At our annual Children's Theatre Orientation Meeting for parents and students last Saturday, we spent a fair amount of time covering the nuts and bolts of day to day operations: pick up and drop off, which classes are still available, tours of the theatre...
While sharing all of the logistics was important, that meeting also gave the faculty and staff a chance to remind parents (and each other, for that matter) why we love what we do and why an arts education is so important.
Some great points that were brought up by adults and kids:
- The Children's Theatre of Western Springs helps kids form lifelong friendships.
- CTWS teaches kids about collaboration and instills self-confidence...things that will help students beyond their arts education.
- Involvement in the arts improves critical thinking skills.
- Students enrolled in arts education typically score higher on the SAT and the ACT.
- Arts education fosters better social skills.
- The Children's Theatre of Western Springs gives students an artistic home where they feel valued by teachers and peers.
In the midst of all that fun however, some serious learning is taking place. Regardless of whether they've pursued a career in the arts, students come back to us all the time to say that theatre has taught them how to succeed in school, how to connect with other people, and how to think on their feet. They've learned how to navigate challenging situations and how to stand up for themselves when they need to. Most importantly, they've learned how to respect the world around them and try to make it a better place.
Yes, theatre is an awful lot of fun. But that kind of fun is awfully important.
For more information about getting your student involved at The Children's Theatre of Western Springs, visit theatreofwesternsprings.com or call 708-246-4043.
