Busy primary school and high school parents understand how tricky (and time consuming) it can be finding and fitting in term activities for their children.
What’s the best use of your child’s time?
Before you start Googling endless sites and trying to compare prices and dates, NIDA Open Program Manager for Children and Young People at NIDA Bronwyn Batchelor in Sydney sets out five reasons why extra classes in the performing arts can help your child develop.
• ‘My child is shy’.
Drama classes give your child confidence as they immerse themselves in play-based language and communication.
Your child will find a freedom and joy in role playing imagined characters and environments, allowing even the smallest of voices a safe vehicle for expressing themselves.
• ‘My child has lots of energy and no focus’
Some children find it hard to focus their energy with others – some adults do too! Navigating the ups and downs of working collaboratively with friends in a fun, supported and practical way gives your child skills that they can apply in their school and home life.
• ‘My child needs a variety of activities to stay engaged’.
NIDA Open drama classes offer children active, skills based learning that engages their whole body in creative, voice and movement. Through improvisation, storytelling, character, song and text, children are given a wide range of opportunities to play and explore the creative landscape.
• ‘Can I support the talent of my child?’
There are many ways to support your child’s creativity at home, from simply reading regularly to being involved as a character in your child’s free play.
Let them take the lead on where the story goes.Try asking your child, ‘what happens next’ at the end of a picture book or before you turn the page and then act it out together.
Encourage new narrative or ‘silly answers’, say yes to the simplest ideas. NIDA has a range of introductory classes in acting, writing, musical theatre or simple everyday creativity for anyone who ever said ‘I’d love to do that but I don’t know where to start’.
