Many parents enroll their children in singing or dance classes or musical instrument lessons. Such opportunities provide these children long-term avantages. Unfortunately, some of these kids discover, for the first time, that they suffer from stage fright. Stage fright is an attack of extreme nervousness that occurs while—or before—appearing in front of an audience. Below are some tips to help your child overcome this problem.

How to Help Kids Overcome Stage Fright

1. Encourage Practice

Whether it's for dance classes, a play, or another performance, a large component of stage fright is the anxiety a person has that they might make a mistake in front of a crowd. The better prepared a child is for their performance, the less they have to worry about failing. 

Encourage kids to practice relentlessly so they know the routine forward and backward. This lessens the anxiousness beforehand, and it helps them feel more comfortable during the performance.

2. Teach Relaxation Techniques

Children benefit considerably from relaxation exercises. While the child can't necessarily perform these techniques while on stage, they can be helpful with anticipation anxiety prior to the event. Have them start by taking a long, deep, breath. Hold the breath for several seconds, and then exhale slowly. Repeat this several times. 

Then teach them to perform self-massage. Have them gently tap their fingers on the top of their head. It should feel like raindrops. Then have them move the tapping fingers down their face, neck, shoulders, and arms. Glide the index finger and thumb of one hand over the skin of the other. Then, while seated, massage the toes and feet. Tell the child to be alive to the sensations. This helps take their minds off their situation.

3. Change Focus from the Audience

A group of people looks much larger and more intimidating when you are on stage. Tell your child not to focus on the crowd, but rather to aim their gaze at the back of the room. 

There may be a doorway, exit sign, or some other object that can attract their eye. That way, they face the audience in what looks like a confident pose, but their focus is not on the hundreds of eyes upon them.

The best way to overcome stage fright is to have a fun experience on the stage, like at a dance recital! Many children realize how much fun they had once they leave the stage and ready to go back and perform again!

If your child could benefit from dance classes, contact Rhythm Dance Center, the premier dance studio in Marietta, GA. They have served families throughout Cobb County and the surrounding areas since 1993. They offer ballet, tap dance, hip hop, contemporary, acro and jazz dance lessons for kids of all ages. They teach nearly 1,200 students who attend 175 lessons every week. They are known for their instructors' skill, patience, and ability to encourage children to expand their comfort zones. Learn more about them by visiting their website or call (770) 998-6507 to enroll your child in dance classes.