Media Friendly boosting children's confidence

Published by Jon Land for Media Friendly in Housing and also in Communities, Education, Health

The authors of the highly-acclaimed book ‘Boost Your Child’s Confidence – 52 brilliant drama ideas to help your child shine’ are working with Media Friendly to share their exciting ideas with parents.

West End actress Lucy Morgans and writer Steve Hemsley have been invited by training company Media Friendly to share with mums and dads some simple drama-based games and techniques they can try at home to boost their children’s self-esteem.

“This is not about creating a new generation of professional actors who want to appear in Eastenders but about demonstrating how drama is one of the best ways to help children become more confident,” says Morgans, who runs a drama school in Kent for more than 300 children. “By unlocking the actor’s tool box a child can cope with anything life throws at him. Actors are encouraged to try new things but also to focus on what they’re really good at and play to their strengths and it should be the same with children.”

Boost Your Child’s Confidence, published in April, has been featured heavily in the media with The Times, Take a Break Magazine and BBC local radio singing its praises. The authors are currently talking to a number of television production companies about bringing the ideas in the book to the small screen.

The workshops will take place in venues across the UK, from January 2009. We will be encouraging parents to try some of the fun acting-based activities from the book themselves.

These include learning an actor’s vocal warm-up which will help calm their child’s nerves before speaking aloud in class or assembly and practicing improvisation techniques using props found around the house to get a child’s creative juices flowing.

There will also be tips on how children become more confident if they are spatially aware when they are in a group, how drama games can bring a birthday party to life and why, like actors, children can benefit if they are encouraged to challenge themselves from time to time.

Parents will also be shown simple exercises that will improve their child’s coordination, memory and be shown how by analysing with their child the characters in a favourite story a youngster can be encouraged to open up and talk about the things in life which might be making her unhappy.

“The training promises to be very entertaining as well as a great way to share parental experiences,” says Media Friendly director Moya Fillmore. “The techniques in the book have worked for hundreds of children who already attend drama classes up and down the country but most of the exercises can be tried at home too.”

Places on the session are limited and cost just £49.00. Please contact Media Friendly directly on 01628 474 154 or you can book online at enquiries@mediafriendly.org.