To my utter amazement, he has announced his wish to audition for the school Xmas play (all the juniors have to audition for speaking parts, about which I have my own private views ). He is dyspraxic, which affects his speech to a certain extent - he gabbles and mumbles - and has always been very self-conscious about standing up in public (though is confident at home and with adults). I am torn between feeling very proud that he wants to do it and anxious that he'll mess up (the auditions are in front of the whole of Yrs 3 and 4!!) He does get teased a bit - he's an easy target tbh - and I'd hate it if he was laughed at. The danger is that he'll read very very fast in a tiny whispery voice and/or act a bit silly to cover his embarrassment.
We've practised the poem (which he learnt by heart after two readings) but he soon got fed up with rehearsing! He seems completely cool about it - wish I was!