Lucy Morgans - Boost Your Childs Confidence: 52 Brilliant Drama Techniques to Help Your Child Shine

Boost your childs confidence

CAREFUL NOW
Few people can be bothered to read the small print in any book. Luckily there isnt much when it comes to using drama techniques and games to make children more confident.

All the publishers and your friendly authors will say is dont expect miracles overnight because every child is different. We dont know you or your child personally, but what we do know is that these ideas are helping to remove shyness and nervousness in kids up and down the country. Hopefully they will work for your family too and youll have great fun in the process.

If they dont work immediately keep trying because often these exercises need regular practice and lots of patience before results are seen.

But dont forget to talk to your health practitioner if you feel there are deeper issues affecting your childs confidence either at home or at school.

Copyright The Infinite Ideas Company Limited, 2008

The right of Lucy Morgans and Steve Hemsley to be identified as the authors of this book has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

First published in 2008 by
The Infinite Ideas Company Limited
36 St Giles
Oxford, OX1 3LD
United Kingdom
www.infideas.com

All rights reserved. Except for the quotation of small passages for the purposes of criticism or review, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except under the terms of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 or under the terms of a licence issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd, 90 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 4LP, UK, without the permission in writing of the publisher. Requests to the publisher should be addressed to the Permissions Department, Infinite Ideas Limited, 36 St Giles, Oxford, OX1 3LD, UK, or faxed to +44 (0)1865 514777.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN 978-1-905940-47-9

Brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
The authors would like to thank Phillip Young and Craig Peters for kindly allowing us to use the photos on pages 5, 9, 13, 14, 33, 38, 47, 48, 69, 74, 87, 96, 101, 105, 109, 114, 120, 139, 143, 147, 151, 155, 159, 164, 165, 169, 173, 177, 181, 186, 187, 191, 199, 203, 207, 211, 219, 223, 228 and 233.

Designed by Baseline Arts Ltd, Oxford
Typeset by Sparks
Printed in India

Brilliant ideas

Wouldnt it be wonderful to go through life making mistakes with no one really caring? Unfortunately that is never going to happen so remember practice makes perfect well, almost.

When children get nervous their breathing becomes shaky and their mouths dry up. If they learn to breathe correctly they can take on the world.

Theatre etiquette means actors understand the importance of listening, when to be quiet and why they must be considerate to others on stage. These are skills children can benefit from enormously.

Dont tell the cleaning police, but clutter is good. Items strewn around the house provide actors with props that add reality to a scene while they can fire a childs imagination.

No-one expects your child to sound like a 1940s BBC public service broadcast, but if he can express himself confidently people will listen to what he has to say.

Actors must be able to memorise lines, and children who can retain information learn faster and are less likely to make embarrassing mistakes.

In the same way that theatre critics can hit a raw nerve, children can be very sensitive to criticism. Yet constructive comments can encourage them to try harder.

Knowing how to present ourselves in a confident manner becomes vital as we get older. You can help your child to sit up straight, make eye-contact and improve his overall posture.

Not every child excels academically and, like set designers in the theatre, it can be through their creative talents that their self-esteem soars.

Trust can take ages to earn but only seconds to lose. Actors must trust each other implicitly on stage, while children always think carefully about who they can rely on.

Actors love putting on costumes and children adore dressing up and having their faces painted. Watch your child become more adventurous as he transforms himself into a superhero for a few hours.

Your childs listening and observation skills will get a lift from regular visits to the theatre. If she can grasp information quickly, shell have the confidence to lead from the front.

Forget Shakespeares sonnets childrens poetry should be silly, fun and perfect for getting kids to read aloud and explore their feelings through words. It can also help improve their memory.

By learning acting techniques children soon ooze confidence, express themselves more clearly and have fun with other kids. Its why drama classes are booming.

Improvisation brings a childs dreams to life. Her mind is stimulated as she learns to think quickly and she finds it easier to interact with others.

Actors spend hours researching characters the audience will believe in. Letting your child act out different roles will help her accept who she is and understand that everyone is different.

What the director says goes in the theatre. Children can learn a lot from directing their own lives, using their initiative and taking responsibility for their own decisions.

While actors get excited about filming somewhere exotic and adapt to their environment, children can sometimes be nervous about new places. Kids need to feel at ease when theyre away from home.

Actors learn to use positive language during auditions and improvisations to keep conversations buzzing. Finding ways to boost your childs vocabulary will help him express himself more confidently.

Kids are confident about their bodies if they have good coordination skills and are aware of their personal space. You can even tell a persons mood by the way they move.

Dont put your daughter on the stage, Mrs Worthington, wrote Noel Coward. Indeed, parents who try to fulfil their dreams through their children can knock their confidence.

Concentration is crucial on stage and helping your child to improve his attention span can do wonders for his self-confidence.

Actors love aggressive roles, and when your child gets angry she needs to know how she can let off steam.

By exploring the five senses of touch, taste, smell, sight and hearing in a fun way, your child will get a better understanding of her own body and the world around her.

Every actor strives to conquer mime, a discipline which is ideal for helping shy children communicate. It is often the vital first step to giving a child the confidence to talk openly to others.

Most children love to put on a show for their family, and the sense of achievement they feel from the positive feedback they get can be immense.

Performers are told not to draw the audiences attention away from another actor. Similarly, children must have the confidence to allow others their moment in the spotlight.

Actors are told to play to their strengths and not audition for unsuitable roles. Your childs confidence will soar if hes encouraged to get better at the things he already excels at.

There is no right or wrong in the theatre as actors learn to accept each others opinions. Children can flourish too if they are in a non-judgemental environment.

Like an understudy waiting in the wings, what happens if one child lives in the shadow of a more confident sibling? Less self-assured children can thrive too with the right approach.