Introducing Your Child to the Arts: Dramatic Play for Children (continued)

• A good story. Theater for young audiences today is wide-ranging, offering plays on subjects from traditional fairy tales to current events. Whatever the topic, a good production will clarify its subject. Did you learn something new or gain a new insight through the play?
• Credible characters. A “willing suspension of disbelief” is necessary for viewing theater, but the characters should be plausible. Did actions seem totally out-of-character for someone in the play? If so, did you lose interest in the drama?
• Excellent performance skills (acting, dance, music, and any other skills called for such as juggling, fencing, etc.). Do these skills support the development of character? Are they at a level befitting the expectations of the actors, both in terms of the amateur or professional status of the company and the actions of the characters?
• Effective visual elements. Do scenery, costumes, and lighting transport you to the place and time of the play? Are they visually engaging? In cases where scenery and lighting are minimal or absent, did the production stimulate your imagination in other effective ways?
• Challenging ideas. A good script can provoke thought, bring new ideas to light, perhaps help you look at a facet of life in a new or different way. Ask your child what he or she got from a performance. Try open-ended questions such as: What did you see on the stage? What was a particular character trying to do? What happened at the very beginning?
• Insight into other cultures. Theater can take us in time and place to other communities and cultures. Did the production help you learn about cultural or ethnic traditions?
• Strong emotional response and involvement in the plot. Were you moved by the action of the play? While emotions can’t always be verbalied, a discussion with your child about his or her feelings about what happened can benefit both of you.

Following some productions, theater companies offer workshops, question and answer sessions, and discussion sessions that are facilitated by theater professionals (actors, directors, playwrights). Contact your local theater for young audiences to find out about these special offerings.

Education and Special Programs in Theater

Because educational drama is a group activity requiring skilled leadership, you should consult your child’s teacher or principal to see whether it is already part of the school program. While many schools are now adding theater to the curriculum, it is still absent in most elementary schools. As a parent, you can help promote educational drama by encouraging teachers to include drama in their classrooms or by helping bring artists-in-residence to the school.

It may be that you will want to discover other opportunities in your community for classes in the performing arts. You should look for available resources in the following places:

• Community centers and city or county recreation departments.
• Libraries,museums, churches, playgrounds and camps, and YMCAs and YWCAs.
• Local colleges and universities.
• Performing arts centers, as well as professional and community theaters.

Many facilities have splendid programs in the arts. Visit classes, note the age levels of the children and the preparation of the teachers. Ask questions about the school’s philosophy: for instance, how does the school ensure opportunities for all children? Classes in educational drama, puppetry, mime, and dance offer enrichment beyond whatever the school provides. The chance to explore creatively and act spontaneously is essential.