The Thoughts Were There—The Words Weren’t

My daughter has always had a vivid imagination. She’s the kind of child who creates elaborate stories with her dolls, turns cardboard boxes into castles, and narrates entire movies while watching them. But when it came to expressing her ideas in front of others, she froze.

At school, her teachers told me, “She’s smart, but she’s hesitant to speak. Even when she’s written something beautiful, she won’t volunteer to read it aloud.”

It broke my heart a little. I knew she had something special inside her—but no one else could see it because she wouldn’t share it.

Looking for Support That Actually Works

We tried various things—reading aloud at home, enrolling her in elocution classes, even storytelling workshops. But nothing clicked. Either she was too nervous, or the sessions weren’t designed with kids like her in mind.

Then I heard about PlanetSpark through another parent at a birthday party. She said her son had gone from avoiding Zoom classes to hosting family quiz nights. I was intrigued.

So we signed up for a trial class.

A Gentle Start

I watched her first class from the side. The coach didn’t start with rules or pressure. She asked, “If you could live in any book, which one would it be?”

My daughter whispered, “Harry Potter.”

The coach grinned. “Perfect. Then let’s pretend you’re a Hogwarts student. What’s your first spell? What’s your owl’s name?”

Within minutes, my daughter was smiling, sitting up straighter, and describing an owl named “Moonfeather” who delivered secret notes. That night, she told me it was the “most fun class ever.”

The Changes We Saw

By the third week:

• She asked to record a story on my phone and send it to her grandparents.

• She volunteered to say a line during her class skit.

• She told me she wanted to write and narrate a story for her younger cousin’s birthday.

These may sound like small things, but for us, they were huge.

Why This Worked When Others Didn’t

The Content Was Relatable

Every topic was something she wanted to talk about. “What if your toys could talk?” “Describe your dream holiday.” Nothing felt like a school task.

The Coach Was Her Cheerleader

She never corrected too harshly. Instead, she’d say, “That was great—next time, try adding a pause after this line.” That kind of encouragement kept her going.

There Was Structure Without Pressure

Each session had clear goals—body language, voice modulation, storytelling—but it always felt like a game. That balance made all the difference.

A Moment That Made It All Worth It

One evening, she said, “Mama, I wrote something for you.” She pulled out a folded sheet from her school bag. It was a short speech titled “Why My Mom Is My Hero.”

She read it aloud—slowly, clearly, with a few dramatic pauses she had practiced. I had tears in my eyes before she finished the second paragraph.

Her Voice—Now Louder and Brighter

She’s now the go-to storyteller in our family. She reads bedtime stories to her brother (with voices!). She helps her classmates with school presentations. She even recorded a “news update” video on what happened at her best friend’s birthday party. It was hilarious.

Her confidence is blooming, not just in speaking, but in how she carries herself. She asks questions. She speaks up in conversations. She shares her ideas proudly.

For Parents Who Are Wondering

If your child has thoughts bursting inside but struggles to say them out loud, don’t assume it’ll “just happen” with time.

Sometimes, they need a little help. Someone to gently say, “I believe in you. Let’s do this together.”

That’s what this journey has been for us.

And now, when my daughter speaks, people listen. But more importantly—she knows she deserves to be heard.