Opportunities to participate in full-length theatrical productions are typically available starting in middle school. If your school district lacks funding for the arts, you won’t have to look far in your community to find regional theater companies with student programs. Opportunities

outside of school include reputable community theater companies, theater education programs, and even training from seasoned professionals. Whichever path your child decides to pursue, do your homework to make sure the program provides a safe, structured environment for your budding thespian.

When kids invest in drama education, it will exponentially enrich their lives in return. Theater is an excellent creative outlet for multi-talented children as well as for kids who are unsure about their abilities. Here are 10 reasons to encourage your child to participate in theater.

1. Make new friends. Any successful theatre production is fueled by a constellation of interpersonal connections. If you have a shy or socially reticent child, theater can be a great way to get them socially engaged. The all-hands-on-deck aspect of theater can quickly overcome a hesitant participant. Before kids can say “William Shakespeare,” they will find themselves an appreciated part of the team.

2. Learn collaboration. Perhaps the greatest benefit of theater is experiencing how each person’s contributions are crucial to mounting a successful show. Whether children are acting, singing, dancing, or bringing the show to life backstage, the show can only succeed with creative input from every member of the group. Collaboration is not only a helpful lesson for school; it’s also a valuable lesson for life.

3. Inspire passion. Musicals are a cool part of culture, and theater kids love learning as much as they can about Broadway, emerging actors, and the latest shows available to perform. Dramatic kids may feel like they have finally found an outlet where their flair for the dramatic serves a purpose once they are acting, singing, and dancing for an audience.

4. Gain confidence. There are often limited performing arts opportunities available in schools, which is why theater can be so helpful in rounding out your child’s education. Theater pulls kids out of themselves and gets them involved in something greater than themselves in ways that engage their minds, bodies, and emotions. The more kids perform, the bigger the confidence boost, which can carry over into the rest of their school experience.

5. Increase emotional intelligence. My daughter’s theater camp director always calls theater “empathy training.” There is nothing like walking in another person’s shoes, saying their words, and imaging their thoughts and point of view to build thoughtfulness in kids. In a world where intolerance seems to be on the rise, empathy training seems like a crucial skill.

6. Appreciate culture. You might be surprised to learn how few high school students have been to a play or a musical. If you want your child to have a more cultured childhood than you did, attending shows is a great way to experience new worlds within driving distance. School theater groups often take field trips to see shows and may even participate in talk-backs with the actors afterwards.

7. Build community. There are few school activities that engage the extended community the way theater does. Parent and family members attend school shows, and so do community members, business owners, and school administrators. Having a flourishing theater program in local schools can be a pride point for parents, the school district, and the community at large.

8. Experience contagious enthusiasm. If you have never witnessed the passion theater kids have for bonding with each other as they mount a show, you and your child are in for a treat. For kids experiencing challenges at home, the theater can become a secure home away from home. Ask any child who has just moved to a new school or who is trying to navigate a parents’ divorce if they would like to join a community of immersive learners, and they might be willing to try it.

9. Improve communication skills. At some point, most students need to impress a college admissions board or employer. Theater can increase a student’s chances of scoring a spot since it boosts both verbal and nonverbal communication skills, not to mention auditioning practice. Theater kids can even use imagination, observation, and listening skills to determine the right choices for their future. Parents might want to consider ways theater skills like articulation, vocal projection, and emotional expression can help students ace future school and job interviews.

10. Enjoy school more. Theater people are generally more diverse, tolerant, and inclusive than most. Compelling acting requires gesturing and projecting the voice to bring words on the page to life. If your child is having trouble fitting in or struggling to keep grades up, encourage him to go see what’s happening in the performing arts hall. Theater can become a great motivator for kids to increase school attendance, keep their grades up, and make memories that last a lifetime.

CHRISTINA KATZ is a journalist whose husband is a high school theater teacher for over a decade. She has seen more high school plays and musicals than she can count, and especially enjoys watching her daughter perform.

