Three-year-olds usually react in one of two ways when faced with a microphone and a room full of staring people: they either become silly or shy. There is really not very much you can do to prevent either reaction, but there are steps you can take to minimize the problems.

Involve your child in the writing of the talk whenever possible. Suppose the subject is prayer. Ask your child to tell you when he says prayers. Write each of these times down. Also ask him some other questions about prayer: who he is talking to when he prays, what he says in his prayers and how he feels when he prays. Write down his answers and use these to form the basis of the talk. As you write the talk with him, emphasize that he's writing a talk. This will make it easier for him when he is older and you want him to write them alone. He will know he has been doing it all along, and it won't seem overwhelming.

Keep the words and sentences short and simple. Consider using a story that your child can easily learn. You should also try to find visual aids the child can display in his talk, such as pictures, real items, or even drawings he made himself. If you use pictures, you can write the talk in sections on the back of each picture. Hold the pictures for your child if he doesn't want to do it. Later, when he is giving his talk, if he freezes and refuses to speak, he might be willing to hold the pictures while you give the talk.

Here is a sample talk on prayer that might have been written by a parent and Sunbeam:

"I am three years old. I like to say my prayers. I say my prayers when I wake up because I haven't talked to Heavenly Father all night. [picture of child waking up or of sun shining.] I tell him thank you for the beautiful day.

I say my prayers before I eat. I thank him for the food. [picture of food or family eating.] I ask him to bless it to make me healthy.

I say my prayers when I go to bed at night. [picture of child praying by bed or of moon.] I thank him for the nice day. I tell him what I did today. I ask him to keep me safe all night.

Sometimes I pray when I am sad or sick or scared. Heavenly Father makes me feel better. My heart is happy when I talk to him. I love Heavenly Father. Heavenly Father loves me. Some day I will live with him forever. Talking to Him helps me make sure I am good friends with Him when I get to Heaven."

This is not great literature and might not take two and a half minutes, although it might if the child must be coaxed. It doesn't matter. When a Sunbeam speaks, everyone is charmed simply because he's small and cute.

To help prepare him for the big day, write the talk on the Sunday before. Then practice it two or three times each day. Keep the practices very short--just go over it once or twice. Set up all his dolls and stuffed animals and have him practice in front of them, pretending they are the audience. You might want to buy an inexpensive toy microphone and let him practice speaking into it. It doesn't have to be turned on. Simply teach him how far away he should be and that he must not touch it.

If possible, visit the church, perhaps on Mutual night, and let him practice at the Primary podium with the microphone turned on. Show him how to step onto the booster, stand quietly, and speak into the microphone. Show him how to step off the stand quietly, since most children prefer to jump off.

Let your child practice his talk in front of the family. This will give him the feeling of an audience. Remind siblings to be friendly and supportive, and to smile and offer compliments to the child afterwards.

Let your child choose his outfit and hairstyle, within reason, for his moment in the sun. Try to keep the day peaceful and be sure he has had plenty of rest. If he panics when he steps up to the podium, stay calm and don't get embarrassed. He is three. No one will mind. Talk to him gently. Just have him repeat the words, one sentence at a time. Tell him to close his eyes if it helps or to look at you instead of the audience. If he really won't talk, have him stand there while you speak for him and he holds the pictures. Then volunteer him to give another talk soon. The more he does this, the easier it will become.