Drama