The post Take A Bow: 10 Reasons to Encourage Kids to Participate in Theater appeared first on SWFL Family.

39 Must-Watch Musicals the Whole Family Will Enjoy

Do you love musical theater? Are you hoping to raise theatrical kids? Do you long to expose your kids to the productions you have either seen or have always wanted to see?

Well, never fear. Here is a list of movie musicals you can watch and discuss with your kids at home as they grow. Of course, live musical theater comes with a steeper price tag than home-viewing options. So why not watch film versions at home first and then decide which shows to see on stage?

Once you’ve previewed and ranked your top musical selections as a family, you can decide which musical productions to attend. Then you can make the most budget-friendly decisions for your family.

Ready to burst into song? Here is a list of recommended films to check out, broken down by age:

Children

1. The Lion King


2. The Little Mermaid

3. Beauty and the Beast

4. Aladdin


5. Annie


6. You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Kids)

7. The Wizard of Oz


8. Mary Poppins


9. Singin’ in the Rain

10. The Music Man

11. Meet Me in St. Louis

12. The King and I


13. Peter Pan


14. Fiddler on the Roof

15. The Sound of Music

16. Pirates of Penzance

17. Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory

Tweens

18. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

19. High School Musical

20. Newsies


21. Oliver!


22. Guys & Dolls

23. Into the Woods

24. Hairspray


25. Bye Bye Birdie

26. White Christmas

27. Thoroughly Modern Millie

28. My Fair Lady

29. Mamma Mia!

30. Grease


31. West Side Story

32. The Phantom of the Opera

33. Oklahoma!

Teens

34. Funny Girl 


35. Little Shop of Horrors 


36. Dream Girls 


37. RENT 


38. Les Misérables 


39. Chicago 


Musical Theater Viewing Options

• DVD
• 
Streaming video
• 
High school productions
• College productions
• Community theater productions
• Children’s theater productions
• Outdoor summer productions
• Professional productions in your nearest city
• 
Shakespearean festivals
• Broadway tours

• Travel to New York City

Ways to Save Money on Theater Tickets

• Try out the local high school or college productions. They might be better than you expect and the ticket prices are usually inexpensive.
• See if you can usher shows at your city theater in exchange for a discount on tickets.
• Identify the best budget seats at your nearby theaters and then purchase your next set of tickets the first day tickets become available.
• Get on mailing lists and e-mail lists for your favorite theaters so you can always stay abreast of upcoming shows.
• Search the Internet for coupon codes for your favorite city theaters before you buy online.
• Like and follow your favorite theaters on social media and watch for any giveaways or discounts advertised there.
• Rally friends, club-mates, or community groups and ask for a group rate. H Check for off-peak tickets (weekday nights) at a lower rate.
• If you know you’ll want to see every show of the season, buy a subscription and save a bundle.

Author, journalist, and writing coach CHRISTINA KATZ is married to a high school theater director, which means her fam- ily has memorized the scores of more musicals than she can count. She hopes you will support local and regional theaters in your area.

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The best way to make a positive impact on the girl vs. girl trend sweeping the nation is to address and redirect mean girl behavior in our daughters. Like many mothers of daughters I polled, I started noticing mean girl behavior early in my daughter’s public school experience. Ironically, the behavior wasn’t coming from acquaintances, but from girls my daughter considered friends.

This brings up an uncomfortable reality: there is not much we can do about mean girl behavior in other people’s kids. We can report it to their parents or to school or organization authorities, but there is little more we can do to ameliorate mean girl situations once they are happening. So what’s a pro-active mom to do?

Take heart. There is much you can do to prevent mean girl behavior in your own daughter. One more girl setting an example of how to be kind and emotionally intelligent, despite peer pressure moving in the opposite direction, can help turn the tide. If mothers can encourage their daughters to stay open, vulnerable, and in touch with feelings no matter what, we might be able to dismantle the mean girl time bomb that ticks silently away inside every girl, just waiting to go off when that girl is pushed too far.

