Theater and Children

The child's imagination and reality are intertwined. When the child is affected by the events in his outside world, he plays with his imitation skills and enriches his games with his imagination. Theater course scholarship (1)

It is observed that the child, who imitates the people around him and attracts his attention in his imaginative games, sometimes likes to think of inanimate objects as if they are alive. This is why children love to make puppets talk or make their own sounds while playing with their trains, cars and dolls. In a way, it changes itself and gives life to the objects it uses. This and similar games should be enriched as much as possible for the child's mental and physical development.

Children play various games with their peers as well as alone. In games where two or more children play together, the game is determined at that moment and put into practice. It can be easily observed that there is a great similarity between the animation of plays, which have an important place in the child's life, and the preparation and staging of a theatrical work. Theater, in other words 'dramatization', plays an important role in the child's all-round development. The child develops in many ways as an active, self-confident person who establishes healthy relationships with his environment and puts what he has learned into practice.

One of the many positive effects of theater on many is that it teaches him solidarity. Since theater is an artistic activity based on unity, children who take part in theater understand the importance of solidarity and supporting each other, as well as accomplishing a task together. Theater activities have a great place in the child's being sharing and working easily in a team in his later periods.

The relationship with children and theater plays can be examined in the following three main groups:

The Effect of Theater on Children

1. Preschool Group: Children in this age group want to participate in a game instead of watching it. Therefore, the theater stage should be arranged in the middle and intertwined with the children. Players should treat children with love. Simplicity should be preferred in the costumes and decors to be used in the game, in order to allow the child to use his own imagination and to make him feel himself in the game.
2. Primary Education First Stage: Children at this age want to be in harmony with their environment and establish relationships. Sharing aspects began to come to the fore. They try to learn what is going on around them with their reasons and to connect them to their own conclusions. Therefore, they not only observe the games, but also actively participate in the games. Since their desire to learn is very intense, they want to ask any questions that come to their minds or to find out the answers. For this reason, dealing with the theater of children in this age group will be an important step in their being extroverted. Game texts written for this age group should be strong in terms of fiction and away from excessive childish behavior.
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4. Second Stage of Primary Education: Children in this age group experience the transition period between theater for adults and children's theatre. While the games of the children in the other age group are usually improvised and imaginative, the games played in this age group are more realistic. Children in this group have a changeable psyche. For this reason, it can be observed that they sometimes take on a mature and sometimes childish character. The flow of the games is also up and down according to their moods.

Regardless of their age, children who want their work to be appreciated are very happy when adults watch the plays they stage and receive their appreciation. This allows them to develop their self-confidence.

Children who are unwittingly acquainted with the theater through the plays they play at a young age will be healthy individuals who have gained personality and identity when they grow up with the theater.

So, come on.