A work has the ability to skip and bring to life a story from the page. This can be a revelation for ordinary bookworms, but also a true blessing for reluctant readers. “Part of this is that what happens on stage is very similar in a way to theatrical performance and role play that all children do.”.
There are benefits for children that go far beyond the simple pleasure of creating something beautiful and moving . Encourage your child to pretend it’s another great way to let his imagination run wild. Take your child to your local costume or party store and let him choose costume items that turn him on (even if it’s not Halloween)!
Dancing also requires a certain level of physical condition; Jazz hands and box steps are basic elements of the world of music theater and dancing can be very energetic! When playing a role in a show, the actor must learn to communicate his rules to the audience as if he had just thought about it, rather than learning it from a page. Communication is a great tool for a child to learn from the beginning as it is a basic requirement for later in life. Since his school days, he has acted both professionally and hobby by traveling the country and even traveling the world with his family who scoffs at and captivates with cabarets, musicals, dramas and more. But before I found him on stage, he was painfully shy with an almost grueling stutter.
Often those who have never been involved in the theater or have never seen a play will go through their entire adult life without really understanding the appeal. For students aged 5 to 18, Great Lakes Theater Camp is a summer drama camp with elements of music theater that immerses students in interactive and educational theater activities. Theater Camp is a unique opportunity for students to work and learn from professional educational artists at the Great Lakes Theater in a fun, safe and supportive environment. Children exposed to theater can better identify with multiple perspectives, thanks to the way actors take on roles, and a director explains a character’s perspective, intention, and purpose.
If you instill love for theater from the start, your child is more likely to develop creative gifts and maintain a lifelong appreciation for the performing arts. “Children’s brains are wired best theatre for kids and parents can help provoke those neural pathways of creativity,” he says. If you’re passionate about something and like to do it, it’s somehow easier to take to the stage and play a part.
Pretending that the game can take multiple forms and pretending to “play” is an integral part of the development learning process. It should be encouraged and children need many opportunities to participate. Through theater, autistic children can be encouraged to play with their peers in an exploratory and supportive environment. Activities and workshops naturally encourage turn and cooperation and give children the opportunity to create in a group environment. As an educational facilitator who has worked in special education schools, I know that many people have a modernized idea of what theater and drama is: they think of Broadway, West End, etc. and I just really see theater as acting. I must admit that I used to have a similar opinion, but now that I have a degree in drama therapy, I really know that theater is a great learning tool and a form of experiential expression.