Only when girls understand that bullying is never acceptable can a better example spread. If your daughter can embody healthier choices, she can help create harmony within her middle school girl tribe. Here are six crucial ways moms can prepare daughters to navigate the social pressures of middle school.

Define Meanness.

Rudeness, meanness, and bullying exist on a behavior spectrum. Meanness is intentionally hurtful, as opposed to rudeness, which is unintentionally hurtful, as opposed to bullying which is consistently hurtful. One of the problems with mean girl behavior is that it can be subtle, insidious, and elusive. Teach your daughter the difference between the three types of behaviors and how to tell the difference between someone who is consistently, purposefully mean and someone who simply makes a mistake. Make sure your child understands that it’s okay to make mistakes, and that you expect her to be kind regardless of circumstances. Keep talking about what these three behaviors mean on an ongoing basis, until your daughter can tell the difference. Once she knows she always has a choice about how to respond in any situation, you are making good progress.

Encourage Self-Acceptance Over Popularity.

Left to their own devices, kids will always decide that being popular is better than not being popular. In middle school, popularity is perceived as power and kids are instinctively hungry for it. Make sure you don’t secretly hope your child will be one of the popular kids. If you put this trip on your child, you are encouraging her to put perceptions over feelings, which can lead to imposter syndrome. If you want your child to be authentic and emotionally intelligent, this means accepting and liking her as she is so she can accept and like herself. If you want your daughter to have genuine self-esteem, conversations on self-acceptance need to start young, long before middle school. Then let the popularity chips fall where they may. After all, popularity does not necessarily equal happiness.

Teach How to Detach From Drama.

No matter how secure and emotionally intelligent your child, hormones will be ebbing and flowing in middle school. Rather than letting this become an excuse for poor behavior, teach your daughter to step back from situations when erratic emotions are involved. Girl vendettas are common in middle school and can ignite for the slightest reasons. Your daughter may empathize with one or both girls and get inadvertently sucked into a feud if she does
 not know how to avoid one. Teach your
 daughter to listen to the facts and form her
 own opinion without getting involved in 
any drama. Encourage her to not take sides 
when one girl turns against another, but to
 be the voice of reason whenever possible.
 Affirm that girls need to stick together and
 prop each other up when they are having
 a bad day without getting overly involved 
in solving each other’s problems. Once 
your daughter understands that drama is a
 distraction from personal priorities, she can
more easily steer clear.

Model Healthy Communication.


Girls often start to lose their authentic
 voices when they become teenagers. So your job as your daughter’s confidante is to keep the doors of communication open and let her be honest and real with you as she is trying to figure everything out. If your formerly sunshiny girl suddenly turns partly cloudy, don’t fret. She may push you away and not want to talk as much as she used to, but don’t give in to the common misperception that teenagers need to be left alone. Your middle schooler can’t navigate this brave new social world solo. If you expect her to, she is going to feel stressed and look for friends who can help her take the edge off. You have to be there, mom, every day, listening and responsive, whenever either of you wants to talk.

Keep Your Negativity in Check.

When confronted with a challenging situation, your daughter will intuitively imitate the way you behave. If you project negativity onto others, she is going to learn to do the same. If you are insecure, she will be insecure. If you are superior and competitive with others, she will follow suit. If you judge and condemn… I am sure you get the picture. You can’t hold your daughter accountable for her attitudes and actions, if you are not accountable for yours. Be sure you set a good example, mom, or you just might see your least appealing qualities reflected back to you in your daughter’s behavior.

Reinforce and Challenge Your Daughter’s Strengths.

If you want your daughter to be a leader, not a follower, she needs to know and use her strengths. If you and the rest of your family don’t reflect her strengths back to her, it’s going to take your daughter longer to activate her personal power. If you only reflect back her weaknesses, she is going to believe she is a walking, talking pile of not good enough, which makes her an easy target for mean girls. Girls with high self-esteem don’t usually become targets and self-motivated girls don’t focus on the behavior of others. If they have a negative encounter with another girl, they shrug it off and bounce back quickly. So make sure your daughter is armed with something besides superiority and a sharp tongue. Be certain she knows what she is good at and encourage her to put her strengths to good use in your community for the benefit of all.

