Speak up voor de dromen van kinderen | Kelly Verdonk | TEDxDenBosch

Quick Overview

Kelly Verdonk argues that encouraging children to express themselves authentically, especially through spoken word poetry and writing, is crucial for their development, as the act of speaking up validates their feelings and allows them to claim the space they deserve in the world, moving beyond the fear of not being good enough.

Key Points: Verdonk recounts a moment at age five when her aunt told her that her voice did not count, leading to years of silence and self-diminishment. She advocates for teaching children to value their own voice, emphasizing that true growth occurs when they feel safe to express themselves authentically. Verdonk shares her personal experience of starting to write poetry and prose for children to help them find their voice, initially using peers as test subjects. She points out that many children, especially those with dyslexia, hide their voices or talents because they feel they are not good enough or fear judgment, exemplified by the photo of children hugging (01:23:15). The speaker highlights that activities like rapping, writing stories, singing, or even doing mathematics poorly can be powerful tools for self-expression and building self-trust. For lasting behavioral change, she stresses that the feeling behind the action (intrinsic motivation) must be present, not just the external performance. The ultimate goal is to create space for children to feel that their voice matters, enabling them to dare to dream, do, and be who they truly are.

Context: Kelly Verdonk delivers a TEDx talk at TEDxDenBosch about the importance of validating children's voices and encouraging authentic self-expression from a young age. She grounds her argument in a personal anecdote from when she was five years old, where she was told her voice didn't matter, leading her to suppress her feelings for years. She introduces her work helping children find their voice through creative outlets like spoken word, especially for those struggling with dyslexia, emphasizing that true change comes from internal motivation rather than external validation.