Why choose performing arts classes for kids?

If you’re raising a petite prima donna or an aspiring actor, you should be able to tell around the age of 4, when budding performers start launching impromptu recitals for family and friends. If your child loves to play dress-up and pretend, especially with other children, they may express a desire to perform in the future! Preparing to walk a learning path with a young performer is an important task. This road is one that offers your child a host of emotional and cognitive growth opportunities, but also many obstacles to be overcome.

 

Supporting your child in their desire to perform while helping them deal with the emotional vulnerability that comes along with it is a challenging but rewarding endeavor. That’s why Wondrfly has devised this helpful guide to the benefits and challenges of raising a young performing artist. Whether your child wants to act, sing, dance, or become a public speaker, studying the performing arts early in life will prime them for future success no matter what they chose to do with their talents.

 

Cognitive Benefits of Performing Arts Classes for Kids

The Arts Education Partnership released a study in 2002 which summarized research from 62 different performing arts programs for kids. This study concluded that there is a significant positive effect on reading and mathematics skills and standardized test achievement for kids who practice some form of performing arts. Therefore, the importance of performing arts in education has been common knowledge for some time. The benefits appear whether kids study music, drama, dance, or any other form of performance.

 

But what are the reasons behind this correlation? Why does performing boost kids’ academic performance across the board? Well, part of the reason comes from the fact that performing usually requires memorization. Kids must learn their lines, dance steps, or music before performing, and have to learn them well enough to recreate them under pressure. This is excellent practice for standardized testing or for any assessment your child may have to be prepared for in life, be it a job interview, audition, or just making a good first impression! This also reinforces a pattern of learning, reward, and recognition that will motivate your child to achieve goals in the future. Additionally, learning to follow instructions is key to performing as an individual or an ensemble member. Your child will learn to listen carefully to instructions, which is often half the battle of understanding concepts!

 

Emotional Benefits of Performing Arts Classes for Kids

Kids who perform from a young age are likely to have a different relationship with “failure” and “success” than others. At least, that’s what we hope to cultivate by encouraging them to perform. Once your child conquers anxiety about performing for others or messes up onstage once or twice with no life-ending consequences, they’ll realize that mistakes are nothing to be afraid of, only opportunities to grow. Define success for your child as having the courage to try new things and failure or error as a way of learning for the future. Learning to capitalize on mistakes by taking advantage of constructive criticism is a vital skill for later life!

 

Kids also gain valuable self-expression skills from performing. Kids who have trouble understanding and verbalizing their emotions will embrace the opportunity to express themselves from the perspective of a character, or through song and dance.

 

Social Benefits of Performing Arts Classes for Kids

Learning to work as part of a team or ensemble is a key part of your child’s performing arts education. This improves their perception of the wants and needs of others, their ability to compromise with peers, and their sense of teamwork. When kids perform, more likely than not, they are performing together with a cast of peers to create a work of art that is greater than what they could accomplish alone. This sort of pride in community achievement is important to teach your child the beautiful things that cooperation can bring about!

 

Additionally, your child’s sense of empathy will expand tremendously once they are invited to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes. Playing a character can awaken your child’s curiosity about other people’s lives and experiences. Getting them outside of themselves and giving them an awareness of the greater human experiences is one of the greatest gifts you can give them!

 

Challenges to Look Out For

While performing can help boost your child’s self-esteem, it doesn’t come without risks or pitfalls. As with any activity, your support and encouragement make all the difference in how your child processes the lessons they learn from performing. As mentioned before, a new relationship to failure and success must be established in which emotional risk-taking is framed as a win, no matter what happens. Always praise your child for having the strength to present their self to their peers! The important part of performing is conquering fear of failure and criticism, which will serve your child infinitely in the future.

 

When to sign up Kids for Performing Arts Classes

There are performing arts programs available for children of all ages, but here are some factors to keep in mind when deciding the right time to enroll your child in a performing arts program near you or online!

Your Child Might be Ready to Perform if:

• They put on performances of their own volition for family and friends.

• They are particularly adept for their age at communicating and compromising with peers.

• They are able to follow detailed rules and directions.

• They can memorize songs, dances, or sections of their favorite books and reproduce them on command.

 

Free Online Performing Arts Classes for Kids

There are a host of free online resources for young performers. Even if you’re not sure whether your child is ready to jump on stage, you can test out their skills at home, often with no financial commitment! For more information on how to get your little one ready for the spotlight from home, search Wondrfly for performing arts classes for kids near you.