Write a Play
This activity provides instructions for encouraging your young child to participate in drama.
By: Trish Kuffner, author of The Children's Busy Book
Write a Play
Materials
- Pencil or pen
- Paper
Directions
- Encourage your child to write an original play. He may want to base his play on something that has happened to him, such as winning a special award or the birth of a new sibling. If he doesn't know where to begin, use a familiar nursery rhyme, song, or story as a starting point.
- Explain to your child that a play includes more than just the words spoken by the actors. A play also includes set information, which tells about the scenery where the play takes place, and stage directions, which tell the actors what they should be doing as they say their lines. To distinguish stage directions from the actor's lines, have your child enclose stage directions in parentheses and underline them (like this).
- Your child's play can be as simple or elaborate as he wishes to make it.
- The finished play can be read aloud or acted out complete with cast, costumes, and a set.
- This activity will probably require a lot of parental involvement, so be prepared to help your child as much as needed.