If your daughter is busy exercising her skills, challenging herself to reach new goals, and striving to make a positive impact in the world, she will gain the healthy self-esteem and confidence that result from positive personal experiences. Happy, engaged kids are less likely to bully others.

Once your daughter understands the dynamics of mean girl behavior, she can steer clear of drama when it crops up and will keep you in the loop as to how she handled it. These are the kinds of conversations every mom hopes to have with her daughter in middle school. If you are not having them, then maybe your daughter needs the mean girl primer only you can give her.

Take the time to educate yourself about how to avoid mean girl behavior before middle school starts, mom. Then share what you learn with your daughter. You will both be so glad you did.

The post How to Dismantle the Mean Girl Time Bomb Before Middle School appeared first on SWFL Family.

17 Creative Birthday Activities for an Unforgettable Birthday

I don’t mean to brag, but my husband and I have thrown quite a few awesome birthday parties over the years. However, when reflecting back over all the parties we’ve thrown, it’s clear to me that the most memorable parties were not the most elaborate or even the most expensive. They were simply the messiest. Messy and birthday parties go together better than you might imagine. After all, what could be more festive than a little bit of parent-approved pandemonium?

The key to milking the most fun out of any birthday party is including more messy fun. And if you really want to throw the party to top all parties, go for a totally messy party from beginning to end. If a little bit of mess is memorable, then a lot of mess just might be unforgettable. In that spirit, here is a list of 17 indoor and outdoor ideas that won’t break the bank.

1. Take aim, color.

Mark off a square play arena outdoors with five-foot tall Bamboo garden stakes and blue painters masking tape. Fill squirt guns or squirt bottles with non-toxic watercolor paints, don a pair of clear swim goggles, and let the kids decorate each other dressed in white t-shirts and leggings or sweats. The only rule is no one leaves the field until the paint is all spent.

2. Take a whack at it.

Fill a store-bought piñata 2/3 of the way full with cooked, well-drained spaghetti. Then add small plastic toys, foil-wrapped granola bars, and plastic wrapped candies. To extend the fun, hang the piñata on a pull cord threaded through an eyehook so you can pull it up and down as kids swing at it with a bat or broom handle. Secure a tarp underneath with Duck tape (indoors) or camping stakes (outdoors) for easy cleanup.

3. Eggcentric art.

Break the tops off real eggs and pour the yolks and whites into a container to make quiche or a soufflé later. Keeping empty shells in the carton, fill each with acrylic paints of various colors. Outside or in the garage or basement, hang a large canvas against a sturdy wall or fence and let the kids take aim and fire until they make a masterpiece. Use plastic drop cloths to catch the splatters as needed.

4. Franken-beauty.

Make natural facial masks out of banana, avocado or cocoa. Sit guests around a large table in pairs to take turns applying masks to each other’s faces. Be sure to have some hand mirrors handy so everyone can see what all the squeals are about.

5. Construction junction.

Supply lots of sheets, blankets, and pillows for fort construction. If you can mount a few Hula Hoops strategically around the room, they come in handy. You might also supply bandanas and bungee cords. Be sure to inspect the results for hazards. Keep food and drinks strictly separate.

6. Reach for the foam.

Play messy Twister in the yard by mixing foam shaving cream and food coloring. Wear clothing that can get stained. If no one wants to worry about clothing stains, simply use white shaving cream for the same effect.

7. Pudding slide.

Make about a gallon of chocolate pudding. Drop large spoonfuls of pudding onto a Slip & Slide. Have guests take a running start down a low-grade slope. To make the slide more slippery, have guests sprinkle it with water from a sprinkler can or set the hose sprayer to mist. Add more pudding or water, as needed.

