THE BENEFITS OF DRAMA

This month Sekolah Harapan Bangsa Preschool, Modernhill will present the Musical Drama Cinderella.

We teach and encourage drama through our lessons and activities as dram helps with a child's development in many ways. Here are some benefits of drama for young children.

1. DRAMA BUILDS CONFIDENCE

Even the shyest of children take just a few weeks to gently build up their self-esteem until before long they are confident in performing in front of others.

2. DRAMA HELPS CONCENTRATION

Children are encouraged to listen to each other's ideas and thoughts, and to take turns. These activities allow children to recognise the value of concentration; a skill that is vital in the world outside their home.

3. DRAMA HELPS DEVELOP LANGUAGE & COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Learning new songs, playing new games and participating in pretend play (when children must take on the language of the role they are playing) all contribute to a child's developing vocabulary. They are encouraged to express themselves both verbally and through facial expressions and body language which is key to making them better and more effective communicators.

4. DRAMA ENCOURAGES CHILDREN TO CO-OPERATE

Drama games use improvisation to singing together, requires co-operation. Children quickly realise that in order to get the best out of sessions, co-operation is a much needed skill!

5. DRAMA DEVELOPS EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

By encouraging children to ‘act out' a range of emotions in the safe and supportive environment of a drama activities, children are better able to understand their emotions and develop empathy with others.

6. DRAMA DEVELOPS CREATIVITY

Creative people are able to view things in new ways and from different perspectives, to think on their feet and generate new ideas – this is a vital life skill. Our child led approach to improvisation and pretend play encourages the development of creativity as children lead the direction of the drama themselves, come up with solutions to problems in role, and respond imaginatively to a range of pretend situations.