Why childrens theatre matters

The number of theatres catering to youth across America is increasing, and the professional quality of many companies has shown patrons that theatres for young audiences are worthy of respect. Taking your family to see a show is certainly an exciting, memorable experience, but being exposed to the arts is beneficial in many other ways. We have compiled a list of reasons illustrating why taking your child to a live performance is so important.

James Catterall shows that students who are exposed to the arts are more likely to be involved in community service, and are less likely to drop out of school. Studies by neuroscientists have shown that both the left and right hemispheres of the brain need to be fully stimulated in order for the brain to utilize its true potential.

This means that it is just as important to immerse children in creative activities that exercise the right brain, as it is to immerse them in scientific and analytic activities for the left-brain. If children are exposed to additional performance arts, they will actually be working toward more effective thought processes. Performing arts teach children how to think creatively through imagination. Creative thinking skills are critical in the world of business leaders, where the ability to create solutions to problems is a necessary and valued asset.

Just as children's literature of the last 15 years has flourished , so theatre for young people has often not just matched theatre for adult audiences but often surpassed it. Your email address will not be published. Second, theatre is a sophisticated expression of instinct- the need to project storytelling.

We see this when children use their imagination when telling stories to their friends. Theatre is a fun way to show it. We need 12, , or maybe even thousands of people to put on a performance. These people come to share moments together in witnessing and an event that may be beautiful, funny, moving, thought-provoking, or hopefully at least diverting.

And now that we live in age where most of our communication happens in front of a screen, the gathering function that a theatre has helps people remember what pure, simple fun was.

Fourth, theatre helps people to empathize with the struggles of our fellow human beings whatever their views may be. We develop our faculty for imagining the outcomes of various choices we might make in our personal lives and our political lives. In South Africa theatre played a role in the struggle against apartheid; in Czechoslovakia, a playwright became the leader of a new democracy. Fifth, both the making of theatre and attending of theatre contribute to education and literacy.

A play has the ability to jump a story off the page and bring it to life. This can be a revelation to regular bookworms, but also a real boon to reluctant readers. When should you get your kids started? The sooner the better. There have long been a lot of shows for 5-years old and up.