The Benefits of Acting Lessons for Home-Schooled Children

Home education can provide many advantages, such as tailored learning, flexibility and better mental health. These are just some of the reasons why more parents are opting to home school their children.
However, the social interaction of in person schooling experience helps your child develop important life skills. So one of your main concerns will be whether they are getting enough opportunities for social interaction while being homeschooled.

Acting lessons can offer home-schooled children the perfect outlet for self-expression, creativity, and personal growth as well as those vital social skills. Here are just a few of the benefits that acting lessons can offer them.

1. Boosting confidence and communication skills

Acting requires children to step out of their comfort zone and explore different characters. Not only is it a fun and creative experience for them, the process helps develop self-confidence as children learn to perform in front of others.

Over time and with practice, shy students can become more self-assured and capable of expressing their thoughts clearly. Acting lessons help children build strong communication skills, which will benefit them in both social situations and future career paths.

When your child performs in plays or film scenes, they learn to project their voices, articulate their ideas, and engage with audiences. These skills are essential in day-to-day life, from giving presentations to navigating social interactions. Since our lessons are grouped by age, they will be able to communicate with other kids their age. For home-schooled children, this kind of development can be particularly important as they will not have the same level of daily interaction with peers as those in traditional schools.

2. Developing teamwork and collaboration

Acting isn’t just about the individual, it’s a team effort. Your child will have the chance to work together with others to create scenes, understand scripts, and coordinate their performance. This encourages them to respect others’ ideas and collaborate to achieve a shared goal. In acting groups, kids learn how to support one another and deal with any challenges that arise.

For a home-schooled child who is taught individually, acting lessons can offer a valuable opportunity to work within a group setting. It’s an enjoyable way to build friendships while honing social skills like cooperation, empathy, and leadership. Acting lessons also offer an environment that is similar to a school setting where everyone learns together.

3. Encouraging creativity and problem-solving

When you enrol your child in acting lessons, they are encouraged to think outside the box and use their creativity. From interpreting scripts to improvising scenes, acting pushes children to use their imagination in exciting ways. This kind of creative problem-solving is beneficial for all areas of life, not just on stage.

A home-schooled child will appreciate having a creative outlet, like acting, as it can balance the academic focus of their studies. In a normal school life, kids are encouraged to participate in at least one extracurricular activity which studies have found to be extremely beneficial. Not only this, but it also provides a fun and stimulating way for them to explore their interests and learn how to tackle challenges from different perspectives.

We have Taster Days this week throughout September.  Sign up for your Taster Day here and quote code HOME20 on the application form to receive a 20% discount off your first term.

4. Enhancing emotional intelligence

One of the most powerful aspects of acting is its ability to help children understand emotions. When playing many different characters with varying personalities, feelings and perspectives, they experience these for themselves, building empathy. Children become more aware of how feelings are expressed and can better understand their own emotions. This ability to represent another person’s mental state (known as cognitive empathy), plays an essential role in understanding and navigating social situations.

A US medical study has actually shown that acting training may improve behavioural measures of empathy and actors may even be more proficient in adopting and utilising emotion regulation strategies.
When it comes to home-schooled children who are in fewer social situations, acting offers an essential space for emotional exploration. This understanding of emotions can enhance their ability to relate to others, regulate their emotions more effectively and be more emotionally aware. And you can rest assured that our acting school takes pride in creating a safe, enabling environment where every actor can express themselves freely.

5. Providing a fun physical activity

Acting isn’t just about using your voice – it involves the whole body. The beauty of theatre is that you don’t only have to use words to express ideas and feelings. In fact, the art of acting is in mastering the non-verbal cues.

Drama lessons include techniques such as movement, dancing, gesturing and miming. These activities help children build coordination and better understand non-verbal communication, at the same time as having fun!

One of the downsides of a home education is that it’s easy to lose out on physical activity. Even walking from class to class burns some energy! If your child doesn’t participate in any extra physical education classes, acting can be a way to stay physically engaged. And they don’t have to be super sporty to participate. Acting lessons provide a unique and exciting way to move around, use energy, and stay healthy while learning something new.

6. Preparing for future opportunities

While not every child will pursue a career in acting, the skills they learn in drama classes are valuable in any future profession. Confidence in public speaking, the ability to think creatively, and the skill to work well in a team are essential traits in almost any career. Whether your child dreams of becoming an actor, a scientist, or an entrepreneur, these lessons will serve them well.

Additionally, acting offers kids the opportunity to perform in shows, talent showcases, or even films. During our holiday lessons, our students get to showcase what they’ve been learning in a performance for family and friends at the end of the week. These experiences can be both exciting and empowering, allowing children to take pride in their hard work and share their talents with others.

For home-schooled children, acting lessons offer more than just a chance to learn about the performing arts. They provide an opportunity for children to build confidence, develop important life skills, and enjoy being part of a creative community. Whether your child dreams of becoming an actor or simply needs a fun and engaging activity, acting lessons can be an excellent addition to their home-school curriculum.

Give your child the gift of theatre

If you’re considering acting lessons for your home-schooled child, you can explore options offered by the Anna Fiorentini Theatre & Film School. Our school provides a range of classes that can help your child grow in confidence, creativity, and social skills.

Whether you choose to enrol your child in our Saturday classes or our holiday drama lessons, it will be a memorable and beneficial experience for them.

We have Taster Days this week throughout September.  Sign up for your Taster Day here and quote code HOME20 on the application form to receive a 20% discount off your first term.

Feel free to contact us for more details.