! It was exceptionally boring if our family didn't DO anything special that year.

So here you'll find a few different, more inspiring speech topics for children that will help fire their imaginations and prompt them to talk about the subjects closest to their hearts.

Find more than 40 speech ideas and prompts for young students to draw from below .

1st 10 Speech Topics For Kids

• persuade us that doing homework is good/not good for you
• convince us that watching cartoons is good/not good for you
• argue that recess should be longer
• explain why dogs are better than cats (or the other way around)
• show us how to make a popsicle pencil holder
• show us how to make the perfect peanut butter and jelly sandwich
• tell us why living on planet Earth is better than living on planet Mars
• tell us what happened to the dinosaurs
• show us how to stop a nosebleed
• tell us what makes you a good friend to have

Set 2 - Speech Ideas for Kids

• tell us about the world's largest animal (blue whale)
• tell us about the world's tallest animal (giraffe)
• tell us about the world's fastest insect (dragonfly)
• talk about air pollution and how to reduce it where you live
• What is the best thing about summer?
• What planet would you visit and why?
• Responding to bullies on the playground
• Yes/no - too much violence on TV
• Who is your hero/heroine and why?
• If you could have one superpower, what would it be?

Set 3 - Speech Topics for Young Students

• How would you make your school better?
• What is your favorite kind of music and why?
• Tell us about your favorite outdoor activity
• tell us about your favorite book
• Your favorite thing about going back to school is?
• Why should everyone eat more vegetables
• persuade us that drinking soda is bad for your health
• what is your favorite sport?
• convince us to recycle
• tell us why too much TV is bad for your health 

Set 4 - More Public Speaking Subjects Appropriate for Children 

• Tell us why wearing a uniform to school is/is not a good idea
• tell us how rainbows are formed
• how to tell time with a sun clock
• why is it important to brush your teeth?
• What is the greatest thing ever invented?
• Which cartoon character or fairy tale character would you like to be?
• What is your favorite sports activity?
• What are the safety rules for riding a bike?
• What is your favorite subject in school and why?
• What animal would you be if you could be an animal for a day?

I hope these speech topics for kids have given you some ideas that may motivate your young students to produce some exciting presentations.

You may also like to check out some positive quotes for kids , which often inspire speech ideas themselves! Using a quote as a prompt for a speech is fun, and it can be very enlightening to discover just what some quotes mean to younger students.

Free email delivery

MASTER INFORMATIVE SPEAKING WITH OUR FREE CHECKLIST!

We are offering you a  FREE   SpeakFlight Informative Speaking Preparation Checklist. This valuable resource is packed with step-by-step guidance to help you create compelling, memorable, and effective informative speeches.

Share this page

Return to the Top of the Page

Recommended pages:

School Speech Topics (Main Page) Speech Topics for Kids Elementary School High School Persuasive Speech Topics for Teens Graduation

Quotes to Use

Positive Quotes for Kids More Quotes for Kids

Sample Speeches

Bullying (persuasive) Student Council Speech (1) Student Council Speech (2) More Sample Speeches

Public Speaking for Kids Time Management for College Students

• Best Speech Topics
• School Speech Topics

Easily search your speech type

Just check out the sitemap for best-speech-topics.com , which lists all the pages on the site, or use the search box below:

Get to Know Us

• Privacy Policy

Attention Grabbers

• Positive Quotes for Kids
• Quotes for Graduation Speeches
• Poems & Quotes on Death
• Quotes on Retirement

Most Popular Pages

• Free Samples
• Good Speech Topics
• Hypnotize Your Audience
• Welcome Speech

Select a Speech Topic

• Argumentative
• Commemorative
• Inspirational
• Interesting
• Other Topics

Let Us Help You

• How To Write a Speech
• Demonstration Outline
• Informative Outline
• Introductions
• Using a Microphone
• Speech Help
• Speeches Made Easy

StageMilk / Acting for Young People / Monologues for Kids

Monologues for Kids

A fun list of monologues for kids. Most of these monologues are short and easy to learn, ideal for children under the age of fifteen. These monologues are great for auditions, performances at eisteddfods or even for use in classes or private lessons. If you’re looking for something more advanced, we also have monologues for teenagers and  monologues for adults available. However, some of these may still suit slightly older, or more advanced performers. The key is to find a monologue that resonates.

Always pick something your child/student feels comfortable and confident performing. Keep it exciting and keep it fun! We have split this page into material for boys and girls, but remember that most monologues can be performed or adapted for any young person.

Make sure you push your child/student to be precise in learning monologues: remind them that every word has been put on the page for a reason, and they need to be ‘script detectives’ to work out what the writer is trying to say! Get them to think deeply about what the character wants. Why are they saying the monologue in the first place? Who are they talking to? Answering these simple questions will help bring any monologue to life.

Monologues for Boys

Spaghetti bolognese (by alexander lee-rekers).

Age Range: 10 – 13 Years Genre: Drama/Comedy Synopsis:   Sam tells of his first great heartbreak and his love for food.

SAM: Let me guess: you’re here to find out what happened. You look at me, Sam Barber, and wonder how the heck a kid like him could ever mess up dating a girl as amazing as Hannah Benson…

Do you like cooking? I love cooking. It’s, like, one of my favourite hobbies—which I know is weird for somebody my age. Some nights, when my mum works late, I like to cook for our family—without her even asking me—just to help out. Makes me feel very grown up. The best thing I cook is my Spaghetti Bolognese, hands down. I let it simmer for hours so it reduces to this beautiful, sweet, delicious, tomato-ey sauce. What’s this got to do with Hannah? I’m getting to that.

Hannah and I went on three dates. The first date was more like a study session at the library. I’d had a crush on her (like I guess most of us have had a crush on her since forever) and I asked her if she wanted to see a movie. She smiled and said yes. That was date two. For date three, mum suggested I invite her over for dinner and cook. She says women love a man who can cook. I started on my greatest-ever pot of Spaghetti Bolognese: I minced the garlic, I browned the meat, bought really good tinned tomatoes from the shops—like, fancy ones from Italy. I even remembered to take the bay leaves out before they got bitter. Hannah arrived at six o’clock. Dinner was on the table. My mum was home early so she ate with us and my little sister. I served everybody, I watched Hannah take her first bite … and nothing. No reaction, no smile, no eyes closed going “mmmm”. Nothing! Mum said “This is a beautiful meal, Sam!” But Hannah didn’t take the hint. She just chomped away silently until her bowl was empty.

The next day, at school, I asked her how she liked the meal. She said it was nice, even if I was acting strange. I asked her about the flavours, about how the pasta was cooked. She didn’t even try the garlic bread I’d made! “I’m just not that into food, Sam.” And in that moment … something shifted. Mum says this happens, sometimes. People get to know each other and discover that they’re different. We’re still friends. I mean, we’re friendly enough for her to tell me that she’s got a crush on Joe Soper! But she wasn’t the one for me. And that’s okay. I know the one for me is out there. Maybe in Italy?

Time To Go, Rufus (by Indiana Kwong)

Age Range: 10 – 12 Years Genre: Drama Synopsis: Jesse is telling his best friend Rufus, an old golden retriever that it’s time to go to the vet.

JESSE: Come here, boy! Sit down on the blanket. Good boy. Are you comfy there? Did you know that you’re twelve years old now? That’s … eighty-four in dog years. That’s older than Gran!

Anyway, I have to tell you something. Dad told me not to say, but I’m pretty sure you won’t dob me in. We’re going to get in the car soon and drive to the vet. I know, I don’t like that place either! But they give you a treat at the end and I get to pick a lollipop from the jar, so I guess it’s not that bad.

Well, thing is, you won’t be coming home with us this time. You have to stay at the vet and they’re going to take care of you. You don’t need to be scared, I’m pretty sure I’ve met all the vets and nurses and they’re all really nice!

I promise it’s going to be okay. You just lie down and close your eyes, and it’ll be like when we’ve had a big playdate and go to bed early because we’re so tired and can’t keep our eyes open any longer. You trust me, don’t you? I promise: it’s going to be okay.

Oh, one more thing, Rufus: you’re the bestest friend I’ve ever had.

First Dates (by Indiana Kwong)

Age Range: 11 – 13 Years Genre: Drama/Comedy Synopsis: Ethan plucks up the courage to ask Sarah to go to the skate park after school and watch him do a kick flip.

ETHAN: Hey, Sarah?

HEY, SARAH!

Oh, sorry. Yes. Ummm, so … how are you enjoying Grade Five so far? Never mind, stupid question. School sucks, am I right?!  (Ethan laughs nervously.)

Anyways: I have a reason for, um, talking to you. So Nick was thinking that I should ask if you wanted to come to the skate park after school today? It was his idea, but I also think it’s a good idea. Because, well, I learned how to do a kick flip on the weekend and we’re gonna film it on Nick’s phone and maybe you can watch? Sometimes girls come and sit on the bench near the half-pipe and they get lollies and whisper to each other. You don’t have to eat lollies if you don’t want. You don’t have to whisper either, I’m just saying … I don’t know what I’m saying really…

Sooo yeah. Does that sound like something you’d maybe wanna do, later, maybe?

Official Birthday Wish List, In ABC Order (by Indiana Kwong)

Age Range: 6 – 9 Years Genre: Drama Synopsis: Sam reads his Birthday wish list out to his mother and father:

SAM: Okay, Dad are you listening? Sit still. You have to sit still so you can listen! This is my official birthday wish list, in ABC order.

• A NERF “Fortnite” Dart Blaster. Promise I won’t shoot it inside.
• A Basketball hoop for the garage.
• A basketball, obviously.
• A real crossbow and about 50 arrows. Again, not for inside.
• A magic set: not a ‘little kid’ one, a ‘big kid’ one!
• A metal detector for when we go to the beach.
• A Star Wars Darth Vader Alarm clock so you can sleep in.
• And a dishwasher … cuz I don’t wanna do them anymore.

Oh, and this might be hard, but I wrote it anyway: I also want a puppy. Any questions?

Dinosaurs In Eden (by Patrick Cullen)

Age Range: 9 – 12 Years Genre:  Comedy Synopsis:  Terry is in a Religious Education class at school.

TERRY: Excuse me, sir? I have a question. Where are all the dinosaurs in the Garden of Eden? In science class, this week, we learnt all about fossils and Mr. Williams was saying that some of them are millions of years old! I just can’t quite make sense of the timeline, because if the Bible is right then there should be velociraptors in the Garden of Eden and I think if that’s the case the apple would be the least of their problems! Surely you’d want to build some kind of home defence system with electric fences and guard rails! Speaking of which: if God really didn’t want them to eat the apple, then why put the tree there? That sounds pretty mean: it’s like putting a T-Rex in a cage and wondering why it chews its own foot off!

Detention? I thought we were supposed to turn the other cheek!

How To Make Friends With A Snail

Age Range: 7 – 11 Years Genre:  Comedy, Poetry/Recitation Synopsis:  William delivers his best tips and tricks for snail-related friendship.

WILLIAM: “How to make friends with a snail”: A guide by William “The Snail Whisperer” McGee: If you find yourself out on the street, without a friend in sight, Be watchful for a silver trail, shimmering in the light. This silver trail’s a tell-tale of a slimy friend to be, ’cause snails, they make the best of friends, I’m telling you. Trust me! They call me William “The Snail Whisperer” McGee. Follow the line until its end, To track your tiny little friend, A lettuce leaf is all it takes, To make a snail your lifelong mate. Iceberg, spinach, or even cos: Lettuce is lettuce to a snail’s snoz, I’m telling you. Trust me! I’m William “The Snail Whisperer” McGee. Share a salad and be on your way, Your snail friend has a busy day! He has his house on his back, And sites to see: pick up the slack! That’s how to make friends with a snail. Follow this guide, and you’ll prevail. And don’t forget, the guide’s by me: William “The Snail Whisperer” McGee. Trust me!

Age Range: 7 – 12 Years Genre: Drama Synopsis: Abe’s dad is trying to teach him to play baseball on a hot summer day.

ABE: Dad, I’m sick of this. The mosquitoes are eating me alive. Can’t we go inside now? I don’t really have to learn to play baseball. It’s OK. I think I get it now. “Eyes on the ball.” Right?

Maybe I’m just not any good at this? Maybe I never will be… But a guy can only be hit in the head with a baseball so many times. I’m kinda sick of this game. I don’t think I want to play any more. I’ll just quit the team. Can’t I just quit, Dad?

Age Range: 7 – 10 Years Genre: Comedy Synopsis: Louis is a picky eater: he only eats hot dogs. He’s over at his friend Jack’s house and Jack’s mom, Mrs. Jones, doesn’t have any hot dogs.

LOUIS: No, I’m sorry, Mrs. Jones, I don’t eat that. I only eat hot dogs. You don’t have hot dogs? Oh. Well, maybe I should go home then. That’s all I eat. Hot dogs for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Sometimes I eat two or three instead of just one.

