Creating confidence
If you want a great way to boost your child's confidence and development as well as unleashing their boundless creativity, this could be just what you're looking for.
Whether it's drama, dance, music or a bit of everything, enrolling your child in a class after school or perhaps at weekends will pay off in ways you probably would have never imagined.
Often, children can be reluctant to get involved as the thought of doing something different may put them off. Children learn how to express themselves without reservation and stand up in front of a group of people without hesitation.
However, after one or two visits, the experiences of learning something new more than often override any anxiety and give way to a new found excitement and perhaps even a hidden talent or two.
It could be anything from toddlers doing 'dance and prance' style classes to your 6 or 7 year old learning to play the trumpet. Whatever it is, educational experts claim strongly that involvement in the arts can greatly enhance the confidence, concentration and even social skills of a child. So, what's on offer out there in the big wide world?
Well, in short, anything and everything.
Musical lessons are widespread in schools and the choice of instruments on offer is as unlimited as your imagination. Dance and drama are also widely available, both as after school activities as well as within community halls. Here, children are able to express themselves through a variety of dance genres put to music.
And don't worry, your child doesn't have to be a budding Billy Elliot or musical prodigy.
Family Time Magazine will be focusing on particular disciplines in coming issues so be sure to look out for those but in the meantime, why not start at home with some of these top tips:
Kids love play-do and plasticine and this is a great way into art and sculpture.
Puppet theatre teaches the younger ones about various animals and the sounds they make. Older children can use the puppets to make up their own stories and practice different voices.
Music CD's are readily available and are great for learning dance actions. Don't forget, kids love to have their own nursery rhymes and songs played in the car and although it can get a little repetitive for you, it is a great way for them to learn, away from other distractions.
When you set them to paint, as well as the usual pads of paper think about buying some cheap canvases for them to express themselves on. It's a great way to make them feel grown up but also great for you as whatever they paint has more durability and can be hung on their bedroom walls (before the invasion of music posters).
There's nothing more little girls enjoy than making their own jewellery. Kits are readily available but consider making some at home from flowers and leaves in the garden. They'll love searching the park or garden for buttercups and daisies as well as small pine cones and conkers (just make sure a responsible adult helps out with any cutting or hole making).
Get creative in the kitchen. Make a tray of buns and get the little one to decorate.
