Here are a few tips to keep in mind if you are thinking about taking your kids to a local drama performance.
Not necessarily. Some children have trouble sitting still. While mulling around on the theater's ground floor was popular in Shakespeare's day, that idea died with the Bard. Instead, play goers today are expected to sit quietly in the dark enjoying the show. That may be difficult for young children, who typically need to move every so often and will squirm if they don't.
So what's a culture lover to do? The following tips may help you prepare the kids for a hefty dose of cultural conditioning when you take them to the next drama performance.
1. Consider their ages. Very young children will not appreciate a drama and probably keep others from enjoying it, as well. Some theaters post signs that children under the age of 12 should not attend. If no sign is posted, consider 12, or perhaps a very mature 10, a good age at which to attend a stage performance. Look for quality children's drama for younger children. Their school may be able to recommend a theater or acting company that sponsors short dramas for younger kids.
2. Feed them first. To avoid expensive goodies and time-consuming intermission snacks, give your kids dinner at home or let them pack a light treat. At intermission they can step outside or dash to the restroom (or a corner) for a few bites instead of pestering parents to take them to the lobby during the performance.
3. Dress them in layers. Children can be extra temperature-conscious, so encourage them to wear layered clothing that can be peeled if the theater heats up or replaced if temperatures plummet. A comfortable body temperature will help to keep them from fidgeting.
4. Make a pit stop. Always take children of any age to the restroom before a public performance begins. Even if they say "I don't have to," don't believe a word of it and go anyway.
5. Read the story, or about it, before the play. Tell kids what the plot is about so they know what to expect. Perhaps they'll even anticipate the "live" version on stage after reading the dry book version.
6. Have them write a paragraph summary afterward. You may even want to reward them for doing so. Exercising memory and critical thinking skills will marry business (or learning) with pleasure. After doing this a time or two, they may look forward to discussing the play afterward and you will no longer need to require a written summary.
7. Encourage them to discuss it at school. Offering a teacher a report about the play or discussing it during sharing time can be a great way to reinforce what they've learned and how much they enjoyed it. The teacher will be happy, too.
Seeing a play need not be a cumbersome activity for the pre-teen child. Rather, it is an exciting opportunity to visit the world of dramatic arts where the imagination comes to life in surprising and often inspiring ways.
