Six ways to help your child deal with stage fright

We all have phobias and fears at some point in our lives; some we overcome, while others stick with us for the rest of our lives. Stage fright is frequently at the top of the list. 77% of people are terrified of speaking in public, according to studies. This stage fright expresses itself in every situation in which the student is being evaluated or judged, and it can have a detrimental impact on their performance, impede their ability, and shatter their confidence in standing up for projects and class presentations.Glossophobia (fear of public speaking) affects approximately 15 million people on a daily basis.Sweaty palms, trembling voice, butterflies in the stomach, feeling stiff. Your child has spent a good deal of time practising for an important performance. But come d-day and he suddenly starts feeling nervous. Public speaking is feared by 75% of the population. That means that over 200 million people are afraid to talk to others.

Let us help you with some tips to overcome this stage fright

First of all, acknowledge your child's feelings. Tell her that it is okay to be a little nervous before the show. Show her videos of famous personalities describing their stage fear and or possibly even goofing it up on stage!

Avoid knee jerk reactions like backing out of a performance at the last minute to ease your child's anxiety. Focus on building resilience and the power to deal with difficult situations. 

However, if the child is extremely nervous, and you feel going on stage might cause more damage to their confidence, you may allow them to perform privately for you/small group of friends. Take videos of her performance and show her how well she is doing. Take baby steps in building their confidence. Never let them back out completely. Confidence rises with age, with 69% of those aged 45 and up feeling quite or very confident, compared to only 25% of those aged 16 to 24.

(Fear of public speaking was reported by 44% of women and 37% of males. ) 

Teach your child to believe in himself. The best of performers make mistakes on stage but their confidence covers it all up. Tell your child it’s okay to make mistakes on stage as we are all human. What is more important is not to get bogged down by our mistakes. 

Appreciate the small steps they take towards removing their anxiety. 

Give them simple techniques to feel better on d-day. For example, the use of breathing exercises to alleviate stress, eating light and easy meal before going on stage. 

Last but not least, ensure a good amount of practice and preparation. Remember "practice makes perfect!"

Every child has his own journey to carve. As a parent it is our job to be with them, supporting and guiding them wherever necessary. The rest, experience itself will teach. So do your thing and stand back and hope for the best.

Stay Tuned! Stay Relevant!