Children are progressively less comfortable in their own skin which is causing an increase in mental health struggles, poor performance in school, and insecurity about new activities and change. The positive effects of early participation in theater on children, specifically in combat against the previously stated issues, are vast, and all children should have the opportunity to participate in theater.
What Psychologists Are Saying
The American Psychological Association is calling the increase in mental health issues among youth a “health crisis.” They credit these problems to COVID-19 and “growing concerns about social media, mass violence, natural disasters, climate change, and political polarization,” as well as the normal ups and downs of childhood. Between 2016 and 2020 the number of children ages 3-17 diagnosed with anxiety grew by 29% and depression by 27% (US Department of Health and Human Services). The National Library of Medicine details a solution to this growing mental health crisis, and it centers around empowering youth and their families to recognize, manage, and learn from difficult emotions.” The source further explains this concept saying that children need to have support from their peers, spend time disconnected from technology, and practicing techniques to manage strong emotions.
Mental health problems are more common in youth than they’ve ever been, but there are ways to attack this issue before it becomes out of control. Youth theater has many aspects that combat the circumstances that lead to early mental health issues.
How Youth Theater Can Help
Theater promotes making healthy connections.
Children get to explore new concepts in a healthy way.
Theater is focused time to be unplugged.
Theater requires teamwork. Students have the opportunity to connect with peers and trusting adults allowing them to create lasting relationships and develop support. Psychologists believe one of the leading reasons for mental health issues in children is their lack of support from peers and adults in their lives, and theater combats that through connection.
Youth theater helps expose children to new concepts they might not have heard of before. This makes students emotionally intelligent and prepared to deal with problems that arise later in their lives. They also get to explore these new concepts with people they trust, creating a very safe environment where questions and understanding are promoted.
Psychologists have formed an association between screen time and childhood mental health issues. Participation in theater discourages overuse of electronics because it requires focus and engages children for the entire time they’re in rehearsal. This helps them tremendously with social skills and focus and can be very beneficial for their futures.
Parental Concerns
While youth theater has incredible benefits for children, some people feel that theater has a problematic agenda and is actually harmful to children. Because some of the stories youth theaters are trying to tell are hard ones to convey, there is uncertainty about whether it’s truly a positive thing for children to be involved in because it might prematurely expose kids to “adult” issues.
The other concern with early participation in theater is that it can be a harsh hobby. Adult theater can be cutthroat, and there’s a popular misconception that youth theaters are the same way. Some programs designed for older youth are designed to be pre-professional and can be quite intense, but this is not a majority of youth theaters.
Additionally, parents are worried that the actual performance process can create stress for their children because of having extensive rehearsals leading up to shows and performing for large crowds.
What PBS Kids Has to Say
PBS Kids published a fantastic article addressing concerns about youth theater and the nervous feelings it can create. Samantha Gratton, the author, gives great advice as to how parents can involve their children in the arts without overwhelming them with the fear of failure. Auditioning for the first time can be quite scary, but Gratton says nervousness can “be your friend because it gives you a lot of energy on stage.” She discusses the benefits of working through that anxiety at a young age so students will be more comfortable speaking in front of crowds in their later lives.
Gratton focuses her argument on how theater is supposed to be fun for children and it gives them a place to exercise their creativity. She details the long-term benefits of early involvement in theater and says, “...children build confidence through performing and learning how to work together with others onstage... They learn how to rely on each other for support, keep going even after making mistakes, and be a part of something bigger than themselves.”
Kevin Coval’s Thoughts on Exposure
As far as exposing children to “mature concepts too early goes, children are more prepared than we give them credit for — according to Kevin Coval — and the brutal honesty of casting prepares students for their futures. Not only are kids ready to learn about “mature” concepts, they need to. Coval, a co-author of the play This Is Modern Art (which faced lots of controversy revolving around its glorification of graffiti at its publication) says it best.
“Just because they see Romeo and Juliet doesn’t mean they’re taking poison at the end of the show. I think they understand the play at multiple levels.”
Coval believes the students who are performing his show are intelligent and can handle mature issues without adopting them into their own lives. He speaks in favor of exposing youth to real stories that can teach them how to handle problems that arise in their future life.
Emily Wolfgang began the Black Box Theater Company in 2012 with the goal of bringing the arts to the youth of Boone County. She received a Bachelor of Science, Speech and Theater Education from Indiana University and trained at The Second City, The Annoyance Theater, and The Priven Theater. Wolfgang validates the importance of youth theater and believes it’s one of the most beneficial activities children can participate in.
When asked about how theater builds self-esteem and confidence in kids, Wolfgang said, “Theater kids have a vast imagination and sense of play. This natural state is often frowned upon in the traditional classroom, but is celebrated within the walls of the theatre. So, kids that are energetic, silly, and playful, are given a place where their behavior is not only accepted, it is encouraged. That then translates into them finding their passion and voice without it being stifled.”
According to Wolfgang, part of the beauty of theater is that it is beneficial to all kids. She stated, “if the program is developed to focus on process instead of product, all levels of talent are included. So, students who may never go on to be actors, directors, and dancers in high school, are still encouraged to have fun and make friends. Secondly, theatre kids tend to be more accepting of students who might be neurodivergent, allowing them to feel welcomed and cared for.”
One of the most important skills youth theater teaches is empathy. “In theatre, we have to understand all types of people, and find the humanity in even the flawed. Theatre is a safe place to learn and practice empathy, a highly evolved trait that is essential to understanding of the world.”
Wolfgang speaks about the value of exposure that youth theater brings. “Diversity is celebrated and encouraged through discussion and text. As students grow, they will broach more difficult material for performance that often embodies strong themes. Through study, students learn about other worlds and experiences... actors get to experience strong emotions and themes, without having to be exposed to them in real life.”
