Spellbound Theatre
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Staff and Artists
    • Board of Directors
    • Commitment to Anti-Racism
    • Contact Us
    • 2024 Year in Review
    • Resources
  • Support
  • Performances
    • Pop Up Performances >
      • Stand Clear Of The Closing Doors, Please
      • Grow!
      • The Naughty Penguin
      • Up & Down Again
      • Under the Tree
      • Oceansong
    • Touring Shows >
      • The World Inside Me
      • Wink
      • Shakespeare's Stars
      • Babywild
      • Ears, Nose, and Tail
    • Past Shows >
      • The Last Coin
      • A Book of Hours
      • Grump
      • SPARC: Memory
      • Aidee
      • Before We Grew
  • Free Family Art Days
  • Lullaby Land
    • Original Web-Series
    • Devising Phase One
    • Devising Phase Two
    • Lullaby Land Phase Three Digital Program
    • Support Development
  • Anywhere with Catbear
  • Schools
  • Spellbound Screen-Free
  • Spellbound en Casa
    • Spellbound Sin-Pantallas
  • Spellbound在家
    • Spellbound 无屏幕
  • #ArtsAreMySuperpower
  • News
  • Spellbound's Active Shows
  • Lullaby Land Digital Program

The Power of Silly

24/4/2013

2 Comments

 
This week in our creative play classes for babies and toddlers, we played with many different circus-themed activities around "balance". We balanced objects, our bodies, and did partner balancing tricks (babies in the air!). Even though I'm not a circus-performer myself, I love leading circus-themed workshops for any age group because it is so different from the ways that we typically behave. We ask our bodies to do tricks and feats that we don't normally do on a daily basis - like bouncing a balloon on your head. We also interact with one another in very different ways, setting up challenges, giving loud cheers for silly acts. Demanding applause with a boisterous "Ta Da!!!"

These workshops are especially rewarding, though, when there are parents/caregivers working together with young people. We don't just ask the adults to watch and support, we ask them to fully participate and even lead. Some children need to watch a familiar adult model a new activity first before they are willing to give it a shot. This is true for balancing on one foot, but also for general silliness. It is so exciting and inspiring to watch moms, dads, grandparents, and babysitters shedding their serious, responsible role for 45 minutes, donning a red clown nose, and doing what it takes to get a big laugh from their baby.

When children see us being silly and taking risks, several important things happen. Firstly, they sense a permission for them to take risks and try new things. Children need to see that the adults in their lives are in control of their surroundings, but they also love to see us try something new and even fail. This begins to teach them the important lesson of resilience and determination. Even more importantly, though, when children see adults acting silly, it expands their perception of the world. "Mama is not just this, she is also THAT." It encourages the development of empathy, but it also sparks delight, surprise, and curiosity. If grandpa can be silly, be childlike, and balance on top of a big yoga ball, then who knows what else is possible!

This is one of the greatest delights I have in inter-generational learning, particularly with something as silly as circus. We can help each other learn in new ways, but both children and their adult companions have a chance to be surprised and delighted by what the other is capable of!
Picture
2 Comments
fast personal loans link
11/10/2013 10:17:52 am

When you discover your mission, you will feel its demand. It will fill you with enthusiasm and a burning desire to get to work on it.

Reply
alat bantu sex link
21/9/2018 02:16:26 pm

Jual Alat Bantu Sex Pria Dan Wanita Terlengkap. 192 suka · 21 membicarakan ini. Cari Alat bantu sex pria wanita?? Semua Lengkap Ada Disini

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Authors

    Lauren Jost, Director
    Spellbound Theatre

    “To stimulate creativity one must develop childlike inclination for play...” – Albert Einstein

    Archives

    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    March 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    October 2013
    September 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013

    Categories

    All
    Creative Play
    Outdoors

    RSS Feed

Spellbound Theatre
Mailing Address: 147 Prince Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
[email protected]
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Staff and Artists
    • Board of Directors
    • Commitment to Anti-Racism
    • Contact Us
    • 2024 Year in Review
    • Resources
  • Support
  • Performances
    • Pop Up Performances >
      • Stand Clear Of The Closing Doors, Please
      • Grow!
      • The Naughty Penguin
      • Up & Down Again
      • Under the Tree
      • Oceansong
    • Touring Shows >
      • The World Inside Me
      • Wink
      • Shakespeare's Stars
      • Babywild
      • Ears, Nose, and Tail
    • Past Shows >
      • The Last Coin
      • A Book of Hours
      • Grump
      • SPARC: Memory
      • Aidee
      • Before We Grew
  • Free Family Art Days
  • Lullaby Land
    • Original Web-Series
    • Devising Phase One
    • Devising Phase Two
    • Lullaby Land Phase Three Digital Program
    • Support Development
  • Anywhere with Catbear
  • Schools
  • Spellbound Screen-Free
  • Spellbound en Casa
    • Spellbound Sin-Pantallas
  • Spellbound在家
    • Spellbound 无屏幕
  • #ArtsAreMySuperpower
  • News
  • Spellbound's Active Shows
  • Lullaby Land Digital Program