Ten Feet Tall

There's something strange that happens when you put a child in front of an audience.

Their heart rate goes up. Their palms get sweaty. Their brain starts scanning for threats the same way it would if they were being chased by a tiger!

Because to the nervous system, social risk and physical risk feel identical. Standing up to speak in front of people triggers the same fight or flight response as genuine danger.

Here's what's interesting though. Neuroscientists call this response "arousal" and it turns out the difference between choking and performing under pressure isn't about having less of it. It's actually just about our interpretation.

Kids who have been taught to name what they're feeling, "this is excitement not danger" consistently perform better than kids who haven't. The physiology is identical, but the story they tell themselves about it is different.

This is why you shouldn't tell kids to just calm down before they speak. Instead we can tell them their body is getting ready "this is excitement not danger". This change of perspective really helps our learners re-centre themselves!

At Ten Feet Tall, managing performance nerves is part of the Speech + Drama curriculum and is absolutely taught as a core skill.

Years 2-13. North Shore Auckland. Small groups.

Free trial class | DM "TRIAL" to book

Want to help your child build confidence, communication and leadership skills these school holidays?

At Ten Feet Tall, we help young people develop the speaking, performing and leadership skills that help them thrive at school — and beyond.

This July, we're running exciting holiday programmes in:
📍 Albany – Pinehurst School
📍 Takapuna – Lake House Arts & St George's Presbyterian Church

Choose from our exciting holiday programmes:
🌟 Learning to Lead (Year 7-10)
🎭 Speak Up & Take the Stage (Year 2-6)
📝 Write School Speeches (Year 5-8)
🎤 Public Speaking & Debate (Year 5-10)
🎭 Theatresports (Year 7-10)
🎭 Speak, Perform & Present (Year 7-10)
🗣 Communication Masterclass - Public Speaking (Year 7-13)
🏅 2 Day Innovation Sprint (Year 6-10)

Book today to secure your spot!
🔗 https://tenfeettall.co.nz/takapuna-holiday-programmes.../

Our holiday programmes are designed to:
✔ Build confidence in public speaking and drama performance
✔ Strengthen structured thinking
✔ Develop performance presence
✔ Improve articulation and expression
✔ Prepare students for school speeches and leadership roles

Whether your child is quietly finding their voice or already loves the spotlight, we meet them where they are and help them level up — in a safe, structured and supportive environment.

Help your child build skills for life - enrol today:
🔗 https://tenfeettall.co.nz/takapuna-holiday-programmes.../

Speak | Perform | Lead

It often comes down to one thing - whether you see speaking as a talent or a skill.

If you believe your child is either naturally confident or they’re not, you’ll wait and hope. If you believe it’s something they can learn and practice, you’ll invest in it early.

The research is pretty clear on which one is right.

As AI takes on more routine cognitive work, the skills that are distinctly human are becoming more valuable, not less. The ability to communicate, inspire, resolve conflict and drive alignment across teams cannot be automated. 

The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 surveyed over 1,000 of the largest employers globally. Leadership and social influence, which includes oral communication, saw one of the largest increases in employer demand of any skill category. 

And yet most kids will spend 13 years in school without a single class dedicated to how they speak.

Not how to write. Not how to read. How to actually open their mouth and be understood, be believed, be compelling.

That gap doesn’t close on its own.

At Ten Feet Tall we teach public speaking and communication skills to Year 1-13 students across North Shore Auckland. Small groups. Real coaches. Real practice. Every single week.

Free trial class | DM “TRIAL” to book

There’s a study that changed how Ten Feet Tall coaches choose to praise kids in lessons.

400 Year 6 students were split into two groups and given the same puzzle test.

One group was told “you must be really smart.” The other was told “you must have worked really hard.”

Then both groups were offered a choice: try the same level test again, or attempt a harder one.

Of the kids praised for effort, 90% chose the harder test. Of the kids praised for being smart, most chose the easy one. The kids praised on their intellect took the safe option. 

One sentence of praise. Completely different response to challenge.

It was clear, when we praise children for their intelligence, we tell them the name of the game is to look smart and not risk making mistakes. So that’s exactly what they do. 

A deeper finding was that just saying “good job!” isn’t enough. Empty praise doesn’t move the needle either. 

What actually works is being specific and connecting what they did to what changed.

“You practiced that out loud and listen how much smoother it came out.”

“You tried it a different way and it worked.”

“You kept going when it felt hard and now you’ve actually got it.”

At Ten Feet Tall this is how our coaches give feedback. We always aim for specific and intrinsic based praise. And we try really hard to not just say “great job” or “perfect”

Specific, honest feedback that helps kids see how their effort creates real results.

We think that’s how confidence actually gets built.

Public speaking. Communication skills. North Shore Auckland.

Free trial class | DM “TRIAL” to book