NEW SURVEY SHOWS MOST CHILDREN DON'T THINK WINNING IS IMPORTANT!

This morning, on BBC Breakfast, https://www.facebook.com/bbcbreakfast there was an article on sport and competitiveness in school. This is from their page:

"A new survey has found only 14% of kids think winning is the most important part of sport, while the majority of them think their parents care more about winning than they do!
So, should school sport be all about being the best, or is it the taking part that counts?"

I think everyone agrees, some competition is a healthy thing, and, as so many viewers wrote on the Breakfast page, you have to learn to lose in life to survive. 

But sometimes, the pressure of competition may spoil a child's enjoyment of their activity, whether it is sport, an academic subject or a leisure activity. Feeling the answers always have to be right stops some children from offering the answers in the first place. Always seeing the 'best' children answering questions or getting top marks and being praised for it can destroy a child's confidence. Maybe only a little bit at a time but a significant amount during a school year.

Here at the Helen O'Grady Drama Academy there are no 'stars' or, rather, every child is a star. We are at the beginning of our production term when Principals and teachers are casting their plays and starting rehearsals. In these year end plays, every child has an active role. Even if they have no individual lines to say on their own, all children will take part in ad-lib sections, join in 'all' lines, and belt out show songs with gusto! Not to mention acting and re-acting to whatever is happening on stage. Every single one of them is a big part of something positive and successful.

Our teachers are trained to involve every child, all the time. Each little actor will receive an award after their shows, either to mark the term's work or to celebrate an anniversary with the Academy. Some young adults are up to an award for the 16th year attending classes. 

The cast of 'Circus Capers' with their achievement awards.

As youngsters, they return year after year not only because they are having so much fun but also because their parents see a difference in their confidence. They are becoming that child who will raise his/her hand in class, and not worry if the answer they give isn't technically correct. They are volunteering to read aloud in assembly and acting as a mentor to shyer children in their class. As young adults they may choose to pursue their love of drama and Helen O'Grady classes will give them an excellent grounding for this but, equally, they will have a good grounding in whatever they choose to do in life.

All this from attending drama classes where they are constantly valued and encouraged. Where there are no wrong answers and they will gain as much praise from their peers as they do from their teachers. As productions get under way we wish all our Principals, teachers and students good luck with rehearsals and we look forward to hearing the success stories during the term, as well as after the shows.

Please do share any stories on the blog with us, if you have already seen Helen O'Grady productions.