My granddaughter, Evangeline, is three years old. She loves to be read to, especially by her daddy because he uses so many great voices. She knows all her letters and numbers, recognizes several words, can tell you the names of all the planets orbiting the sun, and she can sing dozens of songs. Yes, she is very bright, but what she knows is the result of very intentional early education by her parents utilizing music, art, books, creative storytelling and pretending. This creative way of learning in the formative years is a proven method of educating very young children. When the lesson is put to music or set to rhyme, it is easier to remember and repeat it. Singing and reading aloud to children engages them, and creating funny voices as we read them stories helps children learn and become more interested in the world around them. 

Middle childhood, encompassing ages 6-14, is a time when kids develop a sense of themselves, building self-esteem with every success, and feeling disappointment or even embarrassment with each perceived failure. In this stage of self-awareness kids begin to judge themselves and to compare themselves to their peers. They start to form their own expectations of how well or how badly they will do at different tasks.They begin to worry about what they cannot control. 

We encourage them to try new things, choosing activities for them based on our own experiences. Many people start their kids off with athletics or dance class. Some start piano or violin. I am all for softball, soccer, basketball, volleyball, football, swimming, cheer and gymnastics, but I believe this age group also needs to be involved in artistic activities such as dance classes, music lessons, theatre, art and writing. Creative learning can continue to help them connect to, understand and navigate their feelings in this crucial time of self-awareness and risk-related growth. Creative arts teach us so much about the world while teaching us everything about ourselves. All children are creative if they are allowed and encouraged to be imaginative and open. We can continue to offer children in this age group the important and proven methods of learning which are accessible through the creative arts.

I believe that it is important for creative kids to work with other creative kids, forming supportive relationships with new peer groups who understand the unique challenges and benefits of their art-form. I think that it is important for children to belong to bands, choirs, dance and theatre groups which rely on individual effort as well as teamwork to reach their creative goals.

At Children’s Theatre our goal is to give children the rich experience of being part of theatrical production in the cast, running crew or tech crew, but there is some training needed before a child is ready to work at such a demanding level for an extended period of time. Training and class experience offers so much to kids in that 6 -14 year old age group. The benefits are there for child athletes and seasoned actors alike, even if they can only commit a month or two at a time. I cannot recommend it more highly to kids who audition often for local productions. Experience does not replace training. Both are required to reach one’s full potential.

Private lessons offer one-on-one training with an experienced professional or educated instructor, tailored to the specific needs and individual goals of the child. A private teacher is dedicated to the well-being and growth of their student and is often one of the people most in touch with a child’s mental and emotional health, as well as their talent and skill level. Young children who have demonstrated a desire to sing for an audience, who want the lead in the next theatrical production, who wish to play an instrument or paint a masterpiece are ready for private lessons. 

Group classes are an affordable, consistent way of keeping your child plugged into creative learning, connecting them to someone outside the family; a professional whose perspective is open and whose intentions are purely to encourage, educate and mentor their students. Creative group activities help kids understand the idea that what makes them different from one another is actually very useful, as they each add their own special qualities and abilities to create one finished piece, be it music, theatre, dance or visual art. 

Children’s Theatre and many other groups in our community provide opportunities to learn and grow in the creative arts. There are online classes available, and upcoming summer camps are a great way to carve out some dedicated creative learning time. Finding classes, camps and lessons that fit your schedule, budget and location is probably easier than you think and very worth the effort. It may seem like I have written an advertisement for CTSI, but the truth is there are several places in our area that offer training and experience. Do some research on local classes and camps and feel free to write or call with questions. We’d love to help you with the growth and care of your creative child or teen and if we can’t offer what you need, we will be happy to help you find someone who can.