Do you remember your first experience on stage, were you like a scared bunny behind the scenes, or were you a born stage animal? Chances are you have learned something from that first Playtime anyway because acting is super educational for every child. In this post more about all the good things that drama can bring to your child. Read on and encourage your child to take the stage he deserves!
The Stage is for Everyone
Whether your child is creative, flamboyant, insecure, smart, or shy: the acting has something good to offer everyone. The extroverted and confident children can often lose their eggs completely, because drama is synonymous with expression, but do not underestimate the role that drama can play for the introverted and insecure children. Introverts more often look the cat out of the tree and because they have developed exceptionally in observing, they can often empathize. This is a very valuable feature in a stage play. An additional advantage: you never play yourself, so if your shy child has to shout very loudly for a certain role, it usually works because the role simply demands it. Often this also has a liberating effect for these children: they also experience what it feels like to express themselves more exuberantly and/or opposite than usual.
Theater as a Creative Team Building
Working together on and playing in a school play or musical is very conducive to the group atmosphere. All children, however different in character, work together on one goal and all do their best to work towards a successful performance. During rehearsal, children learn to be patient with others and sometimes see characteristics of each other that they have never seen before in an ‘ordinary’ setting in the classroom. Children also learn to be helpful if someone has forgotten their text or is suffering from stage fright. And when the big day of implementation has arrived, a shared sense of pride prevails. Proud of their own performance, but also of the whole group together!
An Educational Hobby
Have you ever thought about drama/music lessons for your child? Some children find choosing a hobby a challenge. Creative, sensitive children in particular often shudder at team sports because of the crowds and all the rules. Theater lessons are a great enrichment for this group of children: just like in the sports field, they learn a lot about social interaction and cooperation here. In addition, your child learns to express himself for and present it to the public, which in turn is a very nice preparation for the possible lectures and presentations that your child may give in his working life.