Child's Play

Alice in Wonderland performed by the Bits and Pieces Giant Puppet Theatre

We got our children's theatre on this weekend. My family attended Alice in Wonderland, performed by the Bits and Pieces Giant Puppet Troupe on Saturday and spent Sunday at the 15th annual National Children's Theatre Festival Kids Fest at the Miracle Mile Theatre in Coral Gables, Florida where we enjoyed award winning new production Young King Arthur.

A visit to the theatre with your child can be an enjoyable outing for the whole family. And you don't have to live a subway ride from Broadway to see a good performance. These days there is good quality children's theatre in towns all over the map. Don't worry that your child is too young to sit through an hour long play; for a generation that takes digital media for granted, live performers are mesmerizing.

Did you know that attending a theatre performance is a great family literacy activity? During the course of a play, a child is exposed to new vocabulary, new ideas, and a hefty dose of creative expression. Many theatre performances are preceded by child-centered arts and crafts and offer extension activities you can do together after the play. A great way to introduce your child to theatre is to attend a community-sponsored performance. Local family fests are often free!

Click here to read Danielle Wood's Why Children's Theater Matters.