All the World’s a Stage

Let’s face it—kids are born with a flare for the dramatic.
Dramatic Play is another thing altogether. During the toddler years, role-playing games (playing house, teacher, fireman, etc.) help children to understand themselves, their family and the world around them. Who hasn’t seen that piece of toast at breakfast doing double duty as a steering wheel, or a building block masquerading as a check-out till?

Once your child is talking, there are plenty of places that can excite their imagination further and inspire any budding thespians. If your child would rather watch than perform to start, professional and amateur theatre groups regularly put on productions geared towards young audiences which make for great family outings. The Calgary International Children’s Festival in May offers shows catering to all age groups.

For those effervescent kids ready to take the stage, there are drama and acting schools prepared to nurture young talent in a safe and non-threatening environment.

The Calgary Young People’s Theatre has two locations and offers half-day morning camps for kids four to six with a maximum of eight campers per session. For the 6 to 12 age group, there is The Summer of Glee week-long, full-day program. For busy moms, ‘before and after’ care can be provided, along with healthy lunch and a snack option when signing up.