My mom says I’ll grow out of it someday. I doubt it. I love hot dogs. My little sister is worse. She only eats chicken soup. She sticks her pigtails in the soup and sucks it out of her hair. It’s disgusting. Well, tell Jack I’ll see him later. I’ve got to go home and have a few hot dogs. I think it’s a three-hot-dog day, today. See you later, Mrs. Jones!

Age Range: 10 – 12 Years Genre:  Drama (Content warning: discussion of domestic violence.) Synopsis: Carl was picked up by a social worker after a concerned neighbour reported trouble at his household. Here, he tries to cover for his father.

CARL: Do I get to go home now? (Beat.) But Lady, I told you everything was okay! My dad didn’t mean to get mad.

It was my fault. He wanted to be left alone and I went in the room to get a pencil to do my homework. I shouldn’t have bothered him. That’s why he made me stay outside in the snow. He probably forgot that I was still out there when he left. I know he was gonna let me back in. He tells me all the time if I’d behave he wouldn’t have to- (Seeing her look at a bruise on his arm.) He didn’t do this. I fell down when I was playing. It doesn’t really hurt anyway. Lady, I have to go. My dad’s gonna think bad things—like I ran away from home. I wish my neighbour never called you. My dad always says people need to mind their own business. So can I go now?

I can’t stay! I can’t! Don’t you get it? The longer I’m here the more he’s gonna be mad! I have to go back now before it gets worse!

Age Range: 7 – 9 Years Genre: Drama Synopsis:  Bean is playing hide and seek with a bunch of boys. They can’t find anybody.

BEAN: Hey! Where did everybody go? I give up! I counted to a hundred, like you said. It took a really long time. Where is everybody? I said I give up! I can’t find you!

I’ve been looking for ages. Can anybody hear me? This isn’t funny any more, you guys. Come out, come out, wherever you are! Come on, guys. Let’s play a different game! We could play tag outside? Or maybe we could have a snack and play video games? I’ll let you guys play first! I promise! Just come out. I can’t find you, OK? I give up. What more do you want from me? Guys? Hey, guys?

Age Range: 8 – 12 Years Genre: Drama Synopsis:   Ash talks about becoming a caped crusader.

ASH: I’ve always dreamed of being a hero. I’ve tried everything to become super. I let a spider bite me … no spider powers, just lots of itching. I tried standing too close to the microwave oven hoping the radiation would change me. Nothing. And I got in trouble for making so many bags of popcorn! But I took it all to school and had a popcorn party. I was a hero that day. So I guess it kinda worked?

I love being a hero. I love helping people. I love making them happy. And I hate bad guys. I hate creeps who hurt people. There’s this kid at school … he’s always hurting everyone. I am sick of him hurting us. I just need those super powers. I need something that will make him stop!

Maybe if I eat more of the school lunches? They look radioactive. If I get enough green hotdogs and brown sauce in me, something is bound to happen! And I need a catch phrase, like” “Gonna smoosh me a baddie!” And a cool costume! Actually, last time I was in the bathroom, I saw the perfect superhero name. “Protecto!” Instead of a telephone booth like Superman, I could use a bathroom stall and those Protecto seat covers could be a cape- and I could make a toilet paper mask! Nothing scares bad guys more than bathroom stuff. (Thinks.)   Or maybe it will really make them want to give me a swirly? I better rethink this…

HUCK (From “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain)

Age Range: 11 – 12 Years Genre: Drama Synopsis:   Rebellious youngster Huckleberry “Huck” Finn talks about being force to pray.

HUCK: Miss Watson told me to pray every day, and whatever I asked for I would get it. But it warn’t so. I tried it. Once I got a fish-line, but no hooks. It warn’t any good to me without hooks. I tried for the hooks three or four times, but somehow I couldn’t make it work. By and by, one day, I asked Miss Watson to try for me, but she said I was a fool. She never told me why, and I couldn’t make it out no way. I set down one time back in the woods, and had a long think about it. I says to myself, if a body can get anything they pray for, why don’t Deacon Winn get back the money he lost on pork? Why can’t the widow get back her silver snuffbox that was stole? Why can’t Miss Watson fat up? No, says I to myself, there ain’t nothing in it. I went and told the widow about it, and she said the thing a body could get by praying for it was “spiritual gifts.” This was too many for me, but she told me what she meant—I must help other people, and do everything I could for other people, and look out for them all the time, and never think about myself. This was including Miss Watson, as I took it. I went out in the woods and turned it over in my mind a long time, but I couldn’t see no advantage about it—except for the other people; so at last I reckoned I wouldn’t worry about it any more, but just let it go.

Age Range: 7 – 10 Years Genre: Comedy Synopsis:   Timmy tries to convince his mom that his messy room is not his fault.

TIMMY: Mom, it’s not my fault my room’s a mess! Me and Anthony were playing with his new race-cars. Only four of them. And we heard a weird noise outside, so we opened the window. This huge spaceship landed and a slimy, green alien with three heads came out and jumped in the window. Anthony tried to shoot him with my zapper gun, but it didn’t even hurt him—he just got real mad. So he knocked all the books off my shelf and picked up my toy box with his long, purple antennas and dumped it all over my room. So I threw a Frisbee at him and it bonked him on his third head and he slimed out the window and the spaceship disappeared into the sky. Geez, Mom, you should be happy I’m still alive!

Age Range: 7 – 10 Years Genre: Comedy Synopsis: Lee’s dad is watching the news. Lee wants to watch cartoons instead.

LEE: Why do you watch the news every night, Dad? It’s boooooooring! It’s always the same. The news is just a bunch of guys talking. It’s just so boring ! Can’t we watch the cartoon channel? Don’t you like to laugh? I feel like my head is going to explode all over this room I’m so bored: pow! Splat! Smush! Here, I’ll be the news guy: “Tonight, everyone is very boring in the whole world. The whole world is boring and bunch of other guys said boring things and the weather is boring. Have a boring night. I’m boring. Good night.” That’s it! I just did the news for you. Now you don’t have to watch it! Let’s watch cartoons!

Age Range: 7 – 13 Years Genre: Drama Synopsis: Will isn’t very good at maths. His teacher is not being nice to him, so he’s hiding in the bathroom during class.

WILL: I’m never coming out. Don’t tell. I’m just going to stay in here. I hate this class. I hate Mrs. Stupidhead. She’s always mean to me. Don’t tell, will you Mark? You can stay in here, too, if you want! You’re good at maths. It’s not fair. She made me do the same problem six times, yesterday. She tells me I don’t listen. I do listen! She’s too mean. Please don’t tell her where I am. You won’t get in trouble. I’m just going to stay in the bathroom during maths from now on, that’s all. I’m never going back. I don’t care what anyone says.

Monologues for Girls

The Green Tie-Dye One Piece (by Indiana Kwong)

Age Range: 11 – 13 Years Genre: Comedy/Drama Synopsis: Sasha talks about what she’ll be doing this Summer on her family holiday to Monterey.

SASHA: This summer we’re going to Monterey again. We go every year to get out of the city and also so Mom has an excuse to drink mojitos at 2pm. Dad says she has a problem. She says “I’m married to you, so I deserve it”.

I found out that the McKinley’s are going too. They have two kids as well: Jasper is same age as my brother and Lulu is one year older than me. Lulu has this really long brown hair, which her Mom does in a fishtail every morning for school and she got an iPhone 11 Plus for her birthday in January, and she lets me take photos with her sometimes. I guess she’ll bring the phone with her on the trip. They get to catch a plane to Monterey which takes two hours, but we’re driving which will take fifteen.

We basically just sit on the beach or by the pool all day and go out for dinner together at night. I love the feeling of being in the sun all day and then washing my hair in a cold shower to cool off.

I look … different now. Mom had to take me shopping for a new swimming costume at the last minute because I put my old one on and it didn’t fit right anymore. Maybe it’s because I stopped playing Netball… Anyways, I had a big fight with Mom at the mall because she wanted to look at everything when I tried it on, but I just wanted to make the decision by myself and I didn’t want anyone else to walk past and see. I ended up getting a green tie-dye pattern one piece with thick straps and a hole cut out the back from Topshop. I wonder if Lulu will like it? If she says it’s “cool”, that means she doesn’t really like it, but if she says nothing at all, that means she likes it and is probably jealous. I hope she doesn’t say anything…

So, yeah, that’s what I’ll be doing this summer.

_DEMON_bunny_777_

Age Range: 11 – 13 Years Genre: Drama Synopsis: Patty talks about her hidden identity as a hot-shot online gamer.

PATTY: I don’t have many friends at school. Which is okay, I don’t really mind. That’s just the way it is. Sometimes, teachers ask me about it: they say “Patty, why won’t you sit with the others at lunch?” or “Go and join the other girls, make an effort to get to know them!” And I walk in their general direction while the teacher watches. When the teacher leaves, I sit back on my own again.

Honestly? It’s kind of funny to me that the teachers think I need more friends. Because, in a funny way, I’m the most popular kid in school. Let me explain…

I’ve been playing COVEN ever since kids in my class started growing out of Minecraft and Roblox (although they’re both still pretty fun, if I’m honest). In COVEN, you play in teams as witches or monsters that have to capture a temple in the middle of the map. You can customise your character, level up their skills, it’s really sophisticated. My character’s name is _DEMON_bunny_777_. She’s a Level 25 witch, and she’s known to all the other kids in my school who play online together. When “Bunny” logs on, all the monsters—the kids who ignored me in school all day—flee in terror. The rest of them, my teammates, act like I’m some kind of superhero.

Actually, this must be what it’s like being a superhero. You see: nobody in my school knows that I’m _DEMON_bunny_777_. It’s my hidden identity, this cool secret I get to keep. I guess that’s why I haven’t told anybody, yet. Sometimes I think about revealing it at assembly, or something. I think about how it might win me some new friends, or respect from kids that walk by me in the hall like I’m invisible … but for now, _DEMON_bunny_777_ belongs to me. And that’s weirdly, oddly, really comforting.

Little Sailfish (by Indiana Kwong)

Age Range:  9 – 10 Years Genre:  Drama Synopsis:  Ruby is a swim champ, but she’s not sure she actually enjoys swimming anymore, or if she just does it so as not to disappoint her dad.

RUBY: My dad was an Olympic freestyler. He beat the world record in 2011. He’s the fastest swimmer I’ve ever seen.

He takes me to swim training every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and on Saturdays there’s a meet down at the outdoor pool. I like spending time with my Dad; he brings hot chocolate in a thermos for me and on the way home he gives me notes on how I can get better and faster. He thinks my coach Sam is “overpaid and inexperienced”. I think Sam’s nice. He smiles all the time and has a nice voice. He doesn’t yell or lose his temper like my Dad does sometimes. Which is why I need to make sure I’m good, so he doesn’t yell. Sometimes my tummy hurts on Thursdays because I try to beat my one-hundred-meter PB from the week before so that Dad’s in a good mood all evening. When he’s really proud of me, he calls me his little Sailfish—cuz they can swim up to seventy miles an hour.

I always smell of chlorine though, and my hair used to be strawberry blonde but it’s kind of green now and sometimes I have rings around my eyes for hours after I get out of the pool from the goggles being so tight.

But, don’t get me wrong: I love swimming … I think.

Thanks For Nothing, Santa! ( by Indiana Kwong)

Age Range: 7 – 8 Years Genre: Comedy Synopsis: Lila wakes up on Christmas morning, hoping to get a soccer ball from Santa, but things don’t seem to go her way…

LILA: “Please, Please, Please, Please, PLEASE!”

I wake up before the sun and run into the living room. Under the tree is a huge pile of presents: some wrapped in red—those ones are from my Mom and Dad—and the rest are wrapped in gold paper. Those must be from Santa.

I start to pick up the presents and shake them, real gentle, so I can hear if it rattles and feel how heavy it is. I always try to guess before I open it. I wrote a big list this year, but the main thing I want is a pink soccer ball. I pick up the biggest one. Looks about soccer ball size. It’s heavy too. I rip the gold paper off and…

A box of books?! It’s got pictures of fairies on the front, in different colours, with little silver stars all over it! What the heck am I gonna do with a bunch of fairy books?! Thanks for nothing, Santa!

Age Range: 9 – 11 Years Genre:  Drama Synopsis: Sandy is talking to her sister Claire, after Claire just tried to jump out of a tree in their yard.

SANDY: I loved being an only child. So when mom told me I was going to have a sibling in a few months … well, to be honest, it made me mad. Like, who the hell does this … thing think they are? Pushing me out of my room? Taking mom and dad’s attention off me and throwing our whole lives upside down? For the next few months I was a total brat. Didn’t do anything my mom asked. I was crying and kicking up a fuss every moment I could. Then, when I finally got to meet you, well, my whole world changed. It was a she for one! A little sister and she looked just like me and I realised that I wasn’t losing anything but instead I was gaining a friend. That’s just part of why I am so lucky to have you as a sister. So don’t ever do anything like that again… okay?

Age Range: 8 – 10 Years Genre: Comedy Synopsis: Alicia is a princess who doesn’t like boys. She is talking to her father, the king.

