Are you confused about letting your child learn debating? Debating is an art that trains an individual to express his or her thoughts through a rational, understandable, and convincing tone. It sharpens the skill of critical thinking, interaction, communication and negotiation. When a person starts learning debating from an early age, she or he advances towards high career prospects. This article highlights the benefits of debating for teenagers and children. Why should children, teens learn debating? Though debating is considered as extra-curricular activities, this skill has many more things to offer. Check out here some proven advantages of debates for children. Improved critical thinking skills Debates help improve critical thinking skills in children and teenagers. In regular academic studies, students hardly get the scope of learning critical thinking as learning is no longer interest-based. But, debating can sharpen a student’s critical thinking skills and let them examine the given topic. Then, they accumulate their thoughts and discard concepts or theories that don’t make sense. Thus, they can adopt the rational ideas that really work. Read Benefits of hobbies: Ways to help your child find a hobby Enhanced public speaking skills While debating children and teens can talk confidently as they already have a better idea about the topic and they know it. So, they have the perfect pose. If a boy or girl debates for a while, he or she can deliver his speech confidently and in a persuasive manner. The public speaking skills of young students will be greatly improved as they already attained better poise and speech delivery skills. Bettered student retention  Debating can increase a student’s information retention of the topics studied. This happens because debating is an active, and interest-based learning that engages the mind of the children thoroughly. Things that make students learn actively incline to grow information retention. Thus, debating helps children remember what they have learned for a longer time than rote learning.  Read: How to Teach Your Child Respect, Discipline? Refined listening and note-taking skills Debating helps children improve their note-taking skills while listening to others. At the beginning of debating it is difficult to listen to others and take notes. However, if they have been debating for a while, they will increase your listening skill.  They can catch the main points and are going to defend those points more generally. This also teaches children to filter information at the same time as they listen to their opponent.  Increased self-confidence You can talk confidently on your early prepared topic. As debates help the teenagers and children to know the topic earlier and take preparation on that, of course, they know what they are talking about and thus their self-confidence will naturally increase. This is truly helpful for adolescents who might struggle with self-esteem in their high school years. Read Mild Autism: How to identify a child who is slightly autistic? Grow teamwork skills and collaboration Debaters naturally collaborate with each other to make a debate go well. Collaboration becomes interesting to the children who are debaters.  Moreover, children learn teamwork skills through debate. Debates can lead to great team bonding and fun collaboration work. More confidence to stand up for truth The importance of debate for young students comes on its own when they step into the real world. The teenagers and children get the opportunity to learn a lot of controversial topics in detail while preparing for debates. In real life, they can confidently stand up for the truth when pushed.  Read How to Teach Growth Mindsets to Your Child? Learn to graciously state one’s point  Through debating, children can judge whether it is the right time to state certain information or wait until the recipient is more open to hearing the information. Debaters also read the emotions on the other person’s face. Debate helps children and teens to assess the countenance of their opponent and argues gently accordingly. Help students put balanced arguments Debating without doubt helps a student identify bad arguments and refine good arguments. They learn how to keep the balance of their arguments. Here the great benefit of debating is that students experience how to learn through trial and error. Read Pregnancy Anxiety? How to reduce the stress of pregnant mothers? Help students better structure their thoughts Debate helps students structure their thoughts. In many cases, children can structure their thoughts aptly by finding one or more reasons for their beliefs. New debaters learn to develop a well-rounded viewpoint. But, experienced debaters learn to start their arguments as they already anticipate their opponent’s objections. Debating is Fun The best thing about debating is that no doubt it is plenty of fun! It was a great way to connect with other children and bond with them if they were on your own team. Children also get a great thrill when they have done their best on a debate and you’ve made points in a compact way. Read: Teen Depression: How to help your depressed teenager? How to encourage a child to participate in debate Participating in debates can polish a child’s communication skills. Besides, it helps to boost their confidence as well. The following tips help you to encourage your kid to participate in debates. Start when they are young Help your child become confident and expressive by discussing simple topics and seeking their point of view when they are young.   Pick their interest Select the topic that your child feels interested in. It will inspire the child to participate. Besides, they will remain engaged in the activity. Moreover, practicing at home will give them first-hand experience of what a debate is. Read Benefits of Pets for Kids: Why Raising Children around Livestock? Allow freedom to express their ideas Do not stop them when your child expresses his or her views. Allow them to openly express what comes to their mind. It will help in developing their thinking skills and thought processes. Help them understand ‘For Or Against’ In order to make your child’s side strong, help them in knowing both aspects of the topic.  Strengthen their facts It is essential to know the facts correctly. Help your child to do detailed research of the topic and make their facts clear.  Read Kleptomania or the habit of stealing in children: How to deal with it? Fix their body posture Guide your child on the right body posture-standing tall and being alert, learning how to move their hands, making eye contact with the audience and the opposition team, etc. Your guidelines help to give a positive and long-lasting impression on your child. Teach them how to proceed in an argument Teach them the value of being polite during a debate. Guide them when to speak and also when to listen. This will help your child to be a good speaker as well as a good listener. Recap The art of debate is an essential skill that every student should develop. Children and teenagers can know how to analyze, rationalize, put forward comprehensive arguments, and disagree politely from the debate. Besides, it improves children’s academic performance and scores because they learn to research, prioritize and write evidence-based arguments. Debate instills a sense of perspective and helps to build self-esteem as well. Therefore, children, teenagers and students must be encouraged to participate in debates. Read How to Bathe Babies during Winter?