The Theater Arts are included in the most collaborative endeavors in life. Successful productions require people of a variety of skills.
Teaching strategies that include drama activities and lesson plans guide students to work better as a team and to appreciate each other's contributions. Exposure to drama is a necessary element in educating the whole child.
Growing up, children have ample opportunity to compete. They compete in spelling bees, debates, sports, the list goes on. As parents, teachers, and people who care about the education and upbringing of children, we need to give them opportunities to collaborate.
Children who are performing a skit together must work as a team. In order for the skit to be successful, each teammate must do his or her part. Therefore, it is most beneficial for the children to help each other succeed.
When a team competes against another team, there is a strong temptation to hold the weakest players back so that they do not hurt the team's chances of success. When a team's common goal focuses not on competition, but rather doing well intrinsically, then the strongest players take it upon themselves to teach and to help the weakest players improve. So, the child who cannot remember her lines does not sit out the performance, but rather the other actors take the time to help her practice her lines until she can remember them.
When the goal of the team is to make every player strong, the weaker players become more confident. It means a lot to a child to have their peers take an interest in how well they do, and show faith that they will do well. Children working in collaborative environments gain self-esteem.
It bears mentioning that the self-esteem gained in drama classes does not originate solely from the experience of being onstage and performing in front of other people. It also originates in the support they feel from their fellow players.
