Why Drama is so Important in Schools

Over the next several weeks and months I’ll be writing a 12-part series about why drama is so important in schools.  I’ll be covering several different aspects of the benefits of why we do drama, what it gives our kids that very few extra-curricular activities can give, as well as ideas and suggestions on to how to make theater a robust and staple program within your school.

I’ll be writing about the following areas of “Why Drama?”:

• Comprehension – understanding language and seeing the big picture
• Creativity – how to practice being creative and to successfully fail
• Empathy – understanding internal emotions as well as other’s
• Social Skills – how to engage and communicate with others WITHOUT a phone
• Presentation Skills – the ability to prepare and be in front of an audience
• Education – learning about history, culture, time periods, and events
• Team building – how to cooperate with your peers
• Confidence building – being proud and assured in your abilities
• Enunciation – how to articulate words and appropriately project your voice
• Affect –  how to read other’s and appropriately use facial expressions
• Improvisation – know how to think on your feet when life throws you curve balls
• How to push yourself – to do something you thought was beyond you

This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the life-long skills your kids will learn when doing drama.  Whether it is behind the scenes or on the stage, everyone has to come together to put on a performance.

There’s an old saying, “Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes.” Therefore, “before you judge a play, PLAY!!” (quote by Amy DeFries, middle school teacher)

I would love to hear your stories about how drama has positively affected your children.