Requiring theater?

[Janeway]

We are trying to cut expenses, so it is sort of silly that I am jumping in with another class...but...

 

I always felt theater was a great thing to learn about. It helps teach behavior and control over your body and awareness of your voice, body, and presentation.

 

Now I found out that there is a class this spring for theater that is not too costly. I asked both my middle schoolers and they don't want to bother. I get the impression they just want to play computer. The older one has ASD.

 

I usually give the kids a lot of choice over their extracurriculars, but I am thinking maybe this is a good thing to make required. I did require every child to take art at this art center for a school term. I am thinking I should do the same on this. What do you think? Anyone require something like this?

[wintermom]

If the only thing making them hesitate about theatre is that it will cut into potential computer time, I'd put them into theatre or some other activity that touches on similar areas (e.g., public speaking, debate, leadership class, choir). I was always too shy to try theatre in my youth, but can recognize that it would have been really beneficial for me. There are other areas where very similar skill sets are developed, though, and these may be a better fit for some people. I wouldn't necessarily force a youth into an activity they hated, as they could potentially disrupt the class experience for others. (Not to mention it's a waste of your money if they don't put in the effort to get something positive out of it)

Edited January 9, 2016 by wintermom

[Ellie]

No.

[Chrysalis Academy]

Both of my kids love theater, and I love the benefits, both academic and personal, that they derive from participation. But I would never, never make a kid do theater. Some kids love it, and some kids would hate it. Just like I'd never force my dds to join an organized sports team, I would never force a kid to do theater. It's a different breed of kid, in my experience.

[itsheresomewhere]

I would never make my DS do it. He would hate it with a fiery passion. DD would enjoy it but it is not something I would force her to do.

Edited January 9, 2016 by itsheresomewhere

[Cosmos]

I wouldn't require theater. But I would make presentation skills a required part of education. Lots of ways to explore different aspects of this -- public speaking, debate club, theater, etc. 4H is an activity that incorporates presentations. So is Model UN. These don't all touch on the exact same skills but they're all worthwhile activities and would appeal to different kinds of kids. If a student doesn't want to do any of those activities, you can also just incorporate oral presentation skills into your regular coursework.

 

Anyway, I explained the benefits of these kinds of activities to my ds and strongly encouraged him to do *something* of this form. He decided to try theater and it turned out he loves it. He's at first rehearsal for a new show today. He does some oral reports for school as well.

[PinkyandtheBrains.]

 

 

 

It would depend on what the class teaches, and requires.

 

 

 

I put both my boys in a theater workshop. They learned about all aspects of theater, and in class they try all different things. However, when it comes time to perform, no child is required to. So many kids choose to work backstage instead of on stage as an actor.

 

 

Learning the skills is great, as long as they aren't forced into performing.

[Alte Veste Academy]

I always felt theater was a great thing to learn about. It helps teach behavior and control over your body and awareness of your voice, body, and presentation.

 

I usually give the kids a lot of choice over their extracurriculars, but I am thinking maybe this is a good thing to make required. I did require every child to take art at this art center for a school term. I am thinking I should do the same on this. What do you think? Anyone require something like this?

 

Out of curiosity, did you ever participate in theater? 

 

I would never ever force it, and I think it's very different from requiring art. I don't think making your kids take a theater class would be fair to your kids or to the kids who want to be there. There is a special kind of energy in theater that I personally would not want to disturb by forcing someone to participate. (I did do theater when I was younger. LOL Lots of theater.)

 

I agree with the above comment that there are other ways to teach these skills. Consider having them give oral reports or prepare speeches. 

[justasque]

We are trying to cut expenses, so it is sort of silly that I am jumping in with another class...but...

 

I always felt theater was a great thing to learn about. It helps teach behavior and control over your body and awareness of your voice, body, and presentation.

 

Now I found out that there is a class this spring for theater that is not too costly. I asked both my middle schoolers and they don't want to bother. I get the impression they just want to play computer. The older one has ASD.

 

I usually give the kids a lot of choice over their extracurriculars, but I am thinking maybe this is a good thing to make required. I did require every child to take art at this art center for a school term. I am thinking I should do the same on this. What do you think? Anyone require something like this?