ALICE: Daddy, I don’t want to be a princess anymore. I like the pretty dresses and I sort of like the dancing, but … why do I have to dance with boys? I really don’t like boys. The last boy I danced with told me about all the worms he ate. How he’d get his servants to search far and wide for the fattest, juiciest worms in the kingdom. I almost puked on my pretty slippers, Daddy! It was gross. I could just dance by myself from now on. And you, of course, because you’re my dad and not a boy. But I just cannot stand another day of dancing with worm-eaters!

Age Range: 7 – 11 Years Genre: Drama Synopsis:  S honda wants to help her mom bake in the kitchen. She wants to be a chef when she grows up.

SHONDA: Mom, can I help? Why not? I’m good at baking. I do not make a mess! I do a good job. Can we make cookies? Chocolate chip? Everybody likes cookies. I’m done with my homework. So I can help you? Please? I want to be Rachel Ray when I grow up. Can I use the rolling pin? I like the rolling pin. You want me to watch TV? I never get to help. You told me you’d teach me to cook when I’m older, and I’m older now. I know you told me that last week, so I’m a whole week older now. I just want to help, Mommy!

Age Range: 7 – 10 Years Genre: Comedy Synopsis: Addy fell asleep while chewing gum. Now it’s stuck in her hair!

ADDY: (Screams!) Look what happened! Oh no, oh no, oh noooooo! What am I going to do? It won’t come out! No, Mom, you can’t cut my hair! There must be another way! This is all Daddy’s fault. He gave me that Hubba Bubba gum. Two whole pieces! I can’t help that I fell asleep. My hair will be way too short if you cut it! Can’t you wash it out? Isn’t there anything we can do? I don’t want to lose all my hair!

Age Range: 7 – 10 Years Genre: Comedy Synopsis: Mandy helps her little sister learn what is true and what is make-believe.

MANDY: There’s no such thing as real fairies! Think about it. If they existed, we’d see them caught in our bug zapper. Or we’d feel them get squashed under our bare feet in the grass. If you can’t see them or feel them, they don’t exist. That’s why the only fairy that is real is the Tooth Fairy. I know that for a fact because she leaves me cold, hard cash. Now that’s something you can feel.

Age Range: 7 – 10 Years Genre: Comedy Synopsis: Katy is making fun of a girl in her class, Darla, by repeating everything she says.

KATY: “Stop repeating everything I say!” “I said stop it!” “Quit it!” “You’re going to get in trouble if you don’t stop!” “I’m telling!” “That’s it! I’m going to the teacher.” Wait! Darla, I was just kidding! Can’t you take a joke? How come you have to be so serious all the time? You’re always running to the teacher. Learn to take a joke. Jeez! Hey, stop repeating me! I said stop it! It’s not funny. I did this al- ready! You’re not original. Quit it!

Age Range: 7 – 10 Years Genre: Drama Synopsis: Nina just found out from her best friend, Ashley, that she wasn’t invited to their friend Britney’s sleepover party.

NINA: Britney is having a party? Tonight? Oh. I guess … I didn’t get invited. Maybe she forgot? Or it got lost? I thought we were friends. Did everybody else get invited? That’s so mean! I was never, ever mean to her. I don’t like Britney! I don’t care that I’m not going to a party. She’s not my friend anymore. Why don’t you come over to my house instead of going to her party? If you go to her party, you won’t be my friend anymore, Ashley. I won’t be friends with you, either.

Age Range: 9 – 12 Years Genre: Drama Synopsis: Marissa’s mom has been sick for over a month, so Marissa has been in charge of keeping the house clean. When her little sister has an accident, Marissa can’t help yelling at her.

MARISSA: Jessica, what did you do?! Look at this mess you made! You better clean it up now. There’s going to be paint stuck on the carpet! Why can’t you think before you do stupid things?!

Jess, I’m sorry. Please don’t cry. I didn’t mean to yell at you. It’s just that with Mom in the hospital, I’m supposed to take care of things and it’s hard. I’m not a grown-up, but I have to try to be because Dad has to work extra hard to pay for Mom’s hospital bills. But everything’s going to be okay. Mom will get better and come home and it’ll be just like it used to. I know it. (Beat.) How about I help you clean this up—we’ll do it together. I love you, Jess. Will you give me a hug?

WONDERBOOT SNIPPET (by Luke McMahon)

This monologue has a few off stage calls from a mother character. You can do the monologue without this if you need to. 

Age Range: 9 – 11 Years Genre: Comedy Synopsis: A soccer ball sits in the middle of the stage. Sarah enters wearing odd football socks. She looks determined.

SARAH: What do you want to be when you grow up ball? I’m not sure either. A Ballerina? No way! A Firewoman? Maybe! When I grow up I want to be soccer superstar!!!

Sarah cheers and runs a lap around the ball. She stops, stares at the ball.

SARAH: After 94 minutes of battle, the score is even. A last minute penalty has put all of the pressure on me. Sarah the Wonderboot Snippet. I’ve been training for this my whole life. Step one: look at the ball. Check! Step two: place your foot. Check!

A voice from off-stage calls “Sarah!”.

SARAH: Step one: look at the ball. Check! Step two: place you foot. Check! Step three: keep your body straight. Check! The clock is ticking down. The crowd is going wild…

The off-stage voice calls “Tea’s ready!”

SARAH: Ohhhh Wonderboot’s belly is starting to grumble. The smell of lasagne almost too good to refuse. But she won’t let it get in the way of winning the backyard cup! Look at the ball. Place your foot. Straight body. Step four: angle your body. Step five: kick!

“Now please!”

SARAH: Coming! (To the ball.) I’ll have to win the cup tomorrow. Or maybe I’ll be a chef?

ALICE IN WONDERLAND (adapted from the book by Lewis Carroll)

Age Range: 10 – 12 Years Genre: Comedy Synopsis:   In this short adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s children’s classic, Alice meets the White Rabbit and follows him down the rabbit hole.

ALICE: Why, how impolite of him. I asked him a civil question, and he pretended not to hear me. That’s not at all nice. (Calling out.) I say, Mr. White Rabbit, where are you going? Hmmm. He won’t answer me. And I do so want to know what he is late for. I wonder if I might follow him. Why not? There’s no rule that I mayn’t go where I please. I- I will follow him.

Wait for me, Mr. White Rabbit. I’m coming, too! (She falls.) How curious. I never realised that rabbit holes were so dark . . . and so long . . . and so empty. I believe I have been falling for five minutes, and I still can’t see the bottom! Hmph! After such a fall as this, I shall think nothing of tumbling downstairs. How brave they’ll all think me at home. Why, I wouldn’t say anything about it even if I fell off the top of the house! I wonder how many miles I’ve fallen by this time? I must be getting somewhere near the centre of the earth. I wonder if I shall fall right through the earth! How funny that would be. Oh, I think I see the bottom. Yes, I’m sure I see the bottom. I shall hit the bottom, hit it very hard, and oh, how it will hurt!

Hopefully you found this list of monologues for kids useful. If you are struggling to rehearse your monologue here are a few quick points:

1. Read the play (if available). If not, think about the storyline, or make something up you think will fit. Knowing the overall/cotnext story helps you perform the monologue. 2. Learn the lines .  The more comfortable you are with the lines the better. 3. What does your character want?  Why are they saying these words? 4. Where are you? Are you in a church, bathroom, school hall? Specificity is really important, even for young actors. 5. Who are you talking to? Who is the person this scene is directed to? Is it a single person, or a group? Do they have more or less power than you? Are you friends, family, enemies?

Teaching a drama class for kids? Read: How To Run A Great Drama Class

About the Author

is made up of professional actors, acting coaches and writers from around the world. This team includes Andrew, Alex, Emma, Jake, Jake, Indiana, Patrick and more. We all work together to contribute useful articles and resources for actors at all stages in their careers.

You might also enjoy

Monologues for Teenagers

Running an Acting Class for Adults

Running an Improv Class

How to Run a Great Drama Class

12 responses to “Monologues for Kids”

These monologues are fantastic! Great length and good content for kids. Is it ok to use them in teaching group drama classes? I am so often looking for great content and I am thrilled to have found stagemilk!

Thanks so much. Please use them in anyway you see fit. It’s great to work monologues with Kids. Especially if you find great ones, like the ones listed here. Good luck with class.

I am planning to use one of your monologs for a audition, but I need to know what play it is from. Can you please tell me it is the one named Addy.

Hi There, this is a stand alone monologue. So it’s not actually from a larger play. Cheers

My daughter w.ould like to use the Addy monolgue. Is this a stand alone monologue or from a play/script? She would like to use this for an audition. It needs to be about a minute long. Thanks

Hello, is the “Bean” monologue from “Ivy and Bean” (a play?) All I can find is a musical version. Thanks.

These are great! Fun! My daughter would like to use one. Who is the author for Addy?

That is a standalone piece, sorry.

These are great monologues.

I love this monologue it is so kid friendly and the kids in my class love doing them, they take turns playing each character. they stay in my class during recess doing them.

Hello Andrew, thank you for your website. I love your site and enjoy reading it. Regarding the monologue for children “Demon Bunny 777”, unfortunately I have no information about its author and origin. Can you please tell me who is the author of this monologue and is there a sequel to the story?

All of these monologues are StageMilk originals unless an author is stated. So the majority have no further context, so I would feel free to get your students to great the given circumstances.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Please enter an answer in digits: 13 + 13 =

• Math for Kids
• Parenting Resources
• ELA for Kids
• Teaching Resources

How to Teach Number Recognition to Kids in 8 Easy Steps

How to Teach One to One Correspondence To Kids: 4 Easy Steps

How to Teach Odd and Even Numbers in 4 Easy Steps

How to Teach Long Division to Kids in 6 Easy Steps

15 Famous Mathematicians in History That Kids Should Know

How to Prepare a Schedule for Kindergarten With Examples

How to Prepare a Schedule for Preschoolers With Sample

12 Best Funny Short Stories for Kids to Read in 2024

6 Best Alternatives to Public Schooling: A Guide for Parents

How to Cope With Test Anxiety in 12 Easy Ways

What are the Stages of Writing Development [Full Guide]

11 best english grammar apps for kids [android & ios].

10 Different Type of Reading Materials for Kids

15 Best Summer Poems for Kids in 2024

180+ Summer Words for Kids [From A to Z]

12 Best Reading Bulletin Board Ideas for Your Classroom

15 Fun Summer Bulletin Board Ideas for 2024

13 Best Assessment Tools for Teachers in 2024

12 Best STEM Programs for Kids in 2024

12 Best Tips for Substitute Teachers

40 Interesting Debate Topics for Kids of All Ages & Grades

10 Debate Topics for Kids in Preschool

10 debate topics for elementary kids, 10 debate topics for middle school kids, 10 debate topics for high school kids.

Do you want your child to have a strong opinion about everything? Do you want your child to express those thoughts freely and appropriately? Debate topics for kids are a great place to start!

Debate is one of the best strategies to make your child opinionative and a good communicator. A debate is a well-structured discussion on a topic between two parties based on evidence and statistics. 

It allows your kids to think, process information, and come up with a quick reply. In addition, debates are organized so that both parties get equal time to share their thoughts.

In addition, school debates are organized under the supervision of teachers; this ensures that your child gets a good environment to discuss. So, if your child’s school is hosting a debate competition, you should motivate your child to participate in it. This will help to improve their intellectual and communication skills.

If your child is ready to participate in the debate, we have some great debate topics for kids that you can practice at home.

Math & ELA | PreK To Grade 5

Kids see fun ., you see real learning outcomes ..

Watch your kids fall in love with math & reading through our scientifically designed curriculum.

40 Interesting Debate Topics for Kids

To make your child good at debating, you should talk daily with them on a new topic. It will help if you use different topics to expand your child’s knowledge base and form their opinion about everything. Here are some exciting debate topics based on your child’s age:

1. Are pets useful or helpful?

2. What is better for learning; teachers or the internet?

3. Is junk food suitable for children or not?

4. Should students wear uniforms to school?

5. What is the right time to watch television for children?

6. Is virtual learning suitable for young children?

7. Should preschool students bring their toys to class?

8. What are the appropriate school activities for preschoolers?

9. What is the right time to sleep for students?

10. How long should a lunch break be?

11. Should students go on field trips?

12. Are outdoor classrooms helpful for learning?

13. Are aliens real or fake?

14. Should schools teach advanced math to elementary students?

15. Should schools allow students to bring pets to the class?

16. Is homeschooling better than the traditional education system?

17. Do students need recess?

18. Should mobile phones be allowed in the classrooms?

19. Should teachers use interactive learning models in the classroom?

20. Will computers replace teachers in the future?

21. Should junk food need to be banned from school cafeterias?

22. Should the internet be banned from the school premises?

23. Is it compulsory to have PE lectures for all students?

24. Are video games helpful or harmful for children?

25. What is the appropriate amount of screen time for a child?

26. Does your generation have sufficient role models?

27. What is better – private or public schools?

28. Should middle school students volunteer for community welfare?

29. Is it important to teach coding and computer programming in middle school?

30. Is virtual learning the new way of learning?

31. How to stop bullying in school?

32. Is sex education important for high school students?

33. What is the impact of artificial intelligence on humanity?

34. Is cyber security a threat to students?

35. Should the government provide free healthcare for all citizens?

36. Are video games too violent for young minds?

37. Is cooking class important for all students?

38. Should high school students be allowed to study from home?

39. Is history a critical learning subject?

40 Is it good to be bilingual?

How Can Debates Help Your Child?

