Most people are aware that children who participate in speech and drama classes often have better social-emotional skills. However, many people don’t understand why it is so and in what manner these universal competencies may affect children in the long run.
To help parents know better of this potential, the article will explore the benefits for children attending acting or public speaking classes, focusing on the ways in which these classes may improve the social-emotional skills of children.
Social-emotional skills in Children
Social-emotional skills are generally understood as a set of universal competencies that allow people to be aware of their own emotions, allowing them to understand, express and manage them efficiently. In young children, their capacity in social-emotional skills will heavily impact the way they see themselves and interact with others. According to researchers, there is a strong positive link between having good social-emotional skills and attaining or maintaining overall well-being, high-quality social engagements, work achievements and academic success.
Therefore, it is essential for parents to provide ample space and time for younger children to practice and develop their social-emotional skills. Here we discuss four specific skills children will be exposed to in speech and drama classes.
1. Enhancing Self-awareness
Performing arts extracurricular activities provide unique opportunities for kids to explore their own ways of expression. Unlike regular structured lessons, during theatre classes, children are often encouraged to express themselves verbally or physically. As teachers strive to create a safe and nurturing environment for children, these classes become safe havens that enable kids who are more soft-spoken or less confident to learn and grow at their own pace.
With positive guidance and attentive feedback, children can decipher what they are comfortable with and what they enjoy most; eventually finding out more about themselves. Through improvisation activities and practice in communication skills like public speaking, children can also better identify and understand their own emotions when interacting with others.
2. Developing Empathy
A huge part of theatre and drama classes centres around roleplaying and this aspect provides a fun chance for children to take on various perspectives or personalities. Whether it is reading aloud dialogues in different voices or acting out scenes, such emotional and evocative gestures become a perfect platform for children to literally step into another’s shoes – an opportunity that is rare to come by in school or at home.
Studies have also shown that drama and theatre are amongst the most effective in enhancing empathy, as the process of acting requires the embodiment of feelings from another person. While these activities expand children’s knowledge of the world beyond their existing circles, they can also help them understand difficult and challenging emotions or situations. This actively encourages children’s development of empathy for others that have different circumstances.
The teachings on the use or impact of certain intonation and pitch allow children to think critically about their mode of communication and the impact of their words on others which can further enhance empathetic capabilities.
3. Strengthening self-regulation and impulse control
Furthermore, the interactive nature of speech and drama classes can help children with self-regulation and impulse control. Through collaborative performances, young learners are exposed to the basics of teamwork and cooperation, such as taking turns and respecting others’ opinions.
As they become more mindful in all aspects of their activities, children learn how to control their own emotions while considering the feelings of others. The sense of accomplishment they gain from completing the tasks together can also help them develop stronger impulse control over themselves
4. Building Resilience.
In theatre or drama classes, kids are constantly exposed to new situations that require them to make decisions or take initiative on the spot. This helps children boost resilience as they face different challenges and learn from failure instead of shying away from it.
Through this process, children gain first-hand experience in navigating unfamiliar territories with resourcefulness and determination – enabling them to have better problem-solving skills along the way. Furthermore, when faced with constraints or difficulties, children become more creative in finding workarounds or inventing solutions that cultivate an enduring sense of determination and grit.
Speech and Drama Classes at MindChamps Académie of Stars in Singapore
Parents who are keen to begin this journey of growth for their children may seek more information on drama and theatre classes available at MindChamps Académie of Stars, the leading performing arts school in Singapore.
With trustworthy guidance and support from experienced drama teachers, these speech and drama classes can open up a world of possibilities for kids to become more aware and thoughtful individuals, effectively fostering collaboration, empathy, self-regulation and resilience, which are all necessary elements for healthy social-emotional growth in young children.
For interested parents, refer to our online programme brochure or simply fill in this enquiry form with your questions and we will do our best to respond as soon as possible!
Should you prefer a physical tour of our centres and space, please book a visit to learn more. Ultimately, mastering social-emotional skills at a young age will put your child in a favourable position to becoming an independent and socially responsible member of society.