8. Slime ball.

Find an online recipe to make nontoxic slime and let guests prepare it. Then play a game of hide the bouncy ball in the slime. Use a blindfold and a timer to see who can find their party favors the fastest. Enjoy the groans.

9. Picasso footsie.

Roll out a long sheet of paper and pour puddles of acrylic paint at one end. Have each guest step in one color per foot and walk across the paper. Switch to the other side of the paper to balance out the look. Hang art on a fence or wall to dry.

10. Musical silly string.

Put half the group in the middle on a plastic tarp. Encircle guests with the other half of the group. Turn on the music. Have the inside group move in one direction and the outside group move in the other direction, while spraying the inside group with silly string. When the music is turned off, switch groups.

11. Pasta fling.

Cook one box of spaghetti per party guest. Get some five-gallon buckets and fill them 2/3 of the way with water. Add enough flour to thicken the water, then add spaghetti. The only rules are: use your own spaghetti, no bucket-dumping, and no touching – just throwing. Put the buckets in the square play arena and get the heck out of the way.

12. Mud puddle fun.

On a sturdy table at playing height, fill a small kiddie pool with dirt and just enough water to make mud. Add digging and pouring toys for an hour of industry for young guests.

13. Duck-Duck-Dump.

Have kids sit in circle for a game of duck-duck-goose. But first, hand them a cup of water and half-cup of flour to pour over each goose’s head.

14. The opposite of tiny bubbles.

Make bubble mix with ten cups of regular Dawn Dish soap and five gallons of water. Let it sit overnight. Do not agitate the solution as you pour it into a small wading pool slightly larger than a Hula Hoop in diameter. Have guest don a pair of clear goggles and stand in the middle of the pool without splashing. Let two party guests lower a Hula Hoop over the guest and then pull it straight up into a giant bubble.

15. Three-legged color run.

Set up a start and finish line for a short jaunt. Tie the legs of two guests together and have them wear clear swim goggles and white play clothing. Have other guests stand on the sidelines and throw color from bags of nontoxic Holi colors (the type used for Color Runs, available online). The winners take on the next pair of challengers until everyone has run. The most colorful pair wins.

16. Sloppy volley.

Divide guests into two groups. Put a line across the center of your play arena like a tennis court. Everyone has to stay on their own team and wear swim goggles. Place a table of supplies within reach of the backcourt. On the table, supply large bowls of chilled mashed potatoes, Jello, pudding, and cooked oatmeal. Tint food with food coloring if clothing can be stained. On your mark, get set, food fight!

17. Trashion runway.

For a couple of months before the party, don’t discard your reusable recyclables. Spread them out evenly in tarps with plenty of clear tape, masking tape, painter’s tape, and Duck tape. Pair guests up into design teams. Give a one-hour time limit. The assignment is to design a runway-worthy fashion for each team out of only the trash that’s been supplied. Have a runway show afterward to display the results.

Making Messy Work For You

Remember, the key to throwing an unforgettable party isn’t about choosing the trendiest theme or the hottest destination or decorating your guts out with the latest Pinspirations. The key is simply to let kids make a mess and have fun doing it. These tips will save you some sanity.

1. If you can’t go outside, consider using a well-ventilated garage, shed, or basement.

2. Check out the painting supply section of your local store for inexpensive items to protect your party space.

3. Have a designated photographer who may not be

slimed, spaghettied, or painted.

4. If you only have one messy activity planned, save the best for last.

5. If you go with a totally messy party, go with messy food, too, buffet style or make-your-own.

6. If you don’t want kids to get stained or dirty, you can still make a mess. Just use smocks, shower caps, and bandanas to cover up.

7. The sky’s the limit when it comes to making messes. Use your imagination; then consider safety precautions, as needed.

The post 17 Creative Birthday Activities for an Unforgettable Birthday appeared first on SWFL Family.

105 Father’s Day Gift Ideas

Dad is an original. So why does he always get the same old gifts for Father’s Day? Maybe it’s time to think outside the gift box and come up with some original Father’s Day presents. Here are 105 ideas to help you brainstorm a unique gift, or gift combination, perfect for the man of your house. This list of suggestions is organized by Dad types, because, after all, most dads have specific passions and attitudes that make them who they are.