Participating in school or inter-school debate competitions can help your child in many ways, such as:

1. Analytical skills

When your child gets a topic for debate, they get a chance to explore it with their thought process. As a result, they can analyze situations and come up with adequate replies based on points given by their opponent. In addition, they learn to formulate innovative answers when they are stuck somewhere spontaneously.

2. Public speaking skills 

Debates give your children the confidence to stand on a stage and speak in front of a large audience. The earlier you introduce the debate to your child, the better you can help them overcome their stage fright. Your children learn to handle different audiences and engage with them.

3. Make them listen 

Listening is a very crucial skill that your child can learn from debates. They learn to listen to every word spoken by their opponent carefully. After that, they analyze their remarks and use them to formulate adequate replies. This life skill will help your child become a better emotional and understanding person.

4. Clear thoughts

Debates help your child channel their thoughts and turn them into the right words that other people can easily understand. Multiple thoughts are swirling around your child’s mind. But how to present them properly is something that they don’t know. Thanks to debates, your child can better focus on their thought process and organize it.

Debate Away!

Debates are essential for the academic and analytical brain development of your child. With regular debate participation, you can build a confident and opinionative personality in your child. 

Before taking your child to public debate platforms, you should host a small debate competition at your home. You can use different debate topics for kids mentioned in this blog to prepare your child for school debate competitions.

Explore more online educational resources for kids that will help with their learning experience and make them smarter.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How to turn your child into a better debater.

Here are some quick tips to turn your child into a good debate conductor:

• Start when they are young
• Spike your child’s interest in the debates by showing them different debate competitions 
• Ask your child to learn about new things
• Help your child form an opinion
• Fix your child’s posture
• Allow your child to express their thoughts freely

How long should a debate speech be?

A debate speech duration depends upon the level of debate. For example, a middle school debate can be around for five minutes or more. On the contrary, high school and college can go beyond 10 minutes.

12 Best Cognitive Development Activities for Toddlers

12 Best Social Skills Activities for Kids of All Ages

12 Best Pattern Activities for Preschoolers in 2024

• Pre-Kindergarten
• Kindergarten

Most Popular

76 Best Report Card Comments Samples for Teachers

117 Best Riddles for Kids (With Answers)

40 Best Good Vibes Quotes to Brighten Your Day

Recent posts.

Math & ELA | PreK To Grade 5

Kids see fun., you see real learning outcomes..

Watch your kids fall in love with math & reading through our scientifically designed curriculum.

Parents, try for free Teachers, use for free

• Games for Kids
• Worksheets for Kids
• Math Worksheets
• ELA Worksheets
• Math Vocabulary
• Number Games
• Addition Games
• Subtraction Games
• Multiplication Games
• Division Games
• Addition Worksheets
• Subtraction Worksheets
• Multiplication Worksheets
• Division Worksheets
• Times Tables Worksheets
• Reading Games
• Writing Games
• Phonics Games
• Sight Words Games
• Letter Tracing Games
• Reading Worksheets
• Writing Worksheets
• Phonics Worksheets
• Sight Words Worksheets
• Letter Tracing Worksheets
• Prime Number
• Order of Operations
• Long multiplication
• Place value
• Parallelogram
• SplashLearn Success Stories
• SplashLearn Apps

© Copyright - SplashLearn

Make study-time fun with 14,000+ games & activities, 450+ lesson plans, and more—free forever.

Parents, Try for Free Teachers, Use for Free

Speech topics for 11 year olds

By jared lewis / in hobbies.

Finding a speech topic for class can be a bit of a challenge for most students. Most students have a hard enough time overcoming the fear of giving a speech in front of their classmates. Finding the right speech topic for 11-year-old students can instil confidence and empower them to complete the speech.

Relationships

While it might be tempting to assume that 11-year-old children would want to talk about something amusing or fun, no-fear-public-speaking.com noted that the finalists in a public speaking competition held each year for three successive years preferred topics that were less than "fun." Instead the list of topics making the finals during those three years indicated that students preferred more serious topics that either covered human relationships or global issues. Only one speech topic, candy, made the finals during those three years.

• While it might be tempting to assume that 11-year-old children would want to talk about something amusing or fun, no-fear-public-speaking.com noted that the finalists in a public speaking competition held each year for three successive years preferred topics that were less than "fun."

Topics related to relationships can include areas such as "living with girls" (for boys) or "living with boys" (for girls) for students whose siblings are of the opposite sex. Other relationship topics include dealing with bullies, getting to know people before judging them, the impact of teasing on another child and having a twin. Any type of relationship that is appropriate for children to analyse can be the subject of a good speech.

Persuasive Topics

The prevalence of global or political issues among 11-year-old students indicates that they pay more attention to what takes place in the news than parents and teachers often give them credit for. Persuasive speeches can be one avenue for these students to express their concern over these issues and even attempt to sway an audience in one direction. Keeping the topics pertinent to the student and his daily experiences is more likely to be effective than simply letting him argue on behalf of any topic. For instance, a speech on whether or not children 11-and-older children should have to pay adult prices at amusement parks is more likely to be effective than one on human rights.

• The prevalence of global or political issues among 11-year-old students indicates that they pay more attention to what takes place in the news than parents and teachers often give them credit for.

How To Speeches

Choose an activity you know how to do well and use your speech to instruct others. Students can provide other students with a tutorial of how to complete a task or how to get involved in a hobby that they may already be involved in. Students who already know how to complete the task they will be instructing the audience in completing will be able to easily walk them through the task. Another type of "how to" speech topic deals with issues on how to make their school better or how to become environmentally conscious by starting a recycling program. Many students will like providing their classmates or audience with ideas about how to make their world a better place.

• Choose an activity you know how to do well and use your speech to instruct others.
• Students can provide other students with a tutorial of how to complete a task or how to get involved in a hobby that they may already be involved in.

Public Speaking Tips For Kids

The speeches are written and practiced at home. This year I created a template for the kids to help make a start on their speech. The template not only helps them plan out the content for their speech, but gives them tips on how to define the purpose, research and practise their speech.

I used this template with all three kids – prep, year three and year five. The level of guidance needed by each child varied and I naturally I spent the most time with the six year old as this is the first time he has had to write and present a speech.

Not every element of the template will necessarily need to be completed and depends on the topic. For example the prep child chose “Kids have fun when….” from the list of topics for his class. This topic requires no research to be done as he is an expert in knowing how kids have fun!

The kids may also need more room than for the “middle” section, depending on how long their speech is to be. We simply turned over the page and wrote on the back.

Public Speaking Tips For Kids – A Checklist

I have listed below the elements the template covers:

• Topic and Time: Choose something that you are interested in.
• How long do you have to talk for?
• Audience: Who will you be talking to and who will be judging.
• Subject and purpose: What is the aim of your speech – to persuade, inform, entertain, etc. Brainstorm ideas note them down. Note personal stories you can add to make it more interesting.
• Research: Not just internet, newspapers, magazines, library, family friends etc.
• Structure: Ask yourself the question – ‘At the end of the speech I would like my audience to…….
• Beginning: Brief, capture the attention of the audience and establish the subject and purpose of the speech. Don’t just restate the topic. Add your personality and make it unique, many others may be talking on the same topic.
• Middle: Sets out your ideas, shares your research, includes examples to support your topic. For your time limit work out how many points / paragraphs you can include. Work on having a powerful statement to lead into each new point / paragraph.
• End: Short statement relating back to the topic and sums up the subject and purpose of the speech. Make it brief, but memorable. Try including a memorable line that the audience can take away with them. Memorise your conclusion, so your last couple of sentences can be delivered with confidence and with full eye contact with the audience.
• Practice: By yourself first. Time it and edit your content so it first with the time restraints.
• Palm Cards: Then make palm cards for key points only. Keep cards to a minimum and number them.
• Dress rehearsal: Practice using palm cards, first by yourself, then either in front of family or even video your self.

Are school mornings stressful for you?

Are any of these scenarios familiar to you:

• Are your school mornings currently a harder version of Groundhog Day?
• Do you sleep a bit longer than planned in the mornings then rush to get you and the kids ready?
• Do you wake up to a house that is already in a state of mild chaos?
• Do the kids end up buying their lunches more than you planned because you ran out of time or food?
• Do you drop the kids off at school with you feeling frazzled and the kids grumpy?

Then my super simple system will help revolutionise your school mornings! Sign up to my E-news and receive my guide here .

• Arizona State University (ASU)
• Boston University
• Dartmouth College
• Georgetown University
• Harvard University
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology​
• Our Contacts
• Our Gallery
• Our Pricing
• Our Services
• Purdue University Indianapolis (PU Indy)
• Sample Page
• universities
• University of Florida
• University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

121 Top Persuasive Speech Topics

Ever found yourself tongue-tied when trying to convince someone of your brilliant idea? Or maybe you’re just looking for a topic that will spark lively debate in your next class or meeting. A powerful persuasive speech can change minds, influence decisions, and even inspire action. But where do you start?

This blog features 121 persuasive speech topics carefully selected to cover a wide range of interests, from current events and social issues to personal beliefs and ethical dilemmas.

Table of Contents

What Makes a Good Persuasive Speech Topic?

A good topic is one that you, as the speaker, are passionate about. Your enthusiasm will naturally shine through, making your speech more engaging and persuasive. If you genuinely believe in what you’re saying, your audience is more likely to be swayed by your arguments. A persuasive speech is not just about presenting facts; it’s about connecting with your audience on an emotional level and inspiring them to see things from your perspective.

A good persuasive speech topic sparks interest and encourages critical thinking. It should be a subject that people care about, with actual implications and potential for debate. A complex topic with multiple facets allows for deeper exploration and the opportunity to present a well-rounded argument. Controversial topics that aren’t black and white are particularly effective as they invite diverse perspectives and encourage the audience to question their assumptions.

Equally important is the availability of credible evidence to support your claims. A strong persuasive speech relies on factual information from reputable sources, not just personal opinions or anecdotes. The ability to back up your arguments with solid evidence adds weight to your message and makes it more convincing.

121 Persuasive Speech Topics

Crafting a truly compelling persuasive speech requires a delicate balance. It’s a challenge to discover a topic that both captivates your audience and genuinely excites you. Your chosen subject should be fresh, unique, and thought-provoking, yet it must avoid crossing the line into offense. This balancing act can make finding the perfect topic feel like an elusive pursuit.

To help you on this journey, we’ve curated a list of persuasive speech topics, thoughtfully organized by category. This diverse assortment aims to spark your creativity and lead you toward a subject that resonates deeply with both you and your listeners.

Arts and culture

• Is graffiti art? 
• Should art classes be mandatory for all students?
• Should we continue reading classic literature that is offensive? 
• Should there be a distinction between ‘high’ and ‘low’ literature?
• Are romcoms and erotica series like Fifty Shades of Grey empowering for women?
• Is reading actually more beneficial than watching TV or playing video games?
• Is there any benefit or relevance to teaching high school students Shakespeare?
• Should video games be considered a high form of entertainment?
• Are biopics of deceased musicians and artists ethical?
• Is modern music really worse than old?
• Should paparazzi be banned and unable to sell their photos?
• Should post-secondary education be free?
• Should a year between high school and college be mandatory?
• Is it fair to take cell phones away from kids in middle/high school while they are in class?
• Should school uniforms be mandatory in all high schools?
• Should cursive writing still be taught in schools?
• Do fraternities and sororities actually serve their purpose? 
• Should programming and coding be introduced to young students?
• Should school lunches be free?
• Is college/university necessary anymore?
• Does the education system prepare students for adult life?
• Should gyms be mandatory for all students?
• Should schools do a better job teaching students a second language?
• Should schools teach sign language?
• What age should students be taught sex education?
• Should distant learning be encouraged or avoided at all costs?
• Is animal testing ethical?
• Is drinking coffee unethical?
• Are animal shelters that allow euthanization ethical?
• Should more people try to adopt a vegetarian/vegan diet?
• Is the death penalty ethical? 
• Can racism ever truly be eliminated?
• Can the prison system genuinely contribute to the improvement and rehabilitation of individuals?
• Should justice systems and incarceration facilities focus on rehabilitation over punishment? 
• Should cosmetic plastic surgery be covered by insurance?
• Are morals objective or subjective?
• Should zoos and circuses be banned?
• Should fur coats be illegal?
• Are censorship laws ethical?
• Is it ethical to genetically modify embryos? 
• How should we address the homelessness crisis, and who is responsible for it? 
• Should minors who commit violent crimes be charged and tried as adults?

