Performing Arts and The Development of Children
By: Traci Plinsky
As a young girl, I endured many hardships children should never have to face. Music became my outlet, theatre allowed me to become the person I knew I was created to be. People would be astounded when they saw me on stage because this introverted, insecure girl would transform into character and belt out a showtune but wouldn’t make eye contact with anyone in the hallway. I struggled with math but when I began dance, the rhythms I learned correlated to numbers and I was able to comprehend strategies I couldn’t understand before. I realized I was a musical learner so anytime I had to memorize something, I put it to a song and suddenly the hours I was spending on homework diminished. Performing arts gave me confidence, purpose and opened many doors for me.
As a teacher, I am now able to use what I went through to inspire children I have the privilege of working with. A passion for the arts is magical. Show day brings joy that can create a lifetime of memories, but it is even more impactful than you can imagine. The effects on your child’s mental, physical, social, and emotional development will stay with them for years to come, both on and off the stage.
Confidence, self-expression, collaboration, empathy, academic achievement is just some of the components of child development combined with performing arts. Children can examine and channel their emotions through narrative, music, and movement. Some people find certain feelings more difficult to express and participating in performing arts programs provides children the opportunity to express a range of emotions in a healthy, controlled environment. Learning how to express themselves through art will make it easy for them to creatively express themselves in other situations, be it in school, social gatherings, or future job interviews. Performing arts engage children’s imaginations and lead them to develop their own, distinct voices.
A performing arts education provides children the opportunity to practice stepping outside of their comfort zone in a safe setting. Even after weeks of rehearsal, it takes courage to go out on a limb and accept whatever response comes from being vulnerable on stage. However, once your child lets go of those inhibiting expectations of what is “right” or “wrong,” they’ll relax and let their inner joy shine—they’ll simply just “be.” The confidence that grows when your child performs will translate to every corner of their lives, from educational accomplishments to social ease. Putting yourself out there can be intimidating, but once you’ve been bold enough to sing, dance, and rock out on stage, small talk becomes a cakewalk.
Unlike sports games, there are no winners or losers in a theater performance. The only “wins” are when everyone works together to create the best show possible. Performing arts curriculum pushes students to think not only about their contributions to the show individually, but how their own performance can enhance the performance of the show as an ensemble. Children also learn how to lead in a group, especially when they are given the responsibility of playing principal roles. Likewise, older children use their experience and leadership skills to assist younger children through their first performances. Ensembles teach kids that every person has special talents that they bring to the table, and that combining each person’s insights creates mutual success that is powerful and that fosters creative growth.
Various studies have shown that a performing arts curriculum has amazingly positive effects on a child’s academic performance. A 2019 article in the scholarly journal Trends in Neuroscience and Education states that arts-integrated education increased the retention of information and the overall subject comprehension of students struggling in language arts and science. It makes sense when you think about it—countless people grew up learning (and still remembering) how government works via “Schoolhouse Rock” songs, and many children today are learning about the Founding Fathers through “Hamilton” lyrics. Memorizing a script uses the same reading comprehension skills that children use in the classroom, and they practice core mathematical concepts as they learn to read music and understand music theory. Performing arts teaches children perseverance, creative problem-solving, and the ability to focus—all great skills that will lead to classroom success.
Embodying another person’s story through acting, voice, dance, and music allows children to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes. Especially when portraying a character dramatically different from themselves, children learn to understand and empathize with other people, respecting important differences but embracing similarities. Learning about people from different communities, countries, and cultures through art allows your child to become an informed, global citizen. Seeing the world through the eyes of someone who is unlike them on the surface fosters kindness, thoughtfulness, and nonjudgmental attitudes, allowing them to form bonds with people from all walks of life.
Many children enjoy performing simply for the fun of spending time with friends and participating in creative play, but the arts have an impact that lasts much longer than an hour-long show. Introducing the performing arts to children gives them the chance to develop priceless life skills. The abilities to express themselves, to feel confident, to play well with others, to shine in school, and to understand others will bring them to great heights in life. And all it takes is a little bit of song-and-dance. The skills that children gain from performing arts will shape them into superstars on the stage of life.
