The Helen O’Grady Drama Academy has for many years been leading the way in special needs drama education in Cape Town in both Primary and High Schools. The Academy has been running its international drama programme at Oakley House for many years now and the results are self-evident, particularly when these young people get the opportunity to perform on stage for their parents and friends.
This year’s productions at Oakley House were no exception. The Grade 8s performed two Shakespeare plays ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and ‘Macbeth’ to a delighted audience, followed by a physical theatre performance of ‘Perspectives’ by the Grade 9 students. To see the joy on all their faces was just tremendous and showed how drama really does raise one’s self-esteem.
The benefits of drama for special needs children are immense and such class may include the following:
1. Raising self-esteem
Children with special needs sometimes lack in their own self worth because in the struggles with learning, they find it hard not to be on a par with their peers. Drama, however, removes all this as there is no book work involved and a child’s natural talent can come to the fore.
2. Language skills.
And whilst there is not a lot of formal study involved in drama, the work on language through doing really does enhance confidence in the oral side of language, and this influences the study when reading. There has been so much research done on how drama education influences the more academic side of language in schools.
3. Communication skills
Children, particularly on the autistic spectrum, learn in a proactive way how to communicate effectively with others - learning skills in listening and how to speak with an understanding of the perceived audience.
4. Confidence
Through this children develop confidence in themselves and confidence when talking to others or dealing with problems they may find in their life. Performing in productions really helps with this overall confidence.
5. Concentration
Many special needs children battle with concentration. Being in a play or improvisation in class requires child to be on task otherwise they let down the other members of the group. Children show they are able to concentrate more fully when doing something they are enjoying.
6. Social Skills
Drama teaches valuable social skills. These skills particularly for special needs children enhance their ability to make friends and contribute in a meaningful way to their relationships. And thereby their emotional intelligence is enhanced.
7. Creativity
Drama allows special needs children many opportunities to use the creative side of the brain. This is a direct stimulation which enhances their overall success when working on more academic creative pursuits.
Most importantly though, drama makes children happy and this happiness becomes self-evident in their general lives.
www.dramaafrica.com
This year’s productions at Oakley House were no exception. The Grade 8s performed two Shakespeare plays ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and ‘Macbeth’ to a delighted audience, followed by a physical theatre performance of ‘Perspectives’ by the Grade 9 students. To see the joy on all their faces was just tremendous and showed how drama really does raise one’s self-esteem.The benefits of drama for special needs children are immense and such class may include the following:
1. Raising self-esteem
Children with special needs sometimes lack in their own self worth because in the struggles with learning, they find it hard not to be on a par with their peers. Drama, however, removes all this as there is no book work involved and a child’s natural talent can come to the fore.
2. Language skills.And whilst there is not a lot of formal study involved in drama, the work on language through doing really does enhance confidence in the oral side of language, and this influences the study when reading. There has been so much research done on how drama education influences the more academic side of language in schools.
3. Communication skills
Children, particularly on the autistic spectrum, learn in a proactive way how to communicate effectively with others - learning skills in listening and how to speak with an understanding of the perceived audience.
4. Confidence
Through this children develop confidence in themselves and confidence when talking to others or dealing with problems they may find in their life. Performing in productions really helps with this overall confidence.
5. Concentration
Many special needs children battle with concentration. Being in a play or improvisation in class requires child to be on task otherwise they let down the other members of the group. Children show they are able to concentrate more fully when doing something they are enjoying.
6. Social Skills
Drama teaches valuable social skills. These skills particularly for special needs children enhance their ability to make friends and contribute in a meaningful way to their relationships. And thereby their emotional intelligence is enhanced.
7. Creativity
Drama allows special needs children many opportunities to use the creative side of the brain. This is a direct stimulation which enhances their overall success when working on more academic creative pursuits.
Most importantly though, drama makes children happy and this happiness becomes self-evident in their general lives.
www.dramaafrica.com
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