Archive for year: 2017

“I think we like our phones more than we like actual people.”

Take a moment to let those words sink in, the words of a 13-year-old girl who is growing up in a generation that has never lived without the Internet or without smartphones. A generation that according to Dr. Jean M. Twenge, has developed a far less rebellious side and is more tolerant than its predecessors, yet continues to see a rise in depression. Fortunately, as we’ll point out later on, there are some steps you can take to help limit your teen’s dependency on the smartphone!

It may seem overly dramatic to claim that “smartphones are ruining a generation,” yet we must admit that this “iGen” (children born between 1995 and 2012) dependence on them is concerning. Data shows that almost 70 percent of 11- to 12-year-olds use a mobile phone, with that number increases to nearly 90 percent by age 14. Some 56 percent of children between ages 10 and 13 own a smartphone. It’s pretty much commonplace for an adolescent to have a smartphone, and their screen time remains something that is very concerning.

Twenge points out in her Atlantic article that while iGen kids are physically safer than teens have ever been, they are far more vulnerable than Millennials were for teen depression and suicide. The constant need to be on a smartphone can also have some negative impacts on the health of teenagers, as inactivity can lead to weight gain, loss of sleep due to staying up too late, and even injuries to thumbs or wrists. According to Twenge, all screen time can be linked to less happiness, despite reports that up to six hours a day are safe for teens as long as they are “doing well in school.”

Have you noticed that your teen’s behavior seems to be directly linked to the smartphone that’s an extension of his or her hand? Is your child beginning to show signs of communication struggles or seeming more and more withdrawn?

There are ways to help tone down your teen’s smartphone usage! According to Scary Mommy, there are five specific things you can do to tone down your kids’ dependence: limiting daily use, keeping the phone nearby so they can’t hide away in their bedroom with it, taking their phone with you at bedtime, dangling the smartphone “like a carrot” whenever you can and always knowing the password to unlock the phone!

Remember that Drama Kids International has programs especially tailored to tap into your teen’s communication skills and encourages healthy self-esteem and self-confidence in all who participate! Reach out to your local Drama Kids and see what we can offer your child!

It’s October and that means one thing: Halloween is right around the corner! You already know that Drama Kids International loves seeing your kids tap into their creative and imaginative side, and what better way to see that come to life than by working together on a DIY Halloween costume?

Ready-made costumes can be great, but they can also come with some rather high price tags attached to them. Instead, save yourself some money and discuss some costume ideas with your child. By involving your kids in the decision-making and creative process, you’re allowing them to exercise a sense of ownership over the project, which is another fantastic way of building confidence!

You child’s DIY Halloween costume can be as simple or elaborate as desired, which is one of the best parts! It can also be a tongue-in-cheek reference to some rather well-known sayings, such as this bull in a China shop. Many items from around the house can be utilized for a DIY Halloween costume, such as using pop bottles to create a scuba diver costume.

If you need a bit more inspiration, here are some excellent DIY costume ideas from DIY Network and Country Living. We’re particularly fans of the Carl from “UP” costume!

Don’t forget to keep safety in mind when you do come up with your child’s costume or even if you buy it. Look for flame-resistant materials since candles and lanterns are popular decorations around Halloween, and keep an eye on any accessories that could be used as a weapon. Also, bright colors are especially important as they help your child stick out as it gets dark at night.

We can’t wait to hear all your DIY costume ideas and see the final products! Do you already have a costume in the works? Why not share some of them right here or on our Facebook page?

At Drama Kids, creativity plays a key role in our programming. If you’re ready to see what else we can do for your child, feel free to reach out—we’re ready and waiting to answer all of your questions.

Imagination is something that is especially important in your children’s lives, and it is also something that we celebrate daily here at Drama Kids International!

You’re never too old to indulge your imagination, and creativity and imagination are things that most recognize as being just as important in life as knowledge. After all, Albert Einstein himself once said “the true sign of intelligence is not knowledge, but imagination!” Since imagination and creativity go hand-in-hand, we felt that sharing a few ways to inspire creativity in your kids would be especially beneficial as school gets back in session.

1. Encourage activities that spur their imagination. The possibilities here can seem endless, but you could pull out old photos, some craft supplies, such as glue, markers, construction paper or glitter (if you’re feeling brave), and let your kids decide ways to add to those photos. Perhaps they’ll design a new outfit or make it so the people in the photos are in a new location. Another idea is grabbing a bag and going for a walk, and during that walk have your kids pick up items (at least 10) and then once you return home, encourage them to create a story using those collected items.

2. Utilize technology. You may think that technology is making children less creative, but with the right usage and apps, it can help inspire their creativity and imagination. There are many apps out there that allow your kids to unlock their artistic side, you just have to select the one that is right for them!