Environment

• Can we ever live in a truly ‘green’ and environmentally friendly society?
• Should plastic water bottles be banned?
• Are businesses responsible for implementing environmentally friendly production and products?
• Should there be a carbon tax?
• Should electric cars be mandatory in the near future?
• Should we switch to entirely renewable energy?
• Do low-income families have the same duty to be eco-conscious as high-income families do? Should plastic bags and single-use plastic be completely banned?
• Should car racing be banned?
• Should fast fashion be banned?
• Is capitalism a functional, ethical economic system? 
• Should everyone, despite their income, be taxed at the same rate?
• Can we introduce another economic system to our society? 
• Should each state, the federal government, or individual companies be responsible for setting living wages?
• Should the minimum wage be doubled?
• Should everyone adapt to the four-day workweek?
• Should people who make under a certain amount per year not be taxed at all?
• Should governments encourage and reward people for shopping locally? 
• Should advertisements be banned during TV and media programming aimed at kids?
• Has modern consumerism gone too far?
• Do we actually live in a truly democratic society?
• Should there be a minimum wage or a living wage?
• Should the legal voting age be decreased?
• Does the pay gap exist?
• Are younger politicians more effective?
• Should there be stricter gun laws?
• Should presidents be able to serve more than two terms?
• Should everyone get the day off to vote?
• Should political party funding be regulated?
• Should political smear campaigns be banned?
• Is there political bias in mainstream media?
• Should you date someone with opposing political views? 
• Is the government spending too much on the military sector?
• Are individuals solely responsible for their own health?
• Should prescription medications be free?
• Should sugary drinks like pop be taxed at higher rates?
• Should Starbucks be allowed to advertise its high-calorie and high-sugar drinks?
• Should the government regulate the prices of fruits and vegetables?
• Should fast-food restaurants regulate and reduce their portions?
• Should gym memberships be free?
• Should the government change and restructure the workweek to reduce stress?
• Should nurses be paid more?
• Should smoking be banned?
• Should insurance companies fully cover rehabilitation stays for health issues such as eating disorders?
• Should the pay for professional teams be based on audience viewership? 
• Are professional sports getting too violent? 
• Are athletes overpaid?
• Is cheerleading empowering or exploitative? 
• Should children be allowed to compete in competitive sports?
• Should we spend millions on the Olympic Games?
• Do people place too much importance on high school and college football?
• Should alcohol and tobacco ads be banned during sports?
• Is betting on sports teams ethical?
• Should high school and college athletes be paid?

Social media

• Should there be an age limit on social media?
• Should cyberbullying have the same repercussions as in-person bullying?
• Are online relationships as valuable as in-person relationships?
• Does “cancel culture” have a positive or negative impact on societies?
• Are social media platforms reliable information or news sources?
• Should social media be censored?
• Does social media create an unrealistic standard of beauty?
• Is regular social media use damaging real-life interactions?
• Is social media distorting democracy?

Science and technology

• Is paper media more reliable than digital news sources?
• Should automated/self-driving cars be legalized?
• Should schools be required to provide laptops to all students?
• Should software companies be able to have pre-downloaded programs and applications on devices?
• Should drones be allowed in military warfare?
• Should scientists invest more or less money in cancer research?
• Should cloning be illegal?
• Should societies colonize other planets?
• Should there be legal oversight of technology development?
• Should students sing Christmas carols, say the pledge of allegiance, or perform other tangentially religious activities?
• Should nuns and priests assume genderless roles?
• Should schools and other public buildings have prayer rooms?
• Should animal sacrifice be legal if it occurs in a religious context?
• Should countries be allowed to impose a national religion on their citizens?
• Should the church be separated from the state?
• Does freedom of religion positively or negatively affect societies?
• What makes a hero?
• Are we headed toward World War III?
• Did humans really land on the moon?
• Are serial killers born or made?
• Can good and evil be separated neatly?
• Is canceling culture a positive or negative thing?
• Can money buy happiness?
• How to become a millionaire?
• How to become more confident?
• How to live to be 100?
• How to survive an apocalypse?
• Do extraterrestrial beings exist?
• Why should students start investing at 16?
• The true history of… (events of your choice, such as the Chernobyl disaster, the Black Plague, Salem Witch Trials, etc.)

How to Choose a Persuasive Speech Topic?

It’s essential to choose a topic that not only interests you but also resonates with your audience. Begin by brainstorming ideas that you are passionate about or issues you feel strongly about. Consider current events, social issues, or controversial topics that spark debate.

Narrow down your options by researching the potential topics. Gather information from reputable sources to ensure you have enough material to support your arguments. Evaluate the relevance and significance of each topic for your target audience. A persuasive speech should aim to inform, influence, or motivate the listeners, so choose a topic that will engage them.

After narrowing your choices, analyze the feasibility of each topic. Consider the time limit for your speech and the resources available for research. Choose a topic that you can adequately address within the given time frame and for which you can gather sufficient evidence to support your claims.

Most importantly, choose the topic that you believe will have the most impact on your audience. A persuasive speech should leave a lasting impression, so choose a topic that you can present with conviction and enthusiasm. Consider the potential counterarguments and be prepared to address them effectively. With careful consideration and research, you can choose a persuasive speech topic that will captivate your audience and leave them pondering your message.

10 Elements of a Good Persuasive Speech Topic

A persuasive speech aims to convince the audience to agree with your viewpoint. To achieve this, a well-written persuasive speech incorporates several key elements:

1. Compelling topic

The foundation of a persuasive speech lies in choosing a topic that is relevant, interesting, and has the potential to spark debate. It should be a subject you are passionate about and knowledgeable about, as this will enhance your credibility and enthusiasm.

2. Clear thesis statement

A concise and well-defined thesis statement serves as the backbone of the speech. It clearly outlines your stance on the topic and provides an outlook for the arguments that will follow.

3. Strong introduction

The introduction is crucial to capture the audience’s attention and establish your credibility. It should begin with a hook, such as a thought-provoking question, a surprising statistic, or a relevant anecdote, to pique the audience’s interest.

4. Well-structured body

The body of the speech is where you’ll present your arguments and supporting evidence. Each argument should be logically organized and supported by credible sources, statistics, examples, or personal anecdotes.

5. Effective use of rhetorical devices

Rhetorical devices such as repetition, parallelism, rhetorical questions, and analogies can enhance the impact of the speech and make it more persuasive. They help to emphasize key points, create emotional appeal, and engage the audience.

6. Appealing to emotions (pathos)

Connecting with the audience on an emotional level is important for persuasion. The speaker (you) can evoke emotions such as empathy, fear, hope, or anger by using vivid language, personal stories, or powerful imagery.

7. Establishing credibility (ethos)

Your credibility is critical to gaining the audience’s trust. This can be achieved by demonstrating expertise on the topic, citing credible sources, and presenting oneself as confident and knowledgeable.

8. Logical reasoning (logos)

A persuasive speech should be grounded in logical reasoning. The arguments presented should be coherent, well-supported, and free of fallacies. Using data, statistics, and expert opinions can reinforce the logical appeal of the speech.

9. Addressing counterarguments

Acknowledging and addressing opposing viewpoints shows that you have considered different perspectives and strengthened your argument. By refuting counterarguments effectively, you can further convince the audience of your stance.

10. Strong conclusion

The conclusion is the final opportunity to leave a lasting impression on the audience. It should summarize the main points, reiterate the thesis statement, and end with a call to action or a powerful closing statement that resonates with the audience.

How to Create a Persuasive Speech

Creating a persuasive speech involves a strategic approach that combines compelling content, effective delivery, and a deep understanding of your audience. It’s not just about stating your viewpoint; it’s about addressing an argument that resonates and motivates others to see things your way.

Begin by choosing a topic that you’re passionate about and that holds relevance for your audience. Thoroughly research your topic to gather credible evidence, statistics, and expert opinions to support your claims. A well-informed speech is more likely to persuade.

Organize your speech into a clear and logical structure. Start with a strong introduction that grabs attention and establishes your credibility. State your thesis clearly, outlining the main points you’ll address. The body of your speech should coherently present your arguments, using evidence and examples to back up each point. Conclude with a summary and a call to action that inspires your audience to adopt your viewpoint.

Practice your speech beforehand to ensure you’re comfortable with the material and can speak with confidence and conviction. Maintain eye contact with your audience, use appropriate gestures, and modulate your voice to keep them engaged. Consider using visual aids, such as slides or props, to enhance your presentation.

Tailor your language and approach to your specific audience. Consider their demographics, beliefs, and values to ensure your message resonates with them. Use persuasive techniques such as emotional appeals, logical reasoning, and personal anecdotes to connect with your listeners on a deeper level.

From the Desk of Yocket

Persuasive speech topics are the heart and soul of any effective discourse that aims to influence an audience’s beliefs or actions. A well-chosen topic can spark curiosity, start a debate, and leave a lasting impact on listeners. It’s important to choose a subject that not only resonates with your passions and knowledge but also holds relevance and interest for your intended audience.

Finding the balance between personal connection and audience appeal is key. A topic that genuinely excites you will naturally translate into a more engaging and persuasive presentation. Whether it’s a pressing social issue, a controversial policy, or a lesser-known historical event, the right topic can be a catalyst for meaningful dialogue and inspire others to see the world from a new perspective. The possibilities are vast, and the power to influence through persuasive speech is invaluable for anyone seeking to make a difference.

• No Comments
• July 15, 2024

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• teen killed

15-year-old killed among 3 teens who were shot within hours of each other in Houston area

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Three teens, including one who died, were shot Tuesday night in the Houston area.

In the first incident, police were called to the 6300 block of Rogerdale, near the West Beltway in Alief, at about 6:57 p.m. and discovered two 15-year-olds were involved.

The Houston Police Department picked up the call there, but it's believed that's not where the shooting happened.

According to Lt. R. Willkens with HPD, a 15-year-old who was shot in the back and the person he was with couldn't tell investigators where he was wounded, only that it happened at a "corner store somewhere."

The two were on the way to the hospital when they pulled over on Rogerdale and called 911.

Witnesses told police the teen was heading to the Alief Learning Center to collect money from somebody when the shooting happened, but investigators are still working to confirm those details.

Not long after that first shooting, at about 8 p.m., officers responded to Memorial Hermann Hospital - Southwest, where someone drove a second 15-year-old victim after he was shot in the head.

He died at the hospital.

According to new information from police Wednesday morning, this 15-year-old was shot at 4200 Belle Park Dr.

That's about two miles away from the first shooting, but it wasn't immediately known if the two incidents were connected.

The two 15-year-olds died and were injured in District F, represented by Councilwoman Tiffany Thomas.

"There are two families that are upset and sad because someone lost their life and another one is paralyzed, and it's senseless, and it didn't need to happen," Thomas said.

Thomas said one way she wants to prevent teens from being victims or involved in crime is through summer jobs, saying keeping teens busy keeps them safe.

"We have to invest in summer job programming. A summer job is a public safety strategy. Unfortunately, this administration has not invested in summer jobs," Thomas said.

Thomas said the parks department, schools, and her office are working to provide more summer jobs to deter violence.

"We have to intervene. We have to redefine public safety, not by centering policing but by looking at how we invest in summer jobs, the quality of life in those neighborhoods, and other safety and summer enrichment programs on the west side," Thomas said.

In a separate incident, a 16-year-old was also shot around midnight in the Greenspoint area.

HPD said it happened at an apartment complex on City View and Benmar.

The teen was outside in the parking lot with some friends when someone walked up and started shooting.

The 16-year-old was shot in the neck and managed to run back to his apartment.

His mother took him to the hospital, where he is in critical condition.

Police believe they may know who the shooter is.

For more news updates, follow Lileana Pearson on Facebook , X and Instagram .

Related Topics

• TEEN KILLED
• DEADLY SHOOTING

Teen Killed

Manhunt underway for 2 who allegedly killed teen in Spring Branch

New details emerge in police shooting of 13-year-old New York boy

Video shows NY officer fatally shooting 13-year-old on ground

Community invited to funeral for 12-year-old girl found dead in creek

Top stories.

WEATHER WATCH: Heavy rains could flood streets through Thursday

• 2 hours ago

20-year-old's mom says investigators ignored video proving his alibi

Kids with autism left without therapy as clinic suffers after Beryl

Record-breaking drug bust prevents millions of fentanyl-laced pills

America's largest teachers' union endorses Kamala Harris for President

Astros salute Mariners fan who grabbed historic Yordan Alvarez ball

Tax breaks available for some homeowners affected by Hurricane Beryl

Taxpayer dollars to repair groundwater motors up for vote Tuesday

My Speech Class

Public Speaking Tips & Speech Topics

434 Good Persuasive Speech Topics

Jim Peterson has over 20 years experience on speech writing. He wrote over 300 free speech topic ideas and how-to guides for any kind of public speaking and speech writing assignments at My Speech Class.

Are you struggling to find a good persuasive speech topic ? We know – it can be hard to think of an interesting topic!