 

All of mine have done theater.  They started with informal-but-pre-prepared presentations/"reports" given to small groups of friends/peers, and/or "Backyard Theater", "Let's Put On a Show", largely peer-led performances created by a group of their friends.  We also saw a lot of professional (and amateur) productions.  Two of my kids then tried crew work on more formal performances.  Only after that did they do on-stage roles.  

 

If the class is of the casual, "Let's Put On A Show" type, it may be an OK fit for your kids.  But I would talk to the instructor to get a feel for the class, the students who are expected to take it, and so on before signing up.

 

Theater kids can be extremely welcoming of kids who are "different" in one way or another.  However, the friendship bonds are based on the love of theater, so if your kids are lacking that and may not take the class seriously, it may be a bad fit for them.

Edited January 9, 2016 by justasque

[Arcadia]

My DS11 loves Drama but is very particular about teachers. Instead of putting him into theatre, I'm putting my boys into speech and drama.

Besides both my boys don't like waiting around for their turns.

 

ETA:

They had done a one week speech and drama camp years ago and enjoyed it.

Edited January 9, 2016 by Arcadia

[Pen]

Thrice I had my ds commit to trying just a first class of a theater type activity, with the understanding that he could decide then if he did or did not want to do it. Twice after hesitation and balking about the first trial class, he ended up loving it.  The third time (just this last week), no longer so hesitant or balking due to the prior positive experiences he said it was not that good, not so interesting, and he is probably going to drop it and try something else next week if he gets permission from the place. Otherwise decide whether to do it or spend the time on something else.

[Chrysalis Academy]

I agree I wouldn't force.

 

However, for both drama and soccer - which ds now loves and adores and can't live without, lol - I needed to firmly nudge him in the direction of 'giving it a try'. Basically, he won't try anything at all without a firm nudge. I guess it falls into the 'know your own child' camp ?

 

If he'd expressed dislike of either activity after 6-8 weeks, I would have let him drop it. 

 

I strongly nudged dd18 into trying drama for a term and she hated it. She didn't continue. 

 

Agreed, if my kids weren't interested in anything, or were hesitant to try new things in general, I'd definitely be nudging them out there to try something.  I get what you are saying, and as always, know your own child is excellent advice!

 

We have a great children's theater program in our town, and lots of kids try it out via summer camp or a class or something. Some of them don't like it at all and don't come back. Others develop a passion and it becomes a huge part of their lives. The kids who do the main stage productions are pretty serious and committed. As a previous poster said, they are very welcoming and supportive of one another, and each one of them has their own quirks, and none of them are 100% mainstream kids, I don't think.  What they don't like is when a kid is forced to be there by a parent, and really doesn't want to be - it really stands out, and it does affect the group dynamic.

[Janeway]

Out of curiosity, did you ever participate in theater? 

 

I would never ever force it, and I think it's very different from requiring art. I don't think making your kids take a theater class would be fair to your kids or to the kids who want to be there. There is a special kind of energy in theater that I personally would not want to disturb by forcing someone to participate. (I did do theater when I was younger. LOL Lots of theater.)

 

I agree with the above comment that there are other ways to teach these skills. Consider having them give oral reports or prepare speeches. 

It wasn't an acting class, it was a theater class. There are acting classes too, but I was not referencing the acting classes. I did acting myself, when I was young and even in my 20's. But this was theater and did all the parts of the theater. He did go to one class, but it took us much longer to drive there than I thought. But basically, they toured the theater, talked about plays and shows, learned some theater terminology, that sort of thing. They did have on exercise that involved being on stage, but it was all of them together, as a group. It was a group activity, not performance. It is not a performance class.

 

I would maybe require it, except I didn't realize it was so far. I saw it on a map and thought it would be quick to get to, but it took 30 minutes. That is not the end of the world or anything. And he said the class was fine and he could take it or leave it. But, I think it is instruction I can do on my own if he is not in to it. I previously required art for everyone for a period of time. And I required some music. I something similar comes available close to home, I will likely give it a try. 

[Chrysalis Academy]

Totally, I hear this too. 

 

I love the theater kids :)

 

Me too! They are the greatest, quirkiest, most wonderful bunch.