Parent Magazine St. Johns September 2019 | Page 15

gives the opportunity to express a wide range of
emotions, thoughts, and ideas that may not be part
of everyday life.
• The expression that is the heart of drama builds
self-confidence and self-esteem. It goes past nerves
and self-consciousness and allows children to try
something new with success.
• Learning to act “in character” requires focus,
attention and engagement—all great learning tools.
• Well-managed drama experiences offer a safe
environment to try on other roles and to express
feelings. How does it feel and look to be angry? Sad?
Afraid?
• Drama experiences build empathy and a chance
to support others in their efforts. It is community-
building.
• Planning, rehearsing, and then performing offer
great feelings of accomplishment and satisfaction.
Theater Games and Activities
Drama teachers often use games and activities to
“warm up” their budding actors and actresses. These
come in a wide variety of formats, but all of them serve
to provide exposure to the art of drama. They may ask
children to convey thoughts or feelings, allow them to
express an opinion, appeal to one of the five senses,
and be done either verbally or nonverbally. The games
provide structure within which to explore movement,
voice projection, quick thinking and reacting, focus and
attention to detail and much more. Here are some of
the kinds of drama games that might work in your own
home.
• Mirror Activities
Mirror activities are standard drama class fare. They
build awareness of body movement and facilitate
working together and non-verbal communication.
There are many varieties of these games, but the basic
game has children working in pairs, facing one another
about two-three feet apart. The leader makes a slow,
continuous movement and the follower mirror-images
the movements. The goal is to succeed, not trick one
another. In a more difficult version of this activity there
is no leader or follower, the two just act as one. Mirror
activities can be done to music as well.
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