How Kids Use PowerPoint to Persuade Their Parents
Last updated on October 4th, 2023
Imagine getting your parents to say ‘yes’ to that sleepover or the video game you’ve been eyeing for months! Kids today are turning to PowerPoint presentations, blending technology and persuasive skills, to make compelling cases to their parents for their desires and wishes.
Kids are smarter and more ingenious nowadays. After all, they have access to information and the latest technologies right at their fingertips. If, before, kids can only ask their parents in person, or write them notes at most, these days kids are different.
How To Convince Parents with a Presentation? Kids Take on PowerPoint to Pitch to Parents
Today, kids grow up around gadgets and an ever-changing lineup of technological advances. So, it’s no wonder that personal relationships will always have that element of technology in its wake. After all, many kids these days have their own social media and email accounts, as well as their own set of gadgets such as mobile phones, computers, tablets, and what-have-you.
Source: New York Times
It is also through technology that people maintain relationships as we communicate through emails as keep each other posted through social media. So, when kids want something, for their birthday or for Christmas, it comes as no surprise that they would also capitalize on digital products–this time on PowerPoint presentations.
Computers are part of the education system, so a typical grade-schooler would know how to use PowerPoint or Google Slides, among many other applications. In fact, many kids use PowerPoint to ask for things from their parents, like in the article from the New York Times. After all, if they can use slideshows for their projects and make a convincing case to their teachers about any given topic, why not do the same to convince their parents to do something for them?
Take the case of Lily, a 10-year-old who managed to convince her parents to let her attend a late-night concert by showcasing a detailed plan of how she would ensure her safety and manage her schoolwork. Or Jake, who illustrated through slides the emotional and physical benefits of adopting a puppy, eventually melting his parents’ resistance.
Making Convincing Cases for their Requests Using Slides
Schools routinely ask students to create and present slideshows for a range of academic topics. These presentations are also frequently used in non-academic activities, such as their extra-curricular programs. Kids know the power of PowerPoint & Google Slides and how slides can best be used to convey an idea, emphasize a point, or just get things done.
And they’re right. What better tool to show comparisons, Pros and Cons, trends, and so many other convincing reasons for parents to buy them that next Lego set or LOL toy, right?
The fact that many kids nowadays use Microsoft Office programs just make it easy for them to express themselves through PowerPoint slides. And these have proven effective, as seen by parents who are either surprised by their kids’ choice of medium, overwhelmed by their kids’ efforts, or simply convinced by the slides.
Med, from Columbus, Ohio, wrote this:
I love this! These kids are learning how to make a logical argument, to counter objections, and to stand their ground in a grown-up way. My parents are probably glad there was no Powerpoint during my teen years.
How to Get your Parents to Say “YES”! PowerPoint as Tool of Choice by Children and Adults Alike
PowerPoint has successfully proven its mettle on this matter by the way kids use the slides to ask their parents for something. It shows just how user-friendly PowerPoint’s interface is, and how persuasive slideshows can be. The example below shows a slide created by a kid who wanted a puppy and tried to convince his parents through a PowerPoint presentation.
Source: New York Times
For kids who use PowerPoint presentations to convince or manage their parents, they find that creating presentations allow them to convey their message to their parents without being interrupted by a simple “no.” They can also formalize the setting, with the parents sitting right in front of the slideshow, listening, as they get more time to present their case.
Parents can see the amount of effort their children put into creating a convincing presentation, and would not hesitate to agree. And even if their parents don’t, the slides show parents just how passionate their child is over one thing–and so maybe even reconsider their decision later on.
Presentation Ideas for Kids
Here are some real-life applications and examples on why kids are using presentations to convince their parents. If you are a parent, don’t get surprised if your kid come up with an invitation to present this to you.
- A PowerPoint presentation for Adopting a Pet
- A PowerPoint presentation for Upgrading Kids’ Computer
- A Presentation for a Family Vacation Destination
- Enrolling in a Special Class or Activity
- A Presentation Titled “Redecorating My Room”
- A Presentation on How to Convince Parents to Get a Smartphone
Aside from convincing parents, kids are also smart to convience anyone in their circle. For example, some kids are also creating presentations to convince their teachers to do something.