When asked about the environment youth theater creates, Wolfgang said, “It’s a place where you learn that feeling anxious can be channeled, and mistakes aren’t the end of the world. Also, the loud silly kid isn’t made fun of, and the emotional kid isn’t told to hide the way they feel, they are encouraged to share and use their feelings.”
In order to help integrate theater into every child’s education, Wolfgang believes, “all schools should have age-appropriate productions each year for every class where all students participate. Each participant could find what they have an aptitude for when working toward a play. Theatre is not limited to the physical activity of acting.”
Current student of the Black Box Theater, Jillian Pollock validates Wolfgang’s ideas and attests to the benefits participation in theater has had in her own life.
Jillian Pollock has been a student of the Black Box Theater since 2016 when she was a Kindergartener.
Jilly was asked how youth theater has improved her confidence. “Theater has improved my confidence in so many ways. When I first started doing theatre, I was very quiet and shy. The more I have done theatre, the louder my voice became, and the brighter my smile became. Theatre has not only helped me at Black Box, but also in everyday life. I don’t get nervous anymore about doing speeches in front of my classmates, or talking to people I haven’t met before. I’ve found my voice because of theatre, and I’m so thankful...”
Not only has Jilly’s confidence improved inside the realm of performance, but she’s developed incredible social skills because of it as well and has seen an influx in confidence within her life overall.
Field Experience
I’ve worked with the Black Box Theater Company for four years, and it’s showed me first-hand how remarkable youth theater can be. I’ve assistant directed three shows, assisted two ensemble classes, taught a junior class, and helped with various other classes and workshops, so I can say with confidence, the kids absolutely LOVE the Black Box. They have so much fun singing and dancing with their friends, and they are some of the happiest children I’ve ever seen. One thing I think is unique about theater compared to other activities that children participate in – like athletics, dance, or other arts – is its inclusivity. It can be really hard for neurodivergent students to find a place where they’re celebrated for their differences, but theater is an environment where there is space for every person. The students appreciate their differences and work together beautifully.
Parents of Black Box students always tell me how much their children look forward to coming to rehearsal every week, and I know I was the exact same way when I was in the program. I’ve seen so much improvement in the children I’ve worked with, and I believe every young person could benefit from participation in theater.
Children are taught to be humble if they’re cast in a large role, those who didn’t get the part they want learn there are no small roles, and everyone works together. Teamwork is at the forefront of theater. Everyone has to work together to create something they’re all proud of. The students also learn to listen, and rehearsals teach them to focus because they learn so much so quickly. Most of the kids don’t end up going into theater as a career, but they establish a foundation for any other goals they want to achieve because of the skills they develop while participating in youth theater. Simple social skills like conversing with strangers, public speaking, communication in general, and confidence are strengthened through theater.
In Summation
Youth theater is the answer to current mental health problems among children.
There’s been a significant increase in mental health struggles among children, as proven by the American Psychological Association, but participation in youth theater can combat this. Theater promotes making healthy connections with peers and adults, exploring new concepts that can prepare youth for issues they’ll face in their future lives, and disconnecting from technology. While some parents are concerned about exposing their children to mature topics too young, Kevin Coval, a co-author of This is Modern Art, supports this because he believes it will prepare students for their futures.
Another concern from parents is that theater is too stressful because of long rehearsals and performing in front of large crowds, but PBS Kids author, Samantha Gratton believes this nervousness is healthy, gives children energy, and prepares students for speaking in front of people. In an interview with Emily Wolfgang (the founder of the Black Box Theatre Company), even more of the positive benefits of participation in youth theater were explored. Jillian Pollock, a current student of the Black Box confirmed these thoughts and shared her own journey with confidence found through performance.
About the Author
Amelia Schoeff is a senior at Lebanon High School. Her fascination with theater began in second grade when she performed in her first musical, and she’s now performing her 22nd show. Amelia plans to study Musical Theater and Arts Management in college next year. She started volunteering with the Black Box Theater Company her Freshman year and has worked her way up to a lead teacher throughout high school. Seeing the positive impacts of early involvement in theater in herself and other students has opened her eyes to the power of performance. She has become passionate about ensuring there’s a place for every child to exercise their creative side through theater.
Works Cited
Abrams, Zara. “Kids’ Mental Health Is in Crisis. Here’s What Psychologists Are Doing to Help.” Monitor on Psychology, American Psychological Association, 1 Jan. 2023, www.apa.org/monitor/2023/01/trends-improving-youth-mental-health.
Affairs (ASPA), Assistant Secretary for Public. “New HHS Study in JAMA Pediatrics Shows Significant Increases in Children Diagnosed with Mental Health Conditions from 2016 to 2020.” HHS.gov, 14 Mar. 2022, www.hhs.gov/about/news/2022/03/14/new-hhs-study-jama-pediatrics-shows-significant-increases-children-diagnosed-mental-health-conditions-2016-2020.html#:~:text=The%20study%2C%20conducted%20by%20the.
General (OSG), Office of the Surgeon. “WE CAN TAKE ACTION.” Www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, US Department of Health and Human Services, 2021, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.agov/books/NBK575986/.
Gratton, Samantha. “Being Confident on Stage: Preparing Your Kids for a Performance.” PBS Kids For Parents, 30 November 2023, https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/being-confident-on-stage-preparing-your-kids-for-a-performance. Accessed 10 December 2023.
Pollock, Jillian. Interview. Conducted by Amelia Schoeff. 20 November 2023.
Wolfgang, Emily. Interview. Conducted by Amelia Schoeff. 02 November 2023.
“Working at the Black Box Theater Company.” Field Experience. 2021-2023.