All around it is a fantastic way to learn. If a school is clever about it they can introduce other topics such as English literature and history into the lessons. Kids acting out the classics or plays from periods in history – where they dress in costume of the period and help build the set etc. There is a whole load of learning that can be covered in a really fun way.

Drama allows children to learn the value of teamwork. Not all children were cut out for sports and other team building activities. Working together to be part of something bigger thanthemselves can be very rewarding and help them to achieve a sense of self-worth. It helps them to be constructive instead of destructive. It allows them to learn to lead aswell as follow. It helps teach them timing and emcourages them to learning timing and precision. It can be fun to become something that they are not: a quiet girl can learn that she hasa voice, a bully can to be a gentle farmhand, a class clown can learn to be a serious judge… plus it just be plain fun. My son was in the third grade when he started in the childrens community theater and his attention deficit almost vannished. He contiued to do the play each year until he reached the age limit. I think drama classes can add an element to a child’s perspective that few other things can.

I was involved in dram in high school and it was quite an enriching experience for all those reasons and more.