• ​14 teaching artists
• 36 camp sessions
• 100s of original characters
• Countless laughs, costumes, and brainstormed ideas

Its been quite a busy summer here at CARE Actor. As our final camp wraps up at the end of the week, we can’t help but think back about some of the awesome campers we got to work with over the past 10 weeks and some of the wonderful productions we’ve seen. What a great time we’ve had!

 As fun as writing a script and rehearsal can be, some of our campers’ favorite parts of the week were playing improv games! Each week, we taught campers how to play some classic improv games to help them hone their acting skills. While we usually think about improv when we think about shows like Whose Line Is It Anyway or as a type of comedic theater. However, improv skills can also help actors learn how to think quickly, listen to their scene partners, and recover when a scene doesn’t go the way it’s supposed to.

One special favorite game is Gibberish Expert. In this game, a “world renowned expert” on an obscure topic gives a seminar for the class, but they don’t speak any English! Luckily, a member of the class is able to translate. This is one of the silliest games we play, as obviously the student translating can use body language and intonation to try and convey the message of the expert- or at least try their best! It’s always fun to see what kind of gibberish each student chooses to use.

Another crowd pleaser is the classic game Freeze, or Freeze Tag. This one is tons of fun with our Theatrical Teens groups and is great for encouraging students to use their bodies to tell stories and to commit to some big movements. Two teens take a wild pose to start the game, then have to create a scene using pantomime based on their poses. Once the scene has time to develop, another member of the class will yell Freeze! This student will hop onstage where the two players have frozen in place and switch places with one of them. Then they’ll have to start an entirely new scene based on the poses the previous scene ended with.  It’s definitely entertaining to see how students can use their imaginations and the silly situations their characters can get into!

Although the summer is winding down, we’ll continue to use these games and others to help our students find their most confident and creative selves during our fall classes. Registration is now open for our after school classes across Northern Virginia and Maryland so make sure you sign up today to get a spot. 

Many people don’t realize how beneficial improvisational theater (improv) can be when it comes to parenting. At CARE Actor we understand how valuable and impactful improv can have on building confidence and character. This is why we use improv games in our camps and classes and also have a FAMILY IMPROV workshop. Recently, I sat down with our  Director of Operations, Dina Saunders, to discuss re-learning how to play, creativity and how the spirit and techniques of (improv) has shaped her parenting. 

Saunders has been an actor most of her life, but started to focus more on improv when she became a new mother and realized she was struggling to trust her instincts on stage. She began doubting herself as a parent and found that improv, especially classes such as CARE Actor Family Improv, became a great vehicle and safe space, for learning to be okay with failure or mistakes.

You have two boys who are 3 and 7. Do you do a lot of creative activities with them?
 
As a parent, I’ve had to learn how to play again.  So creative projects and storytelling have been a big part of my parenting [in an effort to] focus on supporting speech and building communication skills with both of my kids.

 [My older son and I tell stories together], where we add to each other’s sentences, or I make up a story on the spot. He then makes up a counter story on the spot but his challenge is to not make his story exactly like my story. We try to make each other laugh the whole time.

Dina leading a CARE Actor Family Improv Workshop

This storytelling you’re doing sounds a lot like an improv game used in our CARE Actor classes and camps, called “One Word at a Time.” 

Yes, it is very improv based.
 
[For instance] my 3 year old son loves dressing up, costumes, role playing. As young as he is, when we do these small scenes together, he has very specific ideas about who he is, who he wants me to be, and what happens, which is a lot of fun.
 
I always try to unnerve/mess with them – to let them know things are not always going to go exactly like they want it to- that when you do incorporate someone else into the story, it might not end up like you had planned. This doesn’t always go well, but I enjoy doing it so that they can experience that.

It’s disruption!
 
It is disruptive, but it’s about being flexible. It helps with problem solving skills, because I might throw something in the mix: blow up their castle, or do something unexpected. They have to figure out what to do, even if they don’t like it, and then keep the story going. Plus it is fun, very fun.

It sounds like you’re [acting] as just another kid, playing an improv game who is enjoying it?
 
Sure. You can go into an improv scene, think you know exactly what is going on here, or maybe you’ve prepared your [opening] line, and the other person completely derails your plan. 

You had this whole plan, and now it’s not going to work?
 
It’s not.  Now it’s about finding your footing, and a way to make it work, and not end the story. Because you had to make your idea work and not let the story die.  I think that’s a great lesson in what creative collaboration is about, which is a BIG  part of what improv and the theater experience is about. 

We can't stop laughing at CARE Actor's Family Improv Workshops!

I love this idea of creative collaboration in improv. As you know, I have a four-year-old son and recently he was playing dress-up at school with friends where he was a fire fighter.  The other kids were super heroes and he said, “Mom, they were messing up my scene.”  I thought, “he’s growing up to be a theater kid.”  I then thought it was a good opportunity to ask why he couldn’t bring them into his story. Almost like an introduction to one improv concept we use in CARE Actor called  “Yes, And,” which is the basis for a lot of games and all of improv. 

