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Recently I saw my Dramatic Kids class create and act out a skit. Totally off the cuff. It took about fifteen minutes for us to come up with an idea, sketch out a possible storyline, and perform it. There was a king, a queen, a couple princesses, a pirate, and a magic owl. Within their story several wars took place where alliances kept changing. Time froze. It was a little crazy, and it didn’t make that much sense. The kiddos loved it. So did I. Acting gives us the opportunity to be ourselves, to be free, to be silly, even ridiculous. And while we’re “on stage” (whether it’s a real stage or not) we get to feel things. Happiness. Sadness. Disappointment. Anger. Relief. Giddiness. Without all that real-life baggage. It’s a safe space to be who you are. The best thing about tapping into your feelings while acting out a skit or playing an improv game? You don’t have to think about it. You just do it. You simply are.  Photo credit: CARE Actor Dramatic Kids class There’s a lot of great research about the impact arts education and pretend play has on kids’ social and emotional development. Here’s one article we found particularly interesting because it shares findings from several different studies. Want to get creative at home? Read on for a fun improv game you can play with your family and a list of five feeling-centered books.  Photo credit: CARE Actor Dramatic Kids class Walking Blind In the classroom, we use this super simple improv game to build trust. It’s also a good one for empathy because it asks participants to be aware of each other’s experience and comfort level. Since you don’t need any props, this is a great exercise to do at home.
Five books about feelings Amazing Grace, by Mary Hoffman  Image credit: Amazon.com “Grace was a girl who loved stories. She didn’t mind if they were read to her or told to her or made up in her own head. She didn’t care if they were in books or movies or out of Nana’s long memory. Grace just loved stories.” Carry Me! by Rosemary Wells  Image credit: Amazon.com “Sing me a winter song/ I’ll sing you right along/ The old song we know/ About the Wild Winter Wizard/ With his beard full of blizzard/ And his bags full of snow.” Chrysanthemum, by Kevin Henkes  “Chrysanthemum wilted. She did not think her name was absolutely perfect. She thought it was absolutely dreadful.” A Sick Day for Amos McGee, by Phillip C. Stead, Illustrated by Erin E. Stead  Image credit: Amazon.com “Amos had a lot to do at the zoo, but he always made time to visit his good friends. He would play chess with the elephant (who thought and thought before making a move).” Stellaluna, by Janell Cannon  Image credit: Amazon.com
“ ‘And how can we feel so different and be so much alike?’ wondered Pip. ‘I think this is quite a mystery,’ Flap chirped. ‘I agree,” said Stellaluna. ‘But we’re friends. And that’s a fact.’ ” What about you? What do you think is the impact of storytelling and pretend play? Share your experiences in the comments below!
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As the new year begins in earnest, I’m excited about the possibilities for 2017. Our winter classes are starting up, and we’re also looking forward to spring break and summer camps. Every time I teach, I’m reminded of possibility and potential awesomeness. Why? Because the kiddos bring all of that and more. They inspire us with their creativity and their kindness. This week, two girls ran into my Act It Out classroom, giggling and playing like they’d known each other for years. Sisters or best friends? Nope! They’d met two minutes earlier. I thought: adults can learn so much from kiddos.  Photo credit: CARE Actor students taking a class with our founder, Pooja Chawla How’s 2017 going for you? Have you made any resolutions? Are you tackling a new challenge? Here at CARE Actor, our primary goal is to awaken kids’ creativity and, in the process, help them become their best selves. We’re always striving to do more. What’s new with us in 2017? Each month we’ll focus on a different value in classes and highlight it on this blog. January’s value is EMPATHY, defined by Merriam’s Webster’s kids dictionary as “being aware of and sharing another person's feelings, experiences, and emotions.” Since Martin Luther King Day is right around the corner, empathy is especially relevant this month! Looking for a concrete way to celebrate kindness with your kids? Check out this great list of Martin Luther King Day activities in the DC area for Monday, January 16. I know empathy can seem like a hard vocab word, and a heavy concept to introduce to kids. But we’re actually having a ton of fun! It’s not about vocab: it’s about slowing down, listening to others, and being aware. For us, it’s a cool challenge to find fun, heart-centered activities to share with you. Read on for three such activities . . . Mirror Mirror on my friend When thinking about how other people might be feeling, try this classic acting exercise at home. It’s called “Mirror.” You don’t need any supplies other than your bodies!  Photo credit: CARE Actor Family Improv class Mirror Improv Game Directions
“You are very much like me,” says the ant. One book we’re reading in classes this winter is Hey, Little Ant, by Phillip and Hannah Hoose (a father and daughter creative team). It started out as a song that Hannah and her dad wrote when she was just nine years old! You can listen to Phillip and Hannah sing the song here.  Photo credit: Amazon.com
On the surface, Hey, Little Ant is a book about whether a kid should squish an ant. But if you pay closer attention, it’s a book about compassion and empathy because it encourages kids to think about others’ feelings and even concepts like bullying, when the ant explains its point of view to the curious kid. “But you are a giant and giants can’t know how it feels to be an ant," says this eloquent insect. "Come down close. I think you’ll see that you are very much like me.” Too often those who really need our help can't ask for it, or are not listened to. This book is wonderful reminder to slow down and listen. What are they feeling? Since it’s so cold out, you’re probably spending extra time inside, reading books, or going to movies and plays. All this time with fictional characters gives us a great chance to talk about feelings. What are those characters feeling or thinking about? And why? Could a character be mad and sad at the same time? What about feeling several emotions at once? You can also point out places where characters are acting with empathy (or without it). Is it a big gesture, or are the moments of empathy small and simple? If you want more ideas for helping kids be kinder in real life, check out this great article from the Washington Post. So, what do you think? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below! Have you found ways to help kiddos be more aware and more empathetic? We’re listening! And Happy New Year! |
