When my son was 6, I thought “public speaking” was something that came much later. I mean, why would a first grader need it? He was still figuring out spellings and reading books with giant fonts.

But a moment at his cousin’s birthday party changed everything. The host asked each child to come forward and introduce themselves with a fun fact. When it was my son’s turn, he froze. Hands shaking, eyes wide, he whispered, “I don’t want to.” We didn’t force him, of course. But the disappointment in his eyes broke my heart.

That evening, I found myself googling “confidence building for kids” and stumbled upon PlanetSpark. Their focus on early communication development caught my eye. I signed up for a trial with low expectations. After all, he barely spoke in new settings.

To my surprise, his first class was a hit. His coach was warm, animated, and spoke to him like a friend—not a teacher. They talked about dinosaurs (his obsession), made up a silly story about a talking T-Rex, and giggled the whole way through. My son couldn’t wait for the next session.

The following weeks were a revelation. His class activities were designed for his age: show-and-tell, expressive reading, rhyming games, and mini story performances. Slowly, he started opening up—not just during class, but at home too. He began telling us his own made-up bedtime stories. He even narrated a poem (with actions!) during a Zoom call with his grandparents.

One day, he made a handmade invitation card for our neighbor and said, “I’ll go give it myself.” That was the boy who used to hide behind me when the doorbell rang.

By the third month, his PlanetSpark coach helped him record a 90-second story presentation titled “My Pet Dragon.” We played it on TV for the whole family. He beamed like a little star.

His confidence spilled over into school. His teacher messaged me, “He’s raising his hand more often—and he even read a full paragraph during circle time.” That may sound small, but for us, it was a giant leap.

PlanetSpark didn’t just teach my son to speak—it made him feel brave.

What I appreciated most was how age-appropriate everything was. They weren’t pushing him to be a ‘mini speaker.’ They were nurturing his creativity, giving him a safe space to be heard, and celebrating his every attempt—however small.

We now have a weekly tradition: “Friday Speech Night.” He picks a topic (usually something like ‘If I Were an Avenger’ or ‘Why Dogs Should Go to School’) and performs for the family. We clap wildly every time. He even made a certificate for himself—“Best Storyteller of the Week.”

PlanetSpark gave us more than just a confident child. It gave our family memories, rituals, and pride in small milestones that matter the most.

So yes, he may still be young. But he’s not too young to have a voice. And thanks to PlanetSpark, he’s learning how to use it, one joyful sentence at a time.