The “Yes, And” concept has made a big difference in my parenting. Starting a statement with “Yes,”(my husband has started doing it too) really makes things much easier.
 
[For example] if it’s the end of the day and my son really, really wants to watch TV. I will say, “Yes, you absolutely can watch TV, but first, I need you to help clean up this mess.”
 
If it’s not going to happen until the next day or next week, or not at all  it’s  still “Yes, you can, tomorrow or next week.” The main point is  you’re still starting with “Yes” by saying what you can do?
 
Yes! It’s not like it’s always magical, nor a cure-all because there can be disappointments in that statement. [However]I always try to reassure my kids that I am saying “yes” so, let’s be flexible, and let’s work with the “yes.”
 
Do you think this principle of improv, which is so important, is about validating the other person, or about including them?
 
I think it’s about accepting; That person. Their idea. I think it’s a statement of acceptance. [This is a key principle in improv.]
 
Any other principles of improv that you think apply to child rearing?
 
[Improv] has enabled me to be more flexible and, more forgiving of myself. When you practice improv, it’s a safe space to try things out. [Because] not everything is going to work and it might not be the best scene. Maybe you sat on your impulses, or you didn’t share ideas for some reason. You can try things out, and you can fail, but you can get back up on your feet.
 
Yes! I think the idea that it’s okay to fail, is so important for improv, and also for kids in general.
 
For kids, and for parents.

For people in general would you agree?
 
As a mom, I am definitely hard on myself, especially now with the idea that you’re supposed to be 100%, and balance everything perfectly. I’m okay with not having it all.

As soon as I think, “I’ve got this parenting thing down,” something is going to change with one or both of my children, and we are going to have something new to deal with. So I try to be flexible, and to be okay with failure, because I know I can get back up on my feet again. 

If a parent wanted to get into improv and had never done it before, what would your advice be?
 
CARE Actor [has] Family Improv Workshops, locally (we have one soon on June 24th), which is a great way for adults to participate with children. I think anybody coming to the table with a willingness to play is wonderful. Adults can benefit from experiencing improv with children, because the children come to the table with that openness. I think that’s a nice way to experience it for the first time, to have that openness of children in the room.

So what do you think? Have you found ways to integrate creativity into your parenting? Share your stories with us in the comments section of this post or on our CARE Actor Community page on Facebook! Use hashtag #CAREActorKids in your comment or post, and your story may be featured on our social channels. Sign up for our free e-newsletter HERE.

If you’re interested in learning more about our FAMILY IMPROV events, click HERE!

​Having worked alongside traditional educators in the school system, I’ve noticed that my teaching style is far from traditional. I walk into the first day of class with a plan that allows for ample adaptability according to the needs of those I’m teaching, a teaching style I picked up from acting and directing. When directing a scene in one of our camps, I can use words that I, as an actor, relate to in hopes our students relate to them too. For example:

“When you say your line, say it as if you’ve stubbed your toe.” 

Most people, especially energetic children, know exactly what it’s like to run around, hit your toe, and cry out in agony. That phrase “as if” is a a tactic that works for me as an actor.  When I apply this technique in my classroom, I see how well it works, yielding the right results.

In my classroom, not only are the students actors, but I am too. 

Because we relate to our students on a creative level we can teach them intricacies and practical aspects of the craft. Plus, our real life stories of going on auditions, getting jobs, and shaking out opening night jitters can inspire  our students to pursue the arts. 

Oftentimes, though we are there to inspire students, it’s the students who do the inspiring and teaching. 

In all of the little minds I have encountered over the years, more often than not, they’re the ones who are armed with the lesson plans and knowledge that’s ready to be dropped.

When we take a moment to listen to the kids we teach, we notice that, despite (or perhaps because of their youth), our students have important lessons to share. ​

1. Laughter is important. Children always seem to be laughing, don’t they? I love that. It’s true when they say kids say the darndest things, and laughter is the best medicine. There’s no better feeling than laughing with my students, and it allows me to leave class feeling refreshed and happy.
2. Our hopes and dreams are never out of reach. If you ask a child what they want to be when they grow up, and they say Ant Man, the passion in their eyes and fervor in their voices makes me believe they will grow up to be Ant Man. Children are pure dreamers and rely on their imaginations for play. Somewhere in the midst of growing up, we forget how to do that. When I watch my students learn through theater, I see their imaginations soaring and it leads me to believe (and remember) that all things are possible if you just believe that you can.
3. It’s fun to find joy in the little things. Small things are important, even if we forget it sometimes. Children cause you to slow down and enjoy the little things, like a ladybug that landed on your shirt or a silly face a classmate made.
4. Always accept and support your classmates. Children encourage each other and support their fellow classmates so naturally. We adults should follow their lead in our daily lives. How much nicer it is to uplift someone instead of put them down? Hearing a child encourage a friend by saying, “You can do it,” or “I can help you,” is a wonderful reminder of the joy and value of community.
5. Exploring stuff outside your comfort zone is cool. Kids aren’t afraid to be silly. If you ask students to act like their favorite animal, they go all out without a care in the world. When I’m teaching and witness students taking risks and growing – it reminds me that staying within my comfort zone doesn’t get me  anywhere. In the words of one of my students, playing it safe is “boring with a capital B.” 

