Why Theater Performance is Good for Children
The theater is a great place for children to learn. They become problem solvers, build empathy for others while connecting with their own emotions, enhance their listening skills, and become great teammates.
While the theater thrives on imagination, these life skills translate well to reality, giving children tools to cope with other life situations. Here are some of the key takeaways.
Performing Increases Creativity
Being in a play provides the opportunity to experiment, takes risks, and encourage imagination. Original thought is encouraged and curiosity is sparked.
Theater Performers Have Higher Academic Scores
According to the American Alliance of Theater & Education (AATE), theater students typically scored 65 points higher on their SATs and 34 points higher on the SAT math component than their non-theater peers. An added benefit? Theater kids tend to read more and have better reading comprehension overall,
According to the International Literacy Association, students who experience theater education at any age show better attendance, greater concentration, and increased motivation to learn.
Also, those that have theater experience may pick up a larger vocabulary and have better speaking skills.
Being in a Play Builds Self-Esteem
At the National Theatre (NT) in London, the education department worked with children ages 7 to 10 from eight schools for three years. The students studied Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe and performed in a storytelling program, Word Alive. Compared to their peers who did not engage with the NT, these children showed increased self-esteem and a greater aptitude for speaking and listening.
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
Performing is a collaborative art form between the actors, writers, musicians, set designers and more. Everyone must pull their weight and rely on each other. Communication skills, negotiating, comprimising, and creative problem solving are just a few of the traits that make a great team member. These skills translate well into all other aspects of life.
Theater Preparation is All About Time Management
Every part of the entire play process is blocked into time segments in order to reach that final goal of a performance. Every segment of each rehearsals is broken down into lines and songs, movements, choreography, music, costume, sets, lighting, sound. Children learn how to multitask and still stay within preset time boundaries.
Plays Teach Patience and Concentration
Not every child will have something to do during every minute of a rehearsal. There is a lot of down time waiting for others to finish their parts or for the set to change. Children learn to be patient and use their downtime constructively.
Theater Players Become More Empathic
Empathy is nearly impossible to teach but children involved with the theater are exposed to mulitple perspectives and emotions constantly. They are listening to directors explain character’s motivations and perspectives. They see others working on scenes with topics they may not have experienced themselves.
An added benefit is that theater children may be able to better explain their own feelings.
How We Can Help
Free Spirit Plays & Musicals provide scripts and music for original plays specifically designed for children. Written by actual teachers and musicians with years of experience producing crowd-pleasing, high quality shows, these plays are moving and humorous adaptations of classic stories that each have rave reviews! These plays are sure to inspire a love for musical theater in the performers and audience alike.