Lessons in the performing arts provide kids with a fun and enriching activity to participate in after school or on the weekends. If you're looking for the perfect gift for your child or grandchild, enrolling them in singing, acting, and dance classes can provide a lifetime of advantages. Here are a few reasons why this is such a valuable gift.

4 Ways the Performing Arts Benefit Kids

1. Encourage Creative Expression

Dance classes teach children to express their feelings through poses, twirls, and sequences of steps. Similarly, singing allows kids to use their voices to channel emotions, while acting teaches them to inhabit a character. All these performance options help kids better understand their own emotions through role playing and become more empathetic towards others. 

Performing arts education also stimulates the imagination and empowers children to get in touch with their creative side. While learning how to dance, sing, or act, kids may put unique touches on their technique and develop a signature artistic style.  

2. Promote Active Listening

Taking dance, singing, or acting classes requires children to pay close attention while their instructors teach them new material. This helps kids become better listeners so they can succeed on stage. Active listening skills also translate to the academic environment because kids are more engaged with their teachers, which encourages better performance and a reduced risk of behavioral problems. 

3. Introduce New Friends

Attending acting, dance, or singing lessons puts children in contact with peers from other schools, providing an excellent opportunity for them to bond over common interests. The friendships your children form while participating in performing arts may provide them with a valuable support system that helps them succeed as they move through their school years. 

4. Boost Confidence 

As kids gradually get better at acting, signing, or dancing, they'll feel empowered when they master new skills. Performing in front of family and friends also provides them with a sense of pride and accomplishment. If your child is shy or wondering what they're good at, these experiences can raise their self-esteem. 

Help the kids in your life explore the performing arts by enrolling them in Melody Lane Dance, Music & Drama Academy. This dance studio provides a range of performance classes, including singing, acting, and dance, for children throughout Yakima Valley, WA. Call (509) 248-9623 to discuss enrollment, and visit the website to learn more about their performing arts classes.