​As teachers and teaching artists, we’re immersed in what we should be teaching them, and sometimes we overlook lessons that our students can share with us. 

As Teacher Appreciation Week draws to a close, we at CARE Actor are recognizing all teachers: for the long hours they’ve worked, the number of clothes now covered in chalk dust, and lunch breaks that aren’t really breaks at all. We are also shining a light on our students, because sometimes they are the best teachers!

 Question of the Day! 

Do you have any funny or inspiring stories learned from a kid? Perhaps your kiddo has dropped some wisdom at the dinner table, in the car, or on the playground? We’d love to hear it! 

Share your stories with us in the comments section of this post or on our CARE Actor Community page on Facebook! 

Use hashtag #CAREActorKids in your comment or post, and your story may be featured on our social channels. Sign up for our free e-newsletter HERE.

by Norah Vawter

What is IMPROV?
 
Improvisational theater is the art of coming up with something out of nothing. No script. No direction. Maybe a prop if you’re lucky. You stay in the moment, and you don’t overthink. Starting with a blank canvas, you add to the scene as you go along – using your body, voice, and imagination to paint the scene. You can be silly, even ridiculous!
 
At CARE Actor, we’ve found that improv helps kids to open up and helps parents to find fresh ways to interact with their families. It also aids problem solving and team building.
 
This is why we developed Family Improv Events, where parents and kids can learn and laugh together!

Video credit: CARE Actor Family Improv

What are the benefits of learning the art of improv? Here are seven ways improv helps families be families:
 
1. “Yes, And...” is the first rule of improv and the basis for many improv exercises. What's the big deal and how does it apply to parenting? It's an alternative to saying a straight yes or a straight no. When you say yes, and ... you validate your child's feelings without giving in to unreasonable requests. This parent gives a great example of how to use improv lingo when faced with a stubborn kid. Want to learn how to play “Yes, Let's”? Check out our recent blog post on friendship.
 
2. Families who improv together collaborate together, in so many ways. This article from Second City, aimed at teachers, applies to families as well. “Improv teaches participants to step up when another idea is needed (taking the focus) and to cede the floor when another student wants to share (giving the focus).”

Photo credit: CARE Actor Family Improv

3. Comic Mike Birbiglia agrees that improv is key to teamwork, collaboration, and getting stuff done as a group.  “The rules of improv, I believe, are so profound because they apply to almost any kind of collaboration. ... Number one: Say yes. Two: It's all about the group. And three: Don't think.”

4. Keep yourselves sane during road trips! Second City has a list of suggested games for the whole family to play when stuck in a car for a long drive. Go beyond counting license plates by getting silly and creative with activities like “One Word at a Time” and “1001 Mermaids Go Into a Juice Bar.”
 

Photo credit: CARE Actor Family Improv

5. It's a powerful tool for helping all kids get in touch with their emotions, regardless of what makes a particular kid special. Researchers at Indiana University are even working with children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, to help them share emotions and understand others' feelings. According to one researcher, Jim Ansaldo, “What improv really does is create a safe and fun and authentic environment in which to practice, where mistakes really don't matter.” We think lessons like these apply to all of us.

6. Want to help your kids trust themselves? Alan Alda, who co-founded the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University in New York, believes improv is a tool for building trust. He says [improv]'s humor “is not a jokey kind of humor. It’s the pleasure of spontaneity. So that if something occurs to you in that split second, it’s free to come out. You trust it, you trust yourself.”

Photo credit: CARE Actor Family Improv

7. Improv teaches us to stay in the moment. This mom talks about improv teaching her to not overthink, but to be in the present. She says, “[practicing being in the moment when on stage] is highly valuable for anyone who has been dragged down a five-year-old’s rabbit hole of ‘...at my next birthday party, I’m gonna....’ Being in the moment short-circuits your lingering work angst and inspires you to yell, 'Today IS your birthday!' and print out a bunch of cupcake toppers just for the heck of it.”

This month at CARE Actor, we're gearing up for new Family Improv Events, on April 21 and April 22. We'd love to see you there! In these events, we’ll even introduce activities you can do at home. Browse our blog for more at-home improv, such as One Word at a Time, Walking Blind, Mirror, and more.

Photo credit: CARE Actor Family Improv

If you've participated in Family Improv in the past, or seen your kids transformed by improv in classes or camps, sound off in the comments below! Have you found that improv, or other creative pursuits, helps your family's group dynamic? Share tips and tricks on social media, and be sure to use hashtags #careactorkids and #CAREaboutfamilyimprov. Your idea may even be featured!

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