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DebateAble Kids

Recommended Ages

4th–8th grades

DebateAble Kids is an online debate program that provides curricula, club kits, and coaching tools to introduce elementary and middle school students to structured debate. Lessons break down how to construct arguments, use evidence, listen actively, and speak respectfully, often culminating in friendly in-house debates. Parents and teachers value the clear scaffolding and kid-appropriate topics that keep discussions lively but manageable. Whether used in co-ops, after-school programs, or homeschools, DebateAble Kids helps children practice critical thinking, public speaking, and perspective-taking in a fun format.

Great for roughly grades 4–8 who have big opinions, enjoy discussion, and are ready to practice listening carefully, organizing arguments, and speaking clearly in front of a small group.

Pros

DebateAble Kids introduces formal debate to elementary and middle‑school students in a gentle, age‑appropriate way, using structured activities to build critical thinking, empathy for differing viewpoints, teamwork, and confident public speaking. 

Cons

Programs and club kits have a real cost and generally assume an adult coach or facilitator; shy learners may need time and support to warm up to speaking in front of others, and the materials aren’t designed as a self‑paced solo curriculum.

Where families learn through independent‑study charters, DebateAble materials are sometimes purchased as part of a language arts or electives budget; availability depends on whether your program approves DebateAble as a vendor, so check with your charter or ESA before assuming funds can be used.

Outschool classes are typically from $10-$30 an hour

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DebateAble Kids
$10.00 USD

Skills

What kids will learn
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Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking
Public Speaking
Public Speaking
Social Studies
Social Studies
Civics
Civics

DebateAble Kids Mission

DebateAble Kids uses kid-sized debate to help children become critical thinkers, confident speakers, and compassionate listeners, teaching them how to build arguments from evidence, consider multiple perspectives, and work as a team while having a lot of fun.

DebateAble Kids Story

Seeing how powerful debate could be for developing kids’ voices but noticing that most programs started only in middle or high school, Seattle attorney and parent Elizabeth Kruse helped create DebateAble as an after-school club for local elementary students; over time the program expanded into multiple schools, summer programs, online clubs, and at-home curricula, all built around age-appropriate topics and games that make civil discourse and evidence-based reasoning feel approachable for young kids.

About Modular Learning

FAQ: Additional Details about DebateAble Kids

In a typical club meeting, kids start with a silly warm‑up game to practice projecting their voices or thinking on their feet, then break into small groups to prepare arguments for or against a fun but substantive resolution. You’ll hear the rustle of note cards, whispers of “What’s our evidence?” and then the satisfying hush as teams take turns at the front of the room, presenting opening statements, rebuttals, and closing arguments while their peers listen and offer constructive feedback.

DebateAble Kids provides a structured debate curriculum and, in some locations, live clubs and camps that help upper‑elementary and middle‑school students learn argumentation, public speaking, and listening skills. Homeschoolers can purchase the curriculum package to run their own club at home or in a co‑op, using scripted lesson plans, printable materials, and games that build toward full debates on age‑appropriate topics. In some cities and online programs, families can enroll students directly in a DebateAble‑run club that meets weekly for a set session.

A parent, teacher, or co‑op leader acts as coach and moderator, guiding discussions, enforcing time limits, and modeling respectful disagreement; once students are comfortable, older kids can take on more leadership in preparing arguments between meetings.

Most materials are aimed at roughly grades 4–8; students should be able to read at grade level, write simple arguments, and participate respectfully in group discussions.

DebateAble Kids introduces debate through games and structured formats, which can be especially powerful for autistic, ADHD, and gifted children who like to argue but need help with perspective‑taking and social rules. Explicit turn‑taking, evidence‑gathering, and sentence starters support expressive language challenges and anxiety about speaking.

According to its terms, DebateAble sells curriculum access as an annual subscription that renews unless cancelled, and generally does not offer refunds or credits for partial subscription periods, so plan to explore the sample materials before committing to a full year. 

Families whose children have intense social anxiety, significant speech challenges, or who strongly dislike competitive formats may find a more informal Socratic or book‑discussion style a better starting point.

Other ways to build similar skills include local middle‑school debate clubs, Model United Nations, online discussion‑based classes, or Socratic literature circles that ask kids to practice evidence‑based reasoning without a formal “pro vs con” structure.

DebateAble periodically refreshes its curriculum, adds new resolutions tied to current events, and offers competitive clubs and summer camps that give returning students new challenges.

Start with silly, low‑stakes topics (Is a hot dog a sandwich? Should pajamas be allowed at breakfast?) and rotate roles—speaker, timer, judge—so kids experience both presenting and listening.

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Meet Elizabeth

Elizabeth Kruse is the founder and director of DebateAble Kids, a former lawyer and debate mom who wanted more children to experience the confidence and empathy that come from structured argument; drawing on her legal training and love of working with youth, she developed an easy-to-use curriculum and coach training that allow schools, community groups, and families with no debate background to run high-energy, supportive clubs where every child has a chance to take the mic.