In my internet exploring, for which I did not use Internet Explorer, I came across a great article about the 10 traits parents should be helping develop in their children. As I read through them, I realized theatre education can play a crucial role in developing each one. Let’s take a look.

1. Curiosity – Theatre demands kids develop their natural curiosity. So often this natural trait can be unintentionally sidelined by adults. We don’t always have time to answer every question a child asks, though we should probably work harder to find that time. Theatre education provides a great outlet for that for curiosity. We are constantly asking the why questions when creating characters and choosing how to respond in character to challenges.
2. Social skills – Theatre is at its heart a team sport. Everyone has to work together to create a story. Kids have to get along and support one another to be successful.
3. Resilience – Rejection is a big part of the theatre world unfortunately. Actors often audition for a part and don’t get cast. However, that reject builds resilience. A mom once told me that not casting her daughter in my play was the best thing that could have happened to her. She learned to keep fighting and not give up.
4. Integrity – Theatre that isn’t honest isn’t worth doing. Theatre kids learn to recognize false words and false actions quickly because truth in acting is key.
5. Resourcefulness – Live theatre is different than movies. There are no special effects (well, unless you’re in Harry Potter on Broadway), and we’re usually not performing in an actual house. But we still need to create the illusion of flying or complicated locations like the interior of a house. Resourcefulness is key to being able to create these experiences for the audience. Theatre kids also learn resourcefulness at a young age when they are asked to search their toy box for fake swords or perhaps a kazoo so they can play their part.
6. Creativity – This one is a no-brainer, right? We know that theatre kids are creative. They’re creating stories, imagining what it’s like to be someone else, creating props and sets to tell the story.
7. Empathy – This may be the most important skill taught by theatre. To be a successful actor, you need to be able to empathize with the character you’re playing. Kids have to understand the motivations of the other characters, too. Theatre teaches empathy, a crucial part of one’s humanity.
8. Assertiveness – Theatre provides kids with the opportunity to practice being assertive in a safe environment. Playing Annie Oakley for instance offers the opportunity for an otherwise unassertive kid to pretend to be assertive. Any actor will tell you they take a little bit of every character they play with them.
9. Humility – This kind of goes with the Resilience trait above – not only does rejection make you resilient, it also humbles you.
10. Confidence – Along with Empathy, this may be the most important trait theatre teaches kids. Or perhaps I should say theatre provides a path for a kid’s natural confidence to emerge. Being onstage and part of a successful production is a confidence builder like no other. We hear all the time that one of the most common fears people have is getting up in front of a group of people. Theatre kids learn early to find that confidence within themselves to stand up and be noticed.

So parents, if you want a little help developing these important traits in your kids, sign them up for a theatre class!