We are often asked by parents and caregivers how their children can find more self-confidence. There are many ways to build kids’ confidence, but we believe one of the best is through activities such as dance, drama or acrobatics, where performance elements help them shine!
Performing and learning the skills that come with these activities is a great way to help children build self-esteem, hone their sense of self and develop problem-solving skills. When these elements combine, it naturally leads to an increase in confidence.
The Confidence-Competence Loop
Many people think that performers are innately confident, and that’s why they’re brave enough to sing, dance or act in front of an audience. However, this isn’t true! Confidence grows over time due to stepping outside your comfort zone, taking action and improving a particular skill. This is called the confidence-competence loop.
From taking action, we become more competent, which develops and nurtures self-belief. This builds confidence and motivates us to take action again, continuing that cycle.
Many of us can probably attest to the fact that kids can be much braver than adults at times, but performing can still be a little scary. However, the more they do it, the more competent they’ll become and confident they’ll be.
Performance Helps Critical Thinking
A big part of performing is problem-solving and thinking on your feet. Whether that’s helping to block a scene or improvising if someone forgets their lines, or finding solutions on the fly, it’s developing a skill that leads to self-confidence.
Furthermore, kids will learn that facing challenges and making mistakes is part of growth and inevitable in life!
Letting them learn and improve from their mistakes helps build children’s resilience and is essential to raising a capable, happy, and confident adult.
Performance Builds Teamwork and Community
A sense of community and belonging through shared goals and passions is essential in developing children’s identity and self-confidence. Being part of a dance group performing in sync, or playing a character within a drama performance or circus show teaches them that they are their own unique and important part of the bigger picture. Achieving something within a group gives a sense of achievement, community and belonging.
Performance Teaches Children to Use Their Voice
Your physiology informs your psychology. Through drama, kids learn performance skills such as projecting their voice and standing with good posture. They will even learn ‘power poses,’ say when playing a strong character or doing drama games.
Studies have shown that these physical actions send signals to the brain helping to ‘trick’ it into thinking you’re more confident than perhaps you actually are. This can actually lead to feeling more confident as a result.
Finding Their Voice Through Performance
Programs that include public speaking elements offer students a comprehensive tool kit for delivering group and solo presentations, which is wonderful for students who need support to find and have confidence in their voice.
In Academe Time programs we use rhetoric, poetry, formal and semi-formal styles, debate structures and essential components of verbal and non-verbal communication to build this important life skill.
They are fun, creative, practical and theory-based classes, catering for the unique speaking voice of every participant. We even work with rap!
Performance That Entertains Others Feels Good
Put simply, making others feel good will make your little stars feel good too! As they make their loved ones laugh during a play, or gasp in wonder after performing a cool circus trick, their hearts will soar.
Being in the spotlight in a controlled and supportive manner (such as in front of their peers, family and performance educators), helps children feel special and can be a wonderful boost to their self-esteem.
Find our drama, dance and circus programs that include performances, at your school! Not sure which program is right for your child? Read this blog post to find out more or contact us today to see how we can bring tailored performance programs to your school.