We’ve done all  the hard work and created a list of 400+ great persuasive speech ideas for college students, teachers, and anyone interested in public speaking. They’re organized into categories to make it easier for you to find one that that genuinely interests you.

In addition to our collection of speech topic ideas, we also have some tips on selecting a  good topic, as well as researchihng, writing, and delivering your persuasive speech.

What Makes a Good Persuasive Speech Topic?

Crafting a persuasive speech or writing a persuasive essay begins with picking the right topic. What makes a good persuasive speech topic? What are the most important factors that make it or break it when it comes to a good persuasive speech topic?

You are much more likely to be successful with your speech when you choose a topic that interests you, rather than merely picking one from a list.

Talking about something you know or would like to know more about well makes it much easier and fun!

Can We Write Your Speech?

Get your audience blown away with help from a professional speechwriter. Free proofreading and copy-editing included.

Some speech topics have been done to death. They are tired and stale, and are not likely to excite you or your audience (think abortion, gun control, smoking, same-sex marriage). Find a topic that grabs you and your audience, something new and fresh, unique and original.

• Interesting

A good persuasive speech topic is one that you can use to grab the audience’s attention, inform and persuade, and provide a strong persuasive argument for adopting your point of view.

You want to pick a topic that your audience cares and what to hear about.

How To Select a Good Persuasive Topic

How to narrow down this list of ideas?

First, make a rough inventory:

• Which of the speech topics are you interested in?
• What amuses you, makes you move right the way, happy or sad?
• Which topics do you know something about?
• Which topics would you like to research?

Review your inventory list and narrow your choices by answering these questions:

• Do you know global, national, state, community, job or school-related problems and solutions, issues or controversies, related to the persuasive speech ideas?
• Are you excited about any historical or current events, places, processes, organizations or interesting people?
• Do you have certain concerns, opinions, or beliefs?
• Do you think something has to change in the human attitude or social values?
• Did you see or hear something in the news or read about in library books on any of these topics?
• Is there a link with personal experiences, professional or personal goals?

All the answers on the questions above help you to find your angle of approach for a conclusive speech. So, select a few specific angles. Those can serve as the basic main points.

Best 10 Persuasive Speech Topics

Don’t have time to read our full list of 400+ topic ideas? Here is our list of 10 best persuasive speech topics.

• Money can’t buy love or happiness
• Cooking should be taught in schools
• The minimum wage should be increased
• Advertising is a mind game
• Introverts make great leaders
• Eating meat is unethical
• Anyone under 16 should not be allowed to date
• Sustainable clothes are not really sustainable
• The penny coin should be phased out

List of Persuasive Speech Topics

• Constitutional Issues
• Easy and Simple
• Environment
• Food and Drink
• Funny and Humorous
• College Students
• International Relations
• Motivational
• National Security
• Practical Knowledge
• Relationships

10 Animal Persuasive Speech Topics

• Should more pets be adopted than bought from a breeder?
• Are pitbulls a vicious breed?
• Should a dog that has bitten somebody be executed?
• Should we tame wild animals like lions and sharks.
• Should battery farming still be legal?
• Should ‘factory farming’ be banned?
• Adopting pets is the best choice.
• How do puppy mills affect us?
• The benefits of having pets.
• Why cats make the perfect pet.

See this page for a full list of Speech Topics About Animals .

12 Automotive Persuasive Speech Topics

• Should the public first learn how to drive a manual transmission before obtaining their license?
• Drivers should have to take three courses before getting a license.
• Should young children use booster seats in vehicles?
• Hands-free cell phone use in cars should be promoted.
• Should the driving age be 14?
• The danger of texting and driving.
• Watch out for animals when driving.
• Why police should not chase a car.
• Why you should buy a Japanese car.
• Why sports cars are dangerous.
• Driving tests should be free.
• Share the road with bikes.

10 Business Persuasive Speech Topics

The world of business has so many aspects to it, but at the end of the day they are all about customer relations, about making money and about the relationship between employers and employees.

Below are topics that can be used to persuade your audience on a variety of business topics.

A tongue in cheek topic that can be used is “Hiring a lazy person isn’t always a bad thing”, this could be used to persuade an audience that often lazy people find the quickest solution to get something done, resulting in quickly completed work because they just want to get it over and done with.

• Advertising has tons of mind games.
• Advertising standards should be higher.
• The importance of understanding niche marketing.
• Why introverts make good leaders.
• Owning a business means you will lose your friends.
• Business will harden you.
• You should never go into business with family members.
• Just because someone knows you it doesn’t mean you owe them any discounts.
• To be a business owner you must learn to be well organized.
• It’s important that a business should have personality.

See this page for a full list of Persuasive Speech Topics for Business .

5 Constitutional Issues Persuasive Speech Topics

• Do you think it would be fair for the government to detain suspected terrorists without proper trial?
• Should flag burning as a form of protest be prohibited?
• Should every day begin with a silent prayer at school?
• Why alcohol should be illegal.
• Prayer in schools should not be mandatory.

10 Easy and Simple Persuasive Speech Topics

Below follow topics that should be easy enough to persuade your audience without going into too much research. There are some which can be used as ‘tongue in cheek’ topics such as ‘The paparazzi are the real stalkers’ and ‘People need to visit the dentist more often’.

• People should not text while driving.
• Celebrities who break the law should receive stiffer penalties.
• Teachers should pass a basic exam every few years to renew their certification.
• Cities should offer free bike-sharing programs.
• People should eat less junk food.
• We should do more to end poverty and world hunger.
• We should value the elders in our society and learn from their wisdom.
• Money can’t buy love or happiness.
• Children should be offered incentives for doing right, rather than punishment for wrongdoing.
• More recycling should be encouraged.

See this page for a full list of Easy and Simple Persuasive Speech Topics .

9 Economy Persuasive Speech Topics

• Should products manufactured outside the U.S. come with an additional tax?
• Buy products that are made in the USA.
• Free trade agreements are bad for workers.
• The trade deficit with China is dangerous.
• The minimum wage should be increased.
• Daylight savings time has many advantages for our economy.
• The oil companies are to blame for the rising energy prices.
• In most countries the economy is in the mighty hands of just a few multinational corporations.
• Hiring cheaper foreign employees hurts our economy.

10 Education Persuasive Speech Topics

• Teachers should have to pass a test of basic skills every decade to renew their certifications.
• Should free college tuition be offered to poor children?
• Would it be better to introduce a set of skills tests for students, before they graduate high school?
• Do you believe that students who are responsible for cyberbullying should be expelled from school?
• Would it be better if high school students completed community service hours to graduate?
• Do you think elementary and high school students should be allowed to use cell phones at school?
• Should students have to be on the honor roll in order to play sports?
• Art and music programs in public schools are an essential part of education.
• Schools should have the right to search students’ personal property (backpacks, lockers, pockets) to fight drugs in schools.
• Do you think students should be allowed to listen to music during study hall?

See this page for a full list of Education Persuasive Speech Topics .

10 Environment Persuasive Speech Topics

• Should there be stricter laws for protecting endangered species?
• Should only native plants be grown in gardens?
• More people should carpool or use public transportation.
• Should the U.S. limit the use of natural resources?
• How pollution is negatively affecting humanity.
• We should use algae to make oil instead of drilling.
• Why hydraulic fracturing should be banned.
• Why we shouldn’t use disposable diapers.
• Hybrid cars are good for the environment.
• We should keep our community clean.

See this page for a full list of Environmental Persuasive Speech Topics .

10 Ethics Persuasive Speech Topics

• Do you think female construction workers should have the same salary as male construction workers?
• Should assisted suicide be legal for people who suffer from terminal illnesses?
• Do you think the death penalty is the best punishment for dangerous criminals?
• Should you base your perspective of people on stereotypes you have heard?
• Should product testing on animals or humans be allowed?
• Why you should not choose your child’s genetics.
• Are people morally obligated to help the poor?
• Female genital mutilation should be stopped.
• Is it ethical to eat meat?
• Wearing fur is unethical.

10 Family Persuasive Speech Topics

• Should underaged people be allowed to consume alcohol at home, with parental permission?
• Should children 13 or younger be allowed to watch music videos or music channels like MTV?
• Do you think those older than 13 should be allowed into R-rated movies?
• Should teenagers be allowed to purchase violent video games?
• Is it appropriate for children to watch horror movies?
• Those under 16 should not be allowed to date.
• Parental pressure on child actors and athletes is harmful.
• Why parents should not hit their children.
• Fairy tales are good for young children.
• Why kids should not play R rated games.

See this page for a full list of Family Persuasive Speech Topics . We also have a page with Speech Topics for Kids .

6 Fashion Persuasive Speech Topics

• Men should wear pink.
• Choose an Eco-Fashion Fabrics Wardrobe!
• Are Sustainable Clothes Really Sustainable?
• Jewelry: Less Is More.
• Fashion Reveals Your True Identity.
• Fashion Is An Expression Of The Character

11 Financial Persuasive Speech Topics

• Why banks should ban hats and sunglasses to avoid robberies.
• Student loans should be forgiven.
• Reservation casinos are only beneficial if managed correctly.
• National debt is everyones problem.
• Purchasing a car is smarter than leasing one.
• The Japanese yen is affected by the weakness of the dollar.
• The Euro currency will oust the dollar.
• The Chinese Yuan / Japanese Yen / European Euro will all surpass the Dollar as leading currency.
• Phase the penny coin out.
• Severe budget cuts are the only way to maximise good financial results.
• Keeping a close eye on personal finance is key in achieving something in life.

15 Food and Drink Persuasive Speech Topics

• Genetically modified foods should be labeled.
• Do you believe companies who manufacture alcohol should be allowed to advertise on TV?
• Every child should learn to cook.
• Cooking should be taught in schools.
• Should we donate unused food from supermarkets?
• The history of added sugar in our food.
• We should all grow our own vegetables.
• Eat more fruits and vegetables.
• The promise of genetically engineered food.
• Why peanuts are amazing.
• Drink more orange juice.
• Why people should cook.
• Farmers’ markets should be increased.
• Eating organic is good for your health.
• Get artificial hormones out of food.

See this page for a full list of Speech Topic Ideas On Food, Drink, and Cooking .

10 Fun Persuasive Speech Topics

Fun topics are a great way to get people to listen to what you have to say, because when they are entertained they listen more carefully. Fun topics also help the speaker be more at ease, because the topics are more relaxed. Below follow 100 topics that you can have fun with while persuading your audience. .

• Ghosts are not real.
• We all need to be childish.
• Smokers have more acquaintances.
• Music has the power to heal.
• Diamonds are a girls best friends.
• Couples need to live together before getting married.
• Allow kids to believe in Santa.
• Pick up lines do work.
• Cake is not cake if it is dry.
• Parents must be prepared for the ‘birds and bees’ talk.

See this page for a full list of Fun Persuasive Speech Topics .

10 Funny and Humorous Persuasive Speech Topics

Humour is a fabulous way to get people’s attention. Below are questions and statement topics that can be used to get your points across on a variety of topics.

It is important to remember that there can be a fine line between funny and insulting. So use wit and make it fun without insulting your audience. This would be important to remember with a title like ‘The most dangerous animal out there is a silent woman’.

• Blondes are not as dumb as they look.
• Why funny pick-up lines work.
• Guys gossip more than girls do.
• You should not be Facebook friends with your mom.
• If things go wrong, your horoscope is to blame.
• Students should not have to do a persuasive speech in front of a large audience.
• Millennials should stop wearing spandex yoga pants all the time.
• Dads are more fun than moms.
• Argumentative essays are pointless.
• Shoes that don’t fit right are hazardous to your health.

See this page for a full list of Funny Persuasive Speech Topics .

16 Government Persuasive Speech Topics

• Do you believe there should be stricter federal restrictions regarding content on the internet?
• Should employers be required to post job opportunities on a government-run website?
• The government should provide shelter for the homeless.
• Should the state fund schools run by religions?
• Whose face should be printed on the newest bank note?
• Do you believe Puerto Rico should become a state?
• Our nation’s justice system needs to be improved.
• Should the government have a say in our diets?
• The military budget must be decreased.
• Should people get drug tested for state aid?
• How policy works in local government.
• The government should increase funding of Amtrak.
• Fixing potholes should be a priority of local government.
• Eminent domain should be used rarely.
• The war on drugs is a failure.
• Zoning laws should be common sense.

10 Health Persuasive Speech Topics

• Female minors should be allowed to get birth control without telling their parents.
• Should stem cell researchers be able to use cells from aborted babies to help cure diseases?
• Should doctors be allowed to prescribe contraception for girls under 16?
• Do you think it would be better if the USA had a universal health care system?
• Do you believe free condoms should be distributed in schools?
• Regular exercise will improve your health.
• Restaurants should post all ingredients to prevent allergic reactions.
• Do you believe fast food should come with a warning label?
• The use of animals in medical research is a necessary evil.
• Seat belts ensure all passengers a safer ride.