Athletic Dad

□ Running store gift card □ Sporty headphones 
□ Cushioned ankle socks □ Smart phone armband □ Polarized sunglasses

Urban Dad

□ Vinyl record frames 
□ Gift certificate for Urban Outfitters 
□ Giant glass jar for ticket stubs □ Bike bags and helmet mirrors □ Public radio membership

Yard Conqueror Dad

□ Weed whacker 
□ Heavy-duty work gloves □ Hand mallet 
□ Large insulated drink cup □ Electronic fly swatter

Writer Dad

□ Stack of yellow legal pads □ Fancy pen or assortment of pens 
□ Hip laptop bag 
□ Subscription to a writing magazine 
□ Registration at a writing seminar

Road Warrior Dad

□ Carry-on rolling bag 20 □ Electronics accessory charging dock 
□ Bureau-top valet 
□ Leather toiletries kit □ Custom luggage tags

Voracious Reader Dad

□ E-Reader 
□ E-Reader cover 
□ Bookseller gift card □ Original edition of favorite childhood book 
□ Set of bookplates

Film Buff Dad

□ Popcorn maker or microwave popcorn assortment 
□ Favorite movie theater drink assortment □ Superman Motion Picture Anthology, 1978-2006 
□ Pre-purchased movie tickets □ Entertainment magazine subscription

Youthful Dad

□ Favorite comic book collection □ Assortment of plastic moustaches 
□ Tickets to a summer action movie □ Deluxe magic trick kit 
□ DVD of favorite humorous movie or TV show

Outdoorsy Dad

□ Pocket multi-tool 
□ LED Solar Lightcap for water bottle 
□ Crank radio 
□ Survival skills book 
□ Combo compass-watch

Sports Fan Dad

□ Vintage look favorite team t-shirt □ Portable snack/drink cooler □ Tickets to a game □ Bleacher seat cushion 
□ License plate holder with name of favorite team

Guy’s Guy Dad

□ Steak house gift card □ Six pack of WD-40 □ Clint Eastwood, Jack Nicholson, or John Wayne DVDs □ Hot sauce assortment 
□ Beer-making kit

Handy Man Dad

□ Electric screwdriver 
□ Tool caddy/organizer 
□ Nail sorter drawers □ Folding stepladder 
□ Binder with page protectors for instruction manuals and warranties

Digital Dad

□ E-Tablet □ Music, books, or apps gift card 
□ Smart phone portable keyboard □ Gadget sleeves or cases □ Sound-canceling headphones

Top Chef Dad

□ Wooden carving board □ Knife set 
□ High-powered mixer □ Cooking store gift card □ BBQ cookbooks

Caffeinated Dad

□ Single-cup coffee maker □ Coffee shop gift card □ Flavored coffee syrups □ Snazzy travel mug □ Instant coffee selection

Coachy Dad

□ Baseball cap with favorite team name 
□ Custom whistle lanyard 
□ Set of large net bags □ Stack of small orange cones □ Portable whiteboard with markers

Cultured Dad

□ Theater tickets
 □ Biography of favorite artist □ Tickets to a gallery exhibit □ Fine arts class registration □ Desktop kinetic sculpture

Tinkerer Dad

□ Hobby models 
□ Model display case 
□ Build your own radio kit 
□ Basic hobby tool set □ Cutting mat with knives

Homebody Dad

□ Gift card to his favorite pizza delivery service 
□ Comfortable pajama bottoms □ Slippers □ Robe □ Remote caddy

Global Dad

□ National Geographic DVD set 
□ Scratch-Off Global Map 
□ GPS system □ Travel guidebooks 
□ Gift card for fair-trade items

Hippie Dad

□ Frisbee 
□ Save the [something] t-shirt □ Skateboard 
□ Gift certificate to vegetarian restaurant
 □ Set of foot bags

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