If you have a child with a flair for the dramatic who loves to sing and dance or who wants to be part of a team without playing sports, theatre may be the answer for your child. Participating in theatre can expose kids to music, arts, culture, teamwork, and more.
Here are the top five reasons that kids should give theatre a try:
1. Teamwork. There are so many different aspects that go into theatre production: actors, musicians, sound technicians, set-building, backstage hands, costume design, and more. As a team, this group must work to bring the whole production together, which is no small feat. Kids will learn about teamwork in a whole new way by participating in theatre. Another great benefit is they will build friendships with others along the way.
2. Communication. Kids will learn voice projection, memorization of lines, and gain confidence in public speaking and how to proudly carry themselves in front of a crowd. Kids will also gain confidence by meeting the challenge of performing in front of others and meeting the goal of a successful production with the support of their fellow cast members and production directors.
3. Empathy. As kids examine how the character they play in the production reacts and responds to certain situations in the scenes, they naturally learn empathy for others. This is a great skill to have in life because it helps kids relate to others, care for others, and understand why people react the way they do in a variety of situations.
4. Responsibility. Kids who participate in theatre have to memorize their lines, speak their lines with confidence, and perform well in order to positively contribute to the production while maintaining and balancing other responsibilities at home, at school, and perhaps other extracurricular activities. Your child will learn to prioritize, organize, and be held accountable for their role in the production. These skills will serve them well in the future.
4. Cultural appreciation. Theatre exposes kids to literature, history, music, culture, and the arts making kids more well-rounded. They will become deeply immersed in stories and times in history they may not otherwise be exposed to. These stories will truly come alive as they play the roles, dress in costume, and act out stories from a different time and place.
Theatre gives kids an opportunity to express themselves in a unique way that helps them build confidence and responsibility. They will benefit from the skills they build now and in years to come. If performing on stage is not a great fit for your child but they still respect and enjoy the arts, they can still be an integral part of the production by designing sets, running the sound booth or lights, or working behind the scenes. Theatre truly offers a little something for everyone.
Sarah is a wife and a mother of six children, including triplets.
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