Many children love to dance, act, and sing, but not all share a love of the stage. If your child is enrolled in dance classes or any other activity that involves performing in front of large groups but has stage fright, they are hardly alone. Thankfully, there are many ways to help your little entertainer overcome this type of fear and enjoy performing on stage–review a few ideas here. 

How to Help Your Child Deal With Stage Fright

1. Acknowledge Their Feelings

Allowing your child to express their concerns or worries about performing shows that you respect them and their feelings. Let them know that stage fright is a normal thing that many people experience, including famous performers such as Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, and Adele. Realizing they are not the only one with these fears can help your child feel less anxious and interested in what well-known individuals do to overcome their stage fright.

2. Practice With Them

The more your child practices their steps outside of dance class, the more ingrained they become. Your tiny dancer’s confidence will likely improve as they become increasingly accustomed to the routine, which can help them feel brave and ready to take on the stage. Offer to practice with them as a show of support that increases their comfort level. Eventually, your child might want to practice in front of you and other family members. 

3. Teach Deep Breathing Exercises

Deep breathing techniques instantly calm the mind and body. Shallow, improper breathing causes oxygen-carbon dioxide exchange disruptions that can result in fatigue, anxiety, and panic attacks. Teaching your child to breathe deeply provides them with a tool they can use any time they need to calm down, such as before a dance recital or giving a book report at school. They can pair deep breathing with calming, reaffirming self-talk, such as “I’m going to do an amazing job,” “I know this routine so well,” and “I’m going to have so much fun!” 

Taking dance classes in a supportive, nurturing environment helps children of all ages overcome stage fright. Showcase Dance Studio provides this type of environment for kids throughout Cudahy, Bayview, and the surrounding areas in Wisconsin, as well as a range of dance classes to select from. Call (414) 803-8228 today to register your child or learn about class options online.