See this page for a full list of Persuasive Speech Topics on Health and Fitness . We also have a page with Medical Topics .

10 School Persuasive Speech Topics

School is a whole new world, where students discover more about themselves and life around them. These are topics that students will most likely have to deal with at some point during their elementary, middle, and high school careers.

• High school students should be allowed to have cell phones in school.
• High school students should not have to wear school uniforms.
• All high school students should learn a foreign language.
• Girls should be allowed to play on the boys’ sports teams.
• High school students should be required to do community service.
• Extracurricular activities are important for your future.
• Students should be able to stay up late, even on school nights.
• Peer pressure helps students grow as individuals.
• Students should have healthy food options.
• Students should be paid for getting good grades.

See this page for a full list of Persuasive Speech Topics for School Students .

10 College Students Persuasive Speech Topics

The following topics are for college students and about the many different aspects that they will deal with during their time in college.

• College textbooks should be replaced by iPads.
• Mobile phones should be switched off during a lecture.
• College students shouldn’t skip classes.
• Students shouldn’t study something that they are not passionate about.
• Gap years are actually a very good idea.
• Notes should always be taken in class.
• Student loans are expensive and students need to understand what they are getting themselves into.
• Students should get to know other students.
• It’s smart to get the harder classes out of the way first.
• Taking summer classes will help students get ahead of schedule.

See this page for a full list of Persuasive Speech Topics for College Students .

10 Teens Persuasive Speech Topics

The following topics are aimed at teens and subjects which are important and matter to teens.

• Teenage girls should be on birth control.
• Teenage boys are lazier than girls.
• Teens should have weekend jobs.
• Homework should not be given.
• Being popular isn’t a good thing.
• Teens are obsessed with scary things.
• Chores shouldn’t be paid for.
• Sex education must be compulsory.
• Exchange student programs for all students.
• Free time gets teens into trouble.

See this page for a full list of Great Speech Topics for Teens .

5 History Persuasive Speech Topics

• Did the U.S. Army provide their soldiers drugs during the Vietnam war?
• African- American achievements should be celebrated.
• Why Lincoln was the best President.
• Revisionist history is dangerous.
• The moon landing was a lie.

See this page for a full list of History Speech Topics .

10 Interesting Persuasive Speech Topics

Interesting topics will always have an audience glued to every word, even when they may disagree with your point of view. Ultimately it is your job to persuade them that your view is in fact correct.

These topics have a mix of simpler speeches such as “Pick up lines do work” here both humour and a few examples of pick up lines have worked will get you going in the right direction. For a speech with a bit more research put into it there are topics such as “Stem cell research in murder”.

• The standards of beauty are never the same.
• Princess Diana was killed.
• Energy drinks are dangerous.
• School day needs to involve less sitting and more exercise.
• No credit cards for under 25.
• Healthy relationships require conflicts.
• Everyone needs medical insurance.
• Tooth whitening is out of control.
• In future air planes won’t crash.
• Business should hire more apprentices.

See this page for a full list of Persuasive Interesting Speech Topics .

13 International Relations Persuasive Speech Topics

• Do you think it is time for the United States to suspend overseas military operations?
• The U.S. should cut off all foreign aid to dictatorships.
• Why you should volunteer in a developing country.
• Should Scotland be a country of its own?
• China will be the next superpower.
• Is any nation truly independent?
• Should women drive in Saudi Arabia?
• Foreign oil dependence is dangerous.
• Weapons disarmament should be increased.
• The war in Iraq was a mistake.
• The United Nations is important in defusing international crises.
• Human rights should be advanced all over the world.
• China will be the almighty economic superpower by 2025.

10 Law Persuasive Speech Topics

• Should those who are caught driving after consuming alcohol lose their driver’s license for one year?
• Should it be illegal to drive while talking on the phone?
• Should illegal music and movie downloads be prosecuted?
• Do you believe illegal immigrants should be allowed to apply for a driver’s license?
• Should motorcyclists have to wear a helmet?
• People over 65 should be required to take a bi-annual driver’s test.
• Should the driving age be raised to 21?
• Should assault weapons be legal?
• Should known gang members be prohibited from public parks?
• Do you think it should be illegal for people to curse on TV during daytime?

See this page for a full list of Legal Speech Topics .

3 Literature Persuasive Speech Topics

• Why reading is more beneficial than watching television.
• Why it is a good idea to read Fifty Shades of Grey.
• Why people need to read more books.

17 Media Persuasive Speech Topics

• Why it’s wrong for the media to promote a certain beauty standard.
• Is the media responsible for the moral degradation of teens?
• Do magazines marketed to teenagers send the wrong message?
• Why Disney should not be making Star Wars movies.
• Why you should study photography.
• Should certain T.V. shows have age restrictions?
• Why the media is to blame for eating disorders.
• The media does not force us to worship false icons.
• Why the Russian should have beat Rocky.
• Television is harmful to children.
• Why comic books are good to read.
• Some TV shows are educational.
• Make TV more educational.
• We need more funding for public television and radio.
• Violence on television should be regulated.
• Cable TV monopolies destroy competition.
• Katniss Everdeen would alienate Harry Potter.

10 Motivational Persuasive Speech Topics

• School leaders must shape high-achieving learning curricula for students.
• Set a clear goal and devote all your positive energy toward reaching it.
• What to do for people who have no motivation to live a happy life.
• The art of moral imagination is the key to intellectual and spiritual development.
• Why it is hard to follow your dream.
• What keep most of us from following the voice of your heart when it comes to love or even discovery travelling?
• Overcome your stage fright and fear of public speaking.
• Begin with forming a moral tool set when children are young and build further when they are at least 18 years old.
• Aim straightforward in whatever project you undertake, and emphasize and evaluate what you want to achieve often in between the completed parts of the total planning.
• Prudence is an effort you can turn non-believers into believers in your plans.

See this page for a full list of Speech Topics For Motivational Speaking .

6 Music Persuasive Speech Topics

• Why the French horn should be played more.
• Should schools allow uncensored songs at school dances?
• How listening to music could improve your day.
• Why music is beneficial to society.
• MP3 music should be free.
• Rock music is better than Country & Western.

6 National Security Persuasive Speech Topics

• Are intensive security screenings essential for those who travel in airplanes?
• Negotiating with terrorists is sometimes justifiable.
• Should police carry firearms?
• Homosexuals belong in the military.
• Women benefit the military in many ways.
• Should police carry toy guns?

10 Politics Persuasive Speech Topics

• Should it be legal for politicians to accept campaign contributions from corporate lobbyists?
• Why you should vote.
• Ban abusive language in elections.
• Why you should know Bernie Sanders.
• Term limits need to be respected.
• Give Kurdistan back to the Kurds.
• Zimbabwe is the next drama in world politics.
• Central Asian states could become a threat.
• America is not the world’s policeman.
• Globalization pays off.

See this page for a full list of Speech Topics about Politics .

3 Practical Knowledge Persuasive Speech Topics

• Basic survival skills are important to know.
• Basic camping skills everyone should know.
• Personal hygiene is important for professional success.

7 Psychology Persuasive Speech Topics

• Intelligence depends more on the environment than genetics.
• Human development depends primarily on environmental factors.
• Why we should not see psychologists.
• Why do we need to love and to be loved?
• Can money give you happiness?
• Why introverts make the best public speakers.
• Verbal abuse can be much more destructive than physical.

See this page for a full list of Psychology Speech Topics .

23 Relationships Persuasive Speech Topics

• Should young people have internet relationships?
• Men and women speak a different language of love.
• Long distance relationships are possible.
• Why it is important to live together before marriage.
• Teens should live with their friends once a week.
• Jealousy can be a disease.
• Most people say they will break up with a cheating partner, but in the end most people do not.
• Counseling is the solution for working through relationship problems.
• Intimacy is the key to a successful relationship.
• Women cheat more than men do.
• Interreligious Relationships – Love between two people can never be forbidden.
• Arranged marriages must be outlawed.
• Asking someone to wear a condom shows a lack of trust.
• Celibacy is outdated.
• Cheating isn’t wrong if you do it well.
• Co-workers should never date.
• Dating behavior rules are simple for girls: No means No, not Yes.
• Living together before marriage will lower the divorce rate.
• Men and women speak different languages in love matters.
• People only need one good friend.
• Polygamy should be allowed.
• You will learn most from friends that are different from you.
• Romance works best the old fashioned way.

8 Religion Persuasive Speech Topics

• Should public schools teach world religions?
• Students should be allowed to pray in school.
• Women should be priests.
• Religious conflict must be avoided.
• Why Islam is a peaceful religion.
• Islamic fundamentalism is not true Islam.
• Religious cults are dangerous.
• Faith in God should be protected.

See this page for a full list of Topics on Religion and Spirituality .

10 Science Persuasive Speech Topics

• Do you think the United States government should spend more on space programs?
• Why should we be aware of what is happening in outer space?
• Why Pluto should still be considered a planet.
• Mars was the same as Earth in the past.
• Why you should donate your body to science.
• We need more scientific advancements.
• Qualitative research is more preferable than quantitative research.
• Religion and science do not mix. (Or: they do.)
• Scientists have the duty to translate their findings in normal language.
• Theories are useless if they can not be transformed into strategies.

See this page for a full list of Persuasive Science Speech Topics .

11 Self-Help Persuasive Speech Topics

• Art is a stress reliever and can reduce depression.
• With hardwork and determination anyone can be successful.
• Why we should live life spontaneously.
• Improve your time management.
• Embarrassing moments make you stronger.
• Be true to yourself.
• Dress for success.
• How to continue your personal growth.
• The importance of self- confidence.
• If you don’t give up, you’ll make it.
• Talking to yourself can be beneficial.

10 Society Persuasive Speech Topics

• Should larger passengers be obliged to purchase two plane tickets, or two movie tickets?
• Should American families have no more than two children, in order to control population growth?
• Should property owners be obliged to clean the snow from sidewalks on their property?
• Should there be a cop in every bar to make sure people do not drink and drive?
• Do you believe that older people should receive free bus rides?
• Should all citizens of the USA complete one year of community service?
• Do you believe it is time for America to use the metric system?
• Why it should be mandatory for all students to stand for the pledge.
• Do you believe that cities should provide free wireless internet?
• Why living in the country is better than the city.

See this page for a full list of Persuasive Society Speech Topics .

10 Sport Persuasive Speech Topics

Some sports topics can quickly turn into an argument between fans so keep in mind that special care should be taken with some of the suggested topics.

The term soccer was used to distinguished between soccer and American football, feel free to use the term football for those countries that do not use the term soccer.

• Should some musical groups, such as marching band and show choir, be considered a sport?
• Do you think cities should have a bike sharing system?
• Should college athletes be paid?
• Why baseball players should take drug tests before playing.
• High school football programs should receive less funding.
• Female sports should be given equal coverage by the media.
• Should drug tests be mandatory for professional athletes?
• Should athletes be paid less?
• Should drug tests be mandatory for school athletes?
• Winning is not as important as trying your best.

See this page for a full list of Persuasive Sports Speech Topics .

28 Technology Persuasive Speech Topics

• Google and other search engines will be the death of libraries.
• Make sure to backup your computer files several times a day.
• What kind of influence will technology have on our future?
• Printing photos is better than keeping them on a computer.
• Do you believe internet censorship is inappropriate?
• Should nuclear power be used?
• How technology will change our lives.
• Internet could do more to free deaf people from their social isolation.
• Should screen time also be limited for adults?
• Why the government should regulate technology.
• Technology is making people less creative.
• Technology has made life better.
• Why Microsoft Word products should be free.
• Why you should not buy an iPhone.
• Anti-piracy software does not work.
• Internet chatrooms are not safe.
• The amount of spam you see in your mailbox is just the tip of the iceberg.
• We are addicted to the internet.
• Put down your phone and connect with people.
• Electronics are making kids lazy.
• How does a search engine work?
• Apple music should be free.
• The importance of the internet.
• Internet gambling needs more regulation.
• Computer literacy should be increased.
• The importance of internet fraud awareness.
• Why selfies are a thing of the past.
• People who say they do not need or want to use the world wide web are insane.

12 Travel Persuasive Speech Topics

• Why you should go to Bermuda.
• Why airline tickets should be cheaper.
• Traveling makes you more open-minded.
• Always report travel complaints as soon as possible when back home.
• Backpacking means every day unexpected adventures if you are open for it
• If there was no tourism there would be much more poverty.
• Support eco-tourism.
• Tourism ruins historical sites and there should be placed warning signs to awake them.
• Extreme air turbulence can be fatal.
• Fly First Class at least once in your lifetime.
• The best way to travel is in a guided group.
• Antarctica should be closed for tourists and scientists

8 Workplace Persuasive Speech Topics

• Should large corporations hire a number of minorities that are proportionate to the population?
• Do you think 14 year olds should be allowed to hold jobs?
• Why you should choose a high paying job over a fun job.
• Why everyone should work retail once in their life.
• Tipping should be mandatory in restaurants.
• Women make better managers than men.
• The importance of office parties.
• Labor unions should be protected.

