Dramatic Playtime

You can play an important role in encouraging your child to use his or her imagination. And, a wonderful part of the spirit of a child is his thirst to imagine. It can be as simple as "playing store" with your child; One of you is the shopper and the other the cashier. Or, "cooking supper" by pretending to use the stove, the sink, and eating imaginary food. Go back and dig up some memories of your own creative experiences. Remember your child will bring a fresh new perspective to the world. Not all children will react to things in the same way you did and that's a great way to get to know your child's developing personality.

• Watch for their smiles and their frowns, delight or frustration. Those will be your clues to un-wrapping the creativity in your child.
• Never force the doors open, just find the right keys.

Drama, by its very nature, is imitating life. If you have "play acted" as described above, you have started the drama adventure.

Have you ever asked your child what sounds animals make? Add to that how animals move and that's a great way to put their keen observation into motion, exploring the way the body can bend and twist.

Animals are also often the subject of children's stories as well.From frog princes, to cats that talk and bears that find beds too soft or hard, children's picture books can give them a visual clue to what a character might look like and what they might say.

Creating the voices for their characters takes imagination. Explore that with your child. Try using books and stories as a way to explore drama with your child and act them out.

You might even want to:

• PROVIDE THE STAGE—something as simple as using masking tape to make a square on the floor will do. Then, using that favorite story or book, remembering it by heart or holding the book in your hand, move about the stage playing the roles yourselves.
• ADD CHARACTERS—Dolls, stuffed animals and puppets made of socks make terrific additional characters. Switch roles occasionally to allow your child to experience the story from other perspectives.

Remember: This is not about practicing a play to produce for an audience.It's to experience the difference in hearing a story and being a part of it yourself.

Overcoming Stagefright

If you have a child who would rather hide under the couch than get up and act something out, there are other ways to find opportunities to engage imaginations with drama.

PUPPETS work well in this case, preferably behind a "puppet stage." That stage can be as simple as a large box standing on end which you get behind. Hold the puppets up so they are the only things in sight. Being the puppeteer first, so your child can see how it is done, is a great way to begin.

SOCKS ARE GREAT PUPPETS. Since you decide that they are the character in your imagination, rather than trying to make something that actually looks like a princess, you simply imagine the character you want it to be.

You'll be surprised how convincing a plain old sock on your hand can be when you create the voice that goes with it.

Casting ...

Maybe YOU end up on stage and THEY direct you—telling the story for you to "act out." It's your turn to use your imagination and be whatever it is they ask you to be. If the "bear" tries out a bed and it is too hard, you lay down on the floor and show them how hard the "bed" is. Soon, they may want to be one of the bears themselves, or not. As long as they are pretending with you, their imagination is at work. Just remember, never push a child on stage or in front of people to sing or do a dance or tell a story until they are ready for it. Many a grown person still feels terror when up in front of a group of people and that can often be traced to a bad experience as a small child.

If your child is eager to be the actor all by themselves, YOU BE THE AUDIENCE. You may even want to try your hand at making up the story as you go along ... and wherever you stop, you can pick up the next day.

This kind of Drama is completely exploration—no scripts or story books, no right or wrong. Don't be surprised if the stories don't always make complete logical sense or the characters take on voices or movements you might not have imagined.

At this early age criticism of these attempts will result in a child who just imitates what they heard rather than creates new thoughts. There is plenty of time to "make it right" as far as plot and storyline go.

Of course you need to use your parental authority to be sure that actions and words are not inappropriate or hurt anyone physically or emotionally. Take the opportunity if that happens to use it as a teaching moment rather than a a scolding.

Center Stage

If they OUTGROW THE HOME STAGE, or, they seem to need more experiences than you can provide, CREATIVE DRAMA programs can take them to that next step. Here they will learn to share the stage, adding other children to their dramatic adventures.

A Creative Drama program should be filled with IMAGINATIVE ACTIVITIES where learning to listen and enjoy other children's ideas is encouraged. In fact, good creative drama programs rarely ask children to spend more time working on a product (a play for the parents) than they do in activities that provide the opportunity to work imaginatively as an individual or together in a shared imaginative way.

As they get older, there is plenty of time for putting on plays. In a creative drama class setting, they will begin to learn that, in theatre, like many situations in life, there is hardly ever only one person involved.

Going to a Show

What about taking young children to the theatre? It's a good idea, if they are old enough to sit still for the length of the play. No matter whether they sit in your lap or not, be prepared to pay for a ticket if there is an admission charge.

Determining age-appropriate performances:

• Call ahead and ask about the running time.
• Also, be sure to ask if they have a policy for very young children. Some ask that children no younger than a certain age attend any show.
• And while you are asking, be sure to inquire what specific age the play is intended for. Sometimes things labeled as CHILDREN'S THEATRE, are meant for older elementary or middle school children, or, they are children acting in plays but the plays are not always for young children to enjoy as an audience.
• Some Children's Theatre is not on a stage at all, but rather very informal in setting, with the audience seated on the floor and the actors interacting with them.

Once you decide it's time for a trip to the theatre, PREPARE YOUR CHILDREN for the adventure.

• Talk to them about the difference between a stage play and television. Let them know that what they will see is real people right there on a stage—perhaps not far from where they will be seated.
• Make them aware that it is the actors who will tell the story by acting it out and that "it is your turn to be quiet so you and the rest of the audience can hear what the actors are saying."
• You can tell your child that if they have something that they just can't wait to tell you, to lean close to you and whisper it.
• Sometimes, however, during a play, actors will ask the audience a question or request that they participate. Be sure to turn to your child and let them know when that happens. If you have told them to be quiet, they may not know it is okay to react.
• Be sure you prepare your child for the fact that IT WILL GET DARK IN THE THEATRE before the story begins and sometimes it will get dark again for the actors to take the story to a different place. Nothing bad has happened. The lights will come on again when the actors are ready.
• Tell your child that there will be CLAPPING at the end of scenes, as the lights go out. is traditional but may be unexpected by your child. Be sure they understand that this clapping does not mean it is over, yet. Explain that, when it is over, the ACTORS WILL BOW. You might show your child what a bow is at home before you go. That's something they may have never seen before.

Even with your best intentions, sometimes children react fearfully to an actor wearing a mask or strange make-up. Whispering to your child in a comforting voice, "he certainly looks funny in that mask or makeup" will sometimes do the trick. Other times, a scary character looks or sounds just a little too scary. You will just have to put your arms around the child so he knows you are protecting him.

Your child will learn to be A GOOD AUDIENCE MEMBER by having opportunities to see plays. And, with that comfort level, they will gain more and more from the experience.

Aristotle said, "Tell me and I will forget. Show me and I will remember. INVOLVE me and I will understand."

You and your child can learn much more about the world and each other through the experience of drama together. And, what an adventure is in store for both of you.