3. Read aloud to them. It’s already known that reading with your children or encouraging them to read for 20 minutes a day can give them quite an educational boost, but reading aloud to them can also help bolster their creative side. Instead of having the pictures to look at themselves, your little ones will have the option to envision the story in their head, creating the characters and setting however their minds imagine it!

No matter how you decide to inspire that spark of creativity in your kids, you can rest assured that it will lead to great things for both their imagination and intelligence level. We can’t wait to hear about the methods your family elected to go with and would love to hear any new ideas you may have come up with!

Remember, Drama Kids International was designed to help your kids unlock their inner creativity, boost their self-esteem, and develop beneficial skills like public speaking, leadership and creative thinking!

With summer break getting closer to its end, the time to prepare your child for the new school year is fast-approaching. While our team at Drama Kids International offers drama programs for kids all year long, we still appreciate and understand the prep work that goes into getting them ready for a new school year. We hope that these tips prove beneficial to you as the back-to-school season gears up!

1. Get back on a normal sleep schedule. Summertime isn’t necessarily known as a time for keeping up with traditional sleep schedules. To get your child back on track for the upcoming school year, be sure to bring back school bedtimes one to two weeks before school actually gets started.

2. Visit educational attractions. You may have been doing this throughout the summer, but by visiting cultural attractions such as museums, you will be helping your kids get their brain back into educational mode.

3. Visit the school. If your child will be attending a new school, whether it’s due to a move or just from aging out of elementary or middle school, it can be very beneficial to visit the school so that it becomes more familiar. Schools always have registration and orientation days, which is also a perfect time to meet your child’s teacher(s).

4. Get a checkup. Taking your kids in for back-to-school physicals is a great way to keep them in tip-top shape. Since schools require children be up-to-date on immunizations, you can get that out of the way as well.

5. Read to your child. Hopefully this is already a habit in your home, but if it isn’t, perhaps it’s time to get started! Reading with your kids for just 20 minutes a day has been proven to make a difference in their overall education! If your child is not yet reading on his/her own, read to them. Otherwise, have them read out loud to you each day.

6. Set up a morning routine. By establishing a morning routine slightly before the start of school, it will make the actual school year get off to an excellent start.

7. Find activities for after school. Once school gets started, there will be a multitude of after-school activities for your child to become involved in. Decide which ones your child wants to do most, so that you can plan accordingly. If your child is dramatically inclined, or simply has an interest in participating in a fun, exciting activity where they can express themselves each week, don’t forget to check out the programs that Drama Kids offers! Drama Kids classes are carefully designed to be fun and challenging, while helping each child to develop public speaking and communication skills.

We hope that you enjoy the rest of summer break and that the upcoming back-to-school season doesn’t prove too stressful for the family! Remember, if it’s drama classes for kids you’re looking for, Drama Kids Internationalis the place to go!

Summer is in full swing and that means one thing—you’re more than likely continuing to search for fun summer activities to keep the kids active and entertained.

It should come as no surprise that we at Drama Kids International know a thing or two about how to keep children occupied with fun activities. Since we want summer to be enjoyable for the whole family, here are 8 excellent ideas to try out!

1. Learn a new skill together. Have you ever wanted to take up painting or learn a musical instrument? Chances are, your child would enjoy picking up a new skill, too. Check out your local community center and see what they’re offering—perhaps a family paint night is on the schedule.

2. Join a summer reading club. Do you have avid readers in your home? Keep on encouraging your bookworms by enrolling them in a summer reading club. Their nights or rainy days can be occupied with books, which keeps their minds and imaginations active. Your local library can be a great resource and more than likely has a book club your child can join!

3. Visit the theatre. No, we’re not talking about going to the movies! Your little drama enthusiast will love a trip to see a show—and you’ll be helping to support community theatre!

4. Have a garage sale. Want to teach your child the value of a dollar while ridding your home of items that are no longer needed? A garage sale (or yard sale, depending on where you’re from) is a great way to make some extra cash. Your child can help price and sell some of his or her old items and then will have a little spending money for the summer.

5. Rearrange the furniture. Have your kids been wanting to redo their rooms? Let them try out their hand at interior decorating by planning a new look for their bedroom. It can always be changed back if it doesn’t work out.

6. Utilize local parks. Your area has built those parks for a reason, so why not go out and enjoy them?

7. Visit a historic site nearby. Practically every town has some sort of historic site either in it or nearby. Take a little trip to visit it and enjoy the history—it can also serve as a fun learning activity!

8. Check out a drama camp for kids. OK, this one happens to be our favorite on the list! Not only do we offer year-round drama programs for children, but we also have many super fun AND developmental summer drama camps kids and parents alike rave about. Each camp ends with an end-of-week performance! Through our website, you can find a Drama Kids location near you and then learn what they’re offering this summer.

We hope that this list of 8 summer activities can help make the summer break an excellent one for you and your family. Remember, for even more drama-based ideas, you can reach out to your local Drama Kids location.