Our list of topics is by far the best list you will find online – both in terms of quantity and quality. We add and remove ideas weekly to keep the list up-to-date.

Many timely persuasive speech topics can be found on radio, TV, your local newspaper, or your Facebook and Twitter feeds. We also have Argumentative (which is a type of persuasive speech on a controversial issue) and Policy topics . If you know of a cool topic, please send it to us and we will publish it on our page with fresh topics.

For persuasive essay topic ideas have a look at our list of Interesting Research Paper topics : these can be easily adapted for persuasive speeches.

Write a Gripping Personal Narrative Essay Using Our Cheat Guide

Vote of Thanks Examples

50 thoughts on “434 Good Persuasive Speech Topics”

Thank You! 🙂 Very helpful and inspiring and you get a good laugh out of these topics, wish me luck on my test.

That was some awesome topics for my college presentation thanks for the help 🙂

Thank you so much i got a 82 on my speech! I talked about how women don’t have rights, and that they should be in the kitchen. Thank you again!!!

These topics are good I like give speech. Speech good for speaking. thank for topics

Why smoking can help you make friends

These topic are good. Thank you so much..

Really helpful, I pro-formed a speech outlining why exactly unfaithful thots should be be vanquished from our society. Got a 69.

Thanks so much! I did a speech on the unfaithful thots of our society and the plague being wrought upon the population. We need a solution. Some might say a final, solution.

These topics are great. Thank you

OMG thank you sooooo mush you literally saved my life.

Thankkkk youuuuuuuuuuuuu sooooo much these topics are amazing and thank you for saving my life my speech was why airlines should be cheeper and i got a 99

Great topics but there is no R rating for video games. (Family, Topic 10)

Thank you so much this was really helpful!!!!

these are good topics because im in 5th grade in my class right now and we are starting pursasive right now

Why sex education important

Are pitbulls a vicious breed

Germany is the best

Does Lightning McQueen have Life Insurance or Car Insurance ?

Correction: why cats make the purrfect pet.

thank you this is a very helpful and inspiring topics

These were good and helpful. This was exactly what I needed for my speech. Thanks to whoever came up with all of these.

Thank you so much. My speech on getting Belle Delphine banned got 69%

Thank you so much, this was inspiring and helpful.

ok, so I know im the only one that did this but its actually 414 speech topics so!!!!!11

This was v helpful- thank you! i did that Princess Diana was murdered and was very easy to be passionate about it – thx again!

very nice. help alot.me like moon landing one. thought was funny.

i love ThiS website SO MUCH it helped me with my speech endlessly and will be forever greatful xxx <3 <3

Why water causes cancer

Why Sped kids should have more special attention in schools?

-Tax the freaking pants off the 1%

-Only highly education education specialists should make laws regarding education

-Schools should implement standards that require more recess and P.E. and no homework

did a speach on koalas being nuclearly reactive thx sm

please tell kate to stop trying to help with my academics in writing thanks xx

Should kids be allowed to kick their parents out of the house when they get caught doing bad things

cheating isnt wrong if you do it well

i personally think that this website helped a lot i think you should add a kpop section just for who is interester ^0^ thank you 🙂

I made a speech explaining why toothbrushing should be mandatory and it got a 69

thanks so much i got a 69 on my speech about free robux

thanks bro i got a 69% on my speech about how i would eat henrique all night

Couldn’t find a topic but site was amazing! Henrique on the other hand

thanks got me a 100

Those were so helpful wish me luck on my test

henrique is kind of annoying but a good website

i’m thinking a speech on the flash sounds perfect.

Thank youuu so muchhh!!!!!! This was so helpful and rly helped me find new perspectives to look from. I wrote my speech on how men are animals, have no rights, and should be locked in mines and milked for their semen. I also found out im pregnant guys!!!! Time to find out if it’s a girl or an abortion!!!!!

I got the best speech topic.thank goodness.I only got an hour to finish.

why can’t we make toast in the bath

Why teens shouldn’t have sex before marriage.

I laughed so hard at “students should not have to do a persuasive speech in front of public audiences”

is this the real life, or is it just a fantasy?

this site was so good i found nothing! thank goodness i got a 0% my grades are rising

Leave a Comment

I accept the Privacy Policy

Reach out to us for sponsorship opportunities

Vivamus integer non suscipit taciti mus etiam at primis tempor sagittis euismod libero facilisi.

© 2024 My Speech Class

• Games, topic printables & more
• The 4 main speech types
• Example speeches
• Commemorative
• Declamation
• Demonstration
• Informative
• Introduction
• Student Council
• Speech topics
• Poems to read aloud
• How to write a speech
• Using props/visual aids
• Acute anxiety help
• Breathing exercises
• Letting go - free e-course
• Using self-hypnosis
• Delivery overview
• 4 modes of delivery
• How to make cue cards
• How to read a speech
• 9 vocal aspects
• Vocal variety
• Diction/articulation
• Pronunciation
• Speaking rate
• How to use pauses
• Eye contact
• Body language
• Voice image
• Voice health
• Public speaking activities and games
• About me/contact

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

Your first step is to consider your audience. The questions you'll want answers to are:

- What age are these children?

- What backgrounds do they mostly come from?

- What background, if any, do they have in relation to your topic?

- What common experiences do they all share that you could use as stepping stones into your material?

- What level of vocabulary will they readily understand?

- what grabs and keeps their attention?

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

• 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.

Return to Top

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

Use humor and personal storytelling to get your message across.  

Children of all ages love stories, especially personal ones. A story told well, with humor, will grab their attention faster and hold it longer than any other technique I know. Make it relevant, add characterization, (voices and appropriate body language), and you'll have every child listening.

You can find out more about incorporating stories into your speeches on these pages:

• storytelling  - How to choose and tell a story
• storytelling set-ups  - How to integrate a story into your speech
• characterization techniques  - How to make your stories come alive through gesture and voice.

Vocabulary choices, questions & props

• 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 ( d emonstrate ) 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.

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.

Whoops - traps for the unwary

Learning the hard way; when it doesn't go like you imagined it would and a great dark chasm opens beneath your feet and you find yourself rapidly disappearing down it, silly wig and all.

It's ghastly, and an experience I've had more than several times in my teaching career.

Here's what I've learned. Blaming your audience is letting yourself off the hook! When a presentation lurches sideways it's not the children's fault. The hell hole is generally of our own making. Any of these factors could have caused it:

• 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!

• Return to top of how to write a speech for kids

speaking out loud 

Subscribe for  FREE weekly alerts about what's new For more see  speaking out loud  

Top 10 popular pages

• Welcome speech
• Demonstration speech topics
• Impromptu speech topic cards
• Thank you quotes
• Impromptu public speaking topics
• Farewell speeches
• Phrases for welcome speeches
• Student council speeches
• Free sample eulogies

From fear to fun in 28 ways

A complete one stop resource to scuttle fear in the best of all possible ways - with laughter.

Useful pages

• Search this site
• About me & Contact
• Blogging Aloud
• Free e-course
• Privacy policy

©Copyright 2006-24 www.write-out-loud.com

Designed and built by Clickstream Designs

3 takeaways from Trump’s speech, final night of the Republican convention

Trump delivered an initially powerful but ultimately bizarrely meandering speech, as the convention played up the assassination attempt against him.

MILWAUKEE — Welcome to The Campaign Moment. This week, we’re running through the big moments and trends from the Republican National Convention.

(Did a friend forward this to you, or are you seeing this on the website? If so, sign up for this newsletter here . And make sure to check out the Campaign Moment podcast .)

The big moment

The 2024 GOP convention came to a close Thursday night, with former president Donald Trump formally accepting his party’s nomination just five days after surviving an assassination attempt.

But even that story wasn’t necessarily the biggest of Thursday, as the potential exit of the opponent Republicans had spent four days attacking — President Biden — loomed larger and larger .

Here’s our final set of takeaways from the convention week that was.

1. A tale of two Trump speeches: powerful and perplexing

The first 15 minutes of Trump’s speech were powerful, as he recounted Saturday’s assassination attempt.

The rest of the more than 90-minute-long speech was thoroughly confusing. It meandered between points, often going off-script with ad-libs that left a standard-issue Trump campaign speech without the kind of coherent, lofty theme that defines traditional presidential convention fare. And Trump’s initially subdued manner and calls for unity didn’t match the content of an often-divisive speech.

Trump grabbed the audience with a promise to discuss what happened Saturday, but qualified it by saying he would only do it once, “because it’s actually too painful to tell.”

He celebrated slain firefighter Corey Comperatore and two others who were shot.

Perhaps the most powerful moment came when Trump said, “I’m not supposed to be here tonight.” The crowd began chanting, “Yes you are!” Trump ultimately responded, “Thank you, but I’m not.”

“Despite such a heinous attack, we unite this evening more determined than ever,” Trump wrapped up that section. “I am more determined than ever. So are you. So is everybody. … Our resolve is unbroken, and our purpose is unchanged.”

Also unchanged: Virtually the rest of his speech, undifferentiated from a normal Trump stump speech.

Despite the call for unity, Trump soon referred to “crazy Nancy Pelosi,” repeatedly cited false allegations of stolen elections, called for the firing of the head of the United Auto Workers, cited the “China virus” and the “invasion” at the Southern border. He called a Democratic senator a “total lightweight.” He even repeated a puzzling allusion to “ the late, great Hannibal Lecter ,” from “The Silence of the Lambs,” which he’s used before.

All of it was familiar from Trump’s speeches — as was the extensive ad-libbing. But this wasn’t just any Trump speech. This was a different venue, his introduction to many more casual voters who might not eat up his many musings.

The assassination attempt probably drew even more eyeballs to him, and it’s not clear what those new viewers took away, beyond that Trump was nearly killed five days ago.

“So I’d better finish strong,” Trump said at one point. “Otherwise we’ll blow it. And we can’t let that happen.”

2. Republicans trolled Democrats on replacing Biden

As Democrats appeared to inch closer to replacing their 2024 standard-bearer, Republicans decided now would be a good time to stir the pot.

Previously, some high-profile Republicans made clear their preference for facing Biden and began attacking Vice President Harris more . But Wednesday, their move was to try to stoke Democratic divisions, casting any attempt to replace the nominee as a brazen and even undemocratic one.

Top Trump campaign adviser Chris LaCivita, at a CNN/Politico event, called it an attempted “coup” and an effort to “ depose ” Biden “that’s going to create a whole host of different issues.”

At another event, former Trump acting director of national intelligence Richard Grenell called efforts to switch nominees “ outrageous ” and urged the media to declare that “you don’t get to dump this [president]. This is what happens in other countries, not in America.”

On X, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) labeled it an “ insurrection .”

None of these descriptions actually fit; Democrats are trying to persuade Biden to drop out, not overturn the primary results themselves. But as the Biden loyalists get a little quieter , there’s certainly value for Republicans in framing things this way in hopes of riling them (or perhaps even Biden) up.

At the very least, Republicans seemed to be having some fun trolling Democrats over their discord.

3. They leaned in on the assassination attempt — and maybe God’s favoritism

Trump wasn’t the only one to focus extensively on the assassination attempt.

Speakers repeatedly pitched it and Trump’s response as evidence of Trump’s resolve, courage — and possibly even God’s will that he be president.

Eric Trump focused on it, calling Trump “a man who survived a bullet that was intended to eliminate him permanently from our future and from our family.”

“You wiped the blood off your face,” Eric Trump said. “And you put your fist in the air, in a moment that will be remembered as one of the most courageous acts in the history of American politics.”

Trump lawyer Alina Habba said Trump “did not just take a bullet in Butler, Pennsylvania. He has and will continue to take them for each and every one of us.”

While other Trump supporters have posited that God intervened to save Trump, a couple of speakers seemed to go a little further to suggest it showed God’s favoritism.

Evangelical leader Franklin Graham, unlike many others pointing to possible divine intervention, noted that firefighter Corey Comperatore was not spared.

“I cannot explain why God would save one life and allow another one to be taken,” Graham said. “I don’t have the answer for that.”

Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson suggested that he did have that answer.

“When he stood up after being shot in the face, bloodied, and put his hand up, I thought at that moment that was a transformation. This was no longer a man. Well, I think that I think it was divine intervention,” Carlson said, adding: “This was the leader of a nation.”

Carlson added: “I think a lot of people are wondering, what is this? This doesn’t look like politics. Something bigger is going on here. I think even people who don’t believe in God are beginning to think, well, maybe there’s something to this, actually.”

Take a moment to read:

• “ What happens if Biden drops out of the presidential race? ” (Washington Post)
• “ Pelosi has told House Democrats that Biden may soon be persuaded to exit race ” (Washington Post)
• “ Obama tells allies Biden’s path to winning reelection has greatly diminished ” (Washington Post)
• “ The right is attacking the Secret Service’s women agents. Trump hasn’t joined in. ” (Politico)
• “ Pelosi, Long Fixated on Winning, Is in No Mood to Lose With Biden ” (New York Times)