Help Expanding a Wonderful Children's Program

I think it's great. My nephew started drama classes with 7 or 8 and loved it. It definitely gave him the creative outlet that he needed.

T.,
I think what you are doing is wonderful,acting is a great release for kids and helps them be creative. Sometimes stepping outside and being someone else for a few moments is a great way to find imagination and a way to relieve stress. Just like any other sports or dance class. It is an important way of creative selfworth and self esteem. If they were not interested in it then don't push ~but if they enjoy it then i say go with it!!! Best of luck!

At ages 4-8 I think the only pushing should be for doing well in school, and getting their chores done at home. Otherwise, what they do should be their choice. You can expose them to it, take them, let them see what it is about, but if they don't want to do it, I would not make them.
Otherwise acting classes would be great and so are dance classes, gymnastics, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, soccer, etc.

If they like it and want to go, I think it is a fine idea. I wouldn't push it on them. Let them decide after trying it a couple of times if it is something they want to continue. I think the harm comes when children are pushed to be in too many extracurricular activities, on top of school, and they get burned out. Children need time alone and time to just play. My 4-year-old takes a weekly tumbling class and she loves it! She gets to be in a group with other kids, follow directions, wait her turn, get some energy out, and develop body confidence. Acting class sounds like fun!

Hi T.,

It's great that you are doing this! Of course it has value, but the kids may take to it better if you DON'T bill it as something that will help their self-esteem. Just tell them it will be fun, they will meet other neat kids, it's something different that not everybody gets to do, etc.

I remember a girl in my brother's class in elementary school who had mild cerebral palsy (I think that's what it was) and had trouble with small muscle coordination. So her family had her take lessons in piano and typing as therapy for this (also the typing would stand her in good stead because her handwriting was bad). But they didn't call it therapy, they called it "piano and typing". No problems!

On the other hand, my niece is missing a few fingers on one hand (birth defect). She was going to start horseback riding lessons. Her mom mentioned it to Grandma (my mom), who was very enthusiastic, but made the mistake of saying sonething like "Oh, that's such great therapy!" Guess what? No riding lessons. I bet if Grandama had left off the word "therapy", my niece would have thoroughly enjoyed the lessons...

Sorry to run on, and maybe the above doesn't apply to you. Just my 2 cents worth...

K. Z.

You might want to check with the YSKP people: http://www.yskp.org/

I think it is a fabulous idea. I do it for my kids. I don't do much just a little. I am moving to Perrysburg do they have places around there?

I think it is wonderful. My 8 year old daughter has taken classes for about 1 year. She has never been shy but it gave her "grace." She is very self-assured and is able to be assertive when needed.

I was a theatre major in college, so I KNOW the value of acting to open up and feel good about yourself. Even a very shy child or one who feels socially outcast can feel good after being or looking different on a stage. An excuse to do silly stuff, to dress up, to be creative...what is better than that!! I was a very introverted child due to weight problems and a rough homelife. Dance class didn't do it for me, because I couldn't keep up with all the svelt princesses who actually had some coordination. But the acting I did, in school or church, made me feel like I had some talent, some value, and it doesn't matter much what you look like if you are doing character acting.

Getting kids involved in any kind of activity, including acting classes, is so good for their self esteem. I was never very good at sports, but I excelled in little acting skits our youth group would put on at church. It gave my self esteem such a boost!

If we didn't push what we believed was best...what kind of children would we have?

My boys are 12, 10, and 2. I've always had them involved in their church plays, band, sports....

They do get value out of being in the church activities. My boys are not afraid to speak up in a crowd and generally do very well when speaking in front of their class. It's something they've always done, so there's not as much fear.

I'd say as long as there's a balance between acting and other things the kids want to do or try, it's can only help them later in life...

Dear T.,
I think it is great. My kids are in theatre and they love it! I will say a word of caution. Be involved in the theatre with them. Learn to do makeup for them etc. Don't just drop them off. Not that you would. I know of a woman who dropped her son off at the theatre and now he is going in the wrong direction. L. J

I don't view acting classes as being much different than putting kids into gym classes or ballet classes or whatever.

My 5 year old daughter takes gymnastics type classes on Tuesdays, and Ballet/Tap classes on Thursdays. The dance class had a recital last year, and she loved being on stage, and constantly pretends with a microphone and keyboard that she's in a band and singing/playing.

Our thought has always been that we're willing to roll with it as long as she's having fun with it. When it ceases to be fun, then we might talk to her about alternative activities or something.

So - if they're having fun and enjoying it, then more power to it. I would keep an open mind to other activities too though - not just that. Anything like team sports (little league? swimming? taking up an instrument?) would be good too.

I think that whatever classes that children can take to give them poise, and a skill, are good for them.
All six of my children (4 girls and 2 boys) took dance about from age 5 on (tap, acrobatics, ballet, and some jazz) most through high school, and competed for years at the regional and national levels.
We had a great time with it, and they also played some sports along the way.
When I was a child, I could never do things like somersaults or back bends and handstands, and I wanted my children to be able to do that.
Anything that makes kids think is good for them.
At our studio they were expected to have two tap dances in their memories while working on a third.
So I would say go for it!

i think it's great IF the teacher is postive, enthusiastic and fun. a very critical/negative acting teacher could be very damaging to self esteem at such a young age...