Should my Little Star Shine?

Most parents shy away from having their child participate in Theatre because they wonder if it is truly practical.  Join Drama Mamas.org as we answer the  most asked questions parents ask as their child enters the world of Performing Arts.

The 5 most asked questions about the impact of performing arts on child development.

• Will rejection from not getting a part affect my child’s self-esteem?

Initially, your child may seem sad, but surprisingly kids are amazingly resilient. Often times, the parents take it worse than the child. If you don’t make a big deal of it, many times the child will just move on. Learning how to take the criticism and apply it to life is a life skill that a child can use in every aspect of growing up and existing in society.  If your child knows where their weaknesses lied in their audition, you as their parent can help them improve it before the next audition. 

• How will being involved in Musical Theatre help my child as an adult?

Theatre can improve self-confidence, develop better public speaking skills, provide a sense of team building and teach kids to work through challenges to come up with a unified solution. All of these qualities needed to exist in a modern day work environment.

According to Gail Jones, a theatre educator with over 40 years of experience, “a play requires students to follow a timeline, use self-discipline and accept feedback”. Theatre skills can launch careers in law, politics, teaching, and ministry just to name a few.

• Does being involved in Musical Theatre help my child academically?

Absolutely.  Memorization of lines makes memorization of information for school much easier. The self-confidence gained from being in front of an audience, will greatly improve their public speaking skills.  A UCLA study has found students involved in the arts have higher academic performances and better standardized test scores.

• What social skills can my child develop from being involved in the arts?

Children can improve self-confidence, develop better public speaking skills, provides sense of team building and teaches kids to work through challenges to come up with a unified solution

• Are there any guarantees?

The only guarantee is that your child will learn valuable life lessons, make wonderful new friends, and have memories that will last a lifetime.