Theater Activities for Preschoolers: Unleashing Language Development and Creativity
‘All of us are born to be in the Limelight.’
You heard that right! Being in the limelight is not merely limited to the likes of television stars and politicians. Every person deserves to bask in the limelight of their glory, no matter how ordinary their lives might seem!
Shakespeare certainly knew what he was talking about, when he said,
‘All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women are merely players.’
It’s true. We are all born to showcase our talents on the Stage of Life. What better way to do it, than by indulging in some good old Theater Activities?
In this article, we will explore the wonderfully Dramatic world of Theater Activities for Preschoolers. We will see how they can positively impact Language Development, apart from bringing forth a plethora of other benefits.
Are you ready for Drama of the ‘good’ kind?
Let’s get on Stage, and set the process of learning about Theater Activities, into ‘Play’!
Theatre Activities for Kids: The Benefits of Speech and Drama for Preschoolers
When we talk of ‘being in the limelight’, it doesn’t imply that all children need to find themselves on stage, with a view to giving the performance of their lives.
Even for kids who are inherently shy, those Speech and Drama classes can offer a whole host of benefits. Like, the following.
Language Development Basics
Looking to hone the English-speaking skills of your children? You can rest assured that Speech and Drama classes will have them covered.
There are plenty of activities that your child will be exposed to in Speech and Drama Class. These will help improve skills like their Diction, Pronunciation and Speech. Needless to say, they will be exposed to a vast array of new words, and that will only serve to improve their Vocabulary by leaps and bounds.
Improving Communication Skills
Inadvertently, we all find ourselves in front of an audience, at one point or the other.
The great thing about Those Theater Activities is, it gives children the invaluable opportunity to express themselves in a Safe environment. That only serves to increase their levels of Confidence, and in turn helps them ‘communicate’ better. This is vital, as Communication is the cornerstone of Language Development!
‘Out of the Box Thinking’ for great Storytelling
Children cannot think differently, unless they are exposed to different perspectives.
Speech and Drama class helps expose kids to the fascinating potpourri of Cultures and Periods in Time. This helps them get out of their ‘set’ ways of thinking. Through the act of witnessing a wide range of scenarios, they come to learn how to formulate unique ideas of their own. Something that finds its presence wonderfully felt, when it comes to their ability to craft Stories.
Interactive Theater Activities for Preschooler Language Development
It’s time to shine a Spotlight, on those wonderful Theater Activities.
Indeed, something that will greatly aid your Preschooler, when it comes to learning the ropes of Language Development.
The Art of Storytelling
Want children to master their English Skills? Tell them Stories!
To do: Tell your child fascinating stories, the kind you might have heard as a child in front of a fire in the woods. They will be delighted to learn the nuances of storytelling. Such as, how every story has a Beginning, Middle and End. This is a wonderful way to unlock the gates of their Imagination.
Tip: Start the story with a ‘Dramatic’ line. Such as, ‘Once upon a time in a land far, far away…’
Imaginative Play
Remember playing ‘Doctor’ as a little child?
To do: Role-playing games can be a great way for a child to break the shackles of ‘limited thinking’. Let’s take the example we have taken into consideration here. All you need to play the game of ‘Doctor’ with your child are props like a toy stethoscope, medical charts and perhaps even lab coats!
Tip: You can let them be the Doctor, and prod them to use the most courteous language, when giving fictional medical advice to you, the Patient!
Reading Out Loud
Reading out books to your little ones can be a great way to enhance their Speech and Drama Skills.
To do: Do a bit of research, and pick out books that are engineered towards improving your child’s Language skills. You want to read out loud to them, with Animated Expressions and perhaps even different Voices, for the different characters in the books. This will help your child cultivate a fine understanding of ‘tones’ in the spoken language.
Sing, Sing, Sing
Are you a bathroom singer? Why not extend your singing prowess, to singing along with your child?
To do: Choose songs that are appropriate to sing together with your child. Nursery Rhymes make for an excellent pick, as they have been tried and tested over the ages.
Note: The ‘repetitive’ lyrics in those Nursery Rhymes, are all the more effective when it comes to polishing your child’s Speech.
The Story Circle
Got a lot of kids in your house? Try this, one of the best Speech and Drama Activities for them!
To do: Get the little ones to sit in a circle. One child will go first, and say a word, like ‘The.’ Then, the other child has to add another word, to continue the ‘Story.’ Thus, after four children have said their words, you might get the sentence: ‘The dog seems lost.’ Oh, and the kids can go on for as long as they like!
Writing their own Stories
Yet more Story Fun!
To do: Get your child to express themselves freely. You could ask them at night to write down how their Day was. You might be surprised at how lucidly they express themselves on paper!
At Eurokids, we are of the firm opinion that Theater Activities are essential for sharpening the Language Skills of Preschoolers. Not only do they expose your little ones to a rich Vocabulary, they also give them that all-important nudge, when it comes to expressing themselves Verbally.
