Good Public Speaking Topics for Kids (Easy, Fun, and Age-Appropriate)

Public speaking is one of the most transferable skills a child can develop. Research links early communication confidence to better academic outcomes, stronger social relationships, and higher long-term earning potential. 

Yet most children arrive at their first speaking exercise with a topic they didn’t choose, about something they don’t care about, in front of an audience they find terrifying—and conclude that public speaking is something they’re bad at rather than something they haven’t properly started yet.

The topic is usually where things go wrong first. A child who feels genuinely connected to what they’re saying forgets, at least briefly, to be scared. A child reading from a script about climate change they were assigned last Tuesday does not.

Every topic on this list meets three criteria: the child is likely to have a genuine opinion about it, it’s specific enough to handle in two to three minutes without research, and—most importantly—it doesn’t have one obvious right answer. If the topic produces an eye-roll and a shrug, it’s the wrong topic. 

The list is organised by age group, with a section on fun speaking games at the end for lower-stakes practice.

The goal at this age isn’t a polished performance. It’s a positive first experience—because a talk that goes well builds more confidence than ten that feel like ordeals.

Easy public speaking topics for younger kids (ages 6-9)

At this age, the strongest topics come entirely from the child’s own life and imagination. No research, no structured argument, and little risk of being factually wrong under pressure.

• My favourite animal—and one thing most people don’t know about it
• The game I’d play forever if I had to pick just one
• My favourite meal and why everyone should try it at least once
• If I were headteacher for a week, the first three rules I’d change
• The funniest thing that has ever happened to me
• My favourite character from any book, film, or game—and why they’d make a terrible best friend
• If I could have any superpower, here’s what I’d choose (and why)
• The sport I love and one rule I’d change to make it better
• What I think aliens would find most confusing about humans
• If I could swap lives with any animal for a day

Offer two or three options and let the child choose. Owning a topic produces more confident delivery than assignment does.

Public speaking topics for 10-11 year olds

At 10-11, most children can sustain a short structured opinion and begin to engage with ideas slightly beyond their immediate experience. The key is keeping topics concrete and personal rather than abstract—a 10-year-old has strong views on Roblox and digital apps and few on geopolitics.

• If I ran my own YouTube channel, what would it be about and who would watch it?
• The invention I think kids my age actually need
• If I could add one subject to the school timetable, what would it be and what would a lesson look like?
• One thing I wish adults would stop doing
• If kids ruled the world for one week, what would change first?
• The best rule in my school—and the worst one
• A time I changed my mind about something important
• If I could swap lives with any adult for a day, who and why
• The most unfair thing about being a kid
• Something everyone my age loves that I don’t—and why
• If homework disappeared tomorrow, what would happen next?
• The hardest decision I’ve ever had to make
• If I could build my own app, what problem would it solve?
• The difference between being smart and being wise
• A mistake I made that taught me something useful
• If I had £100 to improve my school, how I’d spend it
• What adults think kids care about vs what we actually care about
• If games could teach one life skill better, what should it be?
• The best teacher I’ve had—and what made them different
• If I could ban one thing from school, what and why
• A small habit that makes a big difference in my life
• If I could invent a new subject, what would students learn?
• The kind of person I want to be at 20—and how I’d start now

If a child rolls their eyes at a topic because the answer feels obvious, that’s useful information. The best public speaking topics don’t have a correct answer—they have a defensible one.

Public speaking topics for 12 year olds

At 12, children are on the edge of secondary school and ready for topics that don’t have clean answers. These are designed to produce genuine disagreement rather than consensus.

• The biggest thing I’m worried about starting high school—and what I’ll do about it
• A time I felt left out—and what it taught me
• If I could set one rule for high school, what it would be and why
• What “being popular” actually means—and whether it’s worth it
• A moment where I had to choose between doing what’s easy and what’s right
• What I’ve learned about trust
• The role social media (or AI) should play in school life
• If grades didn’t exist, how would I measure success?
• The hardest part about growing up that adults forget
• What I would change about how students are grouped or streamed
• The one habit I want to build before I turn 15

Fun public speaking games for kids of any age

These formats lower the stakes through play and build confidence because they don’t feel like practice.

Table Topics for kids. A question pulled from a jar, 60 seconds to respond with no preparation (borrowed from Toastmasters). Start with fun questions (“Would you rather be able to pause time or rewind it?”) and build toward more substantive ones as confidence grows.

Two truths and a lie. Each child makes three statements about themselves—one false—and the audience guesses which. Teaches pacing, deadpan delivery, and holding a room.

The 60-second sell. Pick any object in the room and convince the audience to buy it in 60 seconds. Builds persuasive language, fast thinking, and the confidence to speak without a script. Bonus points if they’ve watched the movie.

Mystery object. Describe an object without naming it until the audience guesses correctly. Develops descriptive language and composure under mild pressure.

The bad idea pitch. Give them a deliberately terrible product (“shoes that fill with water”) and 60 seconds to defend it like it’s genius. Builds creativity and commitment under pressure.

Switch sides. Start arguing one side of a question, then halfway through they must flip and argue the opposite. Trains flexibility and listening.

Finish the story. One student starts a story, the next continues, and so on. Each has 20–30 seconds. Forces attention, continuity, and improvisation.

The expert interview. One student pretends to be an “expert” on a random topic (e.g. clouds, pizza, dinosaurs). Others ask questions. The speaker must answer confidently on the spot.

Emotion remix. Give a simple topic, then assign an emotion (angry, excited, bored). Same content, different delivery. Builds vocal range and presence.

Agree then add. Each speaker must start with “I agree with…” and build on the previous point. Encourages listening instead of waiting to speak.

Three random words. Give three unrelated words that must be included naturally in a short talk. Forces structure under constraint.

Improvised speaking builds a kind of resilience that prepared speeches alone never produce. A child who can respond to a question they’ve never seen before is already ahead of most adults in a boardroom.

4 ways to help a child prepare for public speaking

1. Find one main point and two or three supporting reasons. That’s the complete structure of an effective short speech. Have them add examples where needed.
2. Rehearse out loud. Not in their head, where everything sounds fine, but standing up, in a room, out loud. Silent rehearsal produces false confidence.
3. Give one piece of feedback at a time. “Speak slower.” “Look up more.” “Make the ending stronger.”
4. Repeat the loop quickly. New topic, same process. Improvement comes from reps, not perfecting one speech.
5. Teach them how to breathe. Breathing exercises before a talk can help calm anxiety, and breath control helps kids speak clearly without rushing.

Bring these public speaking exercises to your school

Interested in a public speaking assembly keynote for your school?

Get in touch to discuss hosting engaging school sessions for pupils across the North-West and UK—practical talks designed to introduce children to public speaking.

To find out more or request information for your school, email themotalkshow@gmail.com.