Parents’ Perspective and Response
Navigating through the colorful slides, meticulously crafted by their children, parents often find themselves on a rollercoaster of emotions – admiration for their child’s creativity, amusement at their logical (or sometimes, adorably illogical) arguments, and a dilemma over whether to accede to their requests. The PowerPoint presentations (or Google Slides presentations), brimming with earnestness and effort, present a unique challenge to parents: how to honor their child’s initiative while also maintaining a balanced and responsible parental stance and limits.
For parents, these presentations offer a precious glimpse into their child’s world, revealing not just their desires, but also their priorities, thought processes, and burgeoning skills in argumentation and technology use. It’s a peek into what they value, what they’re willing to fight for, and how they perceive the act of asking and receiving. The slides may showcase their understanding (or sometimes, misunderstanding) of responsibility, commitment, and even financial management, providing parents with valuable insights and potential teaching moments.
While the initial reaction might often be a mixture of surprise and amusement, parents also grapple with the delicate act of balancing appreciation and authority. It’s pivotal to acknowledge and praise the effort, creativity, and courage it takes for a child to prepare and present their case. However, saying yes to every well-argued PowerPoint would not only be impractical but also potentially detrimental in instilling values of moderation and understanding of limitations.
Parents might find themselves explaining why, despite the impressive presentation, getting a new puppy might not be feasible due to allergies, or why a sought-after gadget is not appropriate for their age. It’s a nuanced dance between validating their efforts and guiding them towards understanding the multifaceted nature of decision-making.
These presentations can serve as a springboard for constructive conversations. Parents can utilize these moments to delve deeper into their child’s motivations, clarify misconceptions, and even guide them towards refining their persuasive skills. It’s an opportunity to discuss the difference between wants and needs, the concept of privilege, and the importance of understanding and respecting ‘no’ even after putting in effort.
For instance, a presentation asking for a new gaming console might open avenues to discuss budgeting, while a pitch for a sleepover can lead to conversations about trust and responsibility. Parents, while navigating through the slides, can affirm their child’s feelings and desires, and simultaneously instill lessons about empathy, understanding, and realistic expectations.
In the long run, parents are not just responding to a single request but also contributing to shaping their child’s approach towards negotiation skills, rejection, and compromise. By providing feedback on the presentation, discussing the pros and cons openly, and perhaps, negotiating counter-offers or alternatives, parents can utilize these pitches as a tool to nurture future negotiators who approach desires and disappointments with understanding, resilience, and a positive spirit
In a world where digital communication is becoming increasingly prevalent, these PowerPoint pitches symbolize a blend of traditional parenting dilemmas with the digital age’s unique challenges and opportunities. Parents, while navigating through their responses, are not just deciding on the current request but also subtly shaping their child’s future interactions, negotiations, and perhaps, their subsequent PowerPoint pitches.
Conclusion
In the digital era, children have ingeniously woven technology into their communication tapestry, utilizing platforms like PowerPoint to articulate desires and negotiate wants with their parents. These presentations, often a blend of heartfelt earnestness and budding creativity, transcend mere requests, reflecting a generation that intertwines emotion with logic and technology with communication. Parents, while navigating through these digital pitches, are tasked with balancing admiration for their child’s efforts with the responsibility of imparting lessons on understanding, compromise, and sometimes, accepting a ‘no.’
The emergence of these digital dialogues underscores a pivotal evolution in parent-child dynamics, emphasizing the importance of open, constructive communication. It’s a journey where children explore the realms of persuasion and parents find avenues to teach, guide, and connect, fostering an environment where young ones feel heard and valued. As we traverse through the parenting journey in this digital epoch, these PowerPoint pitches and the conversations they spark will weave into the rich tapestry of childhood narratives and parental experiences, symbolizing a unique, heartwarming intersection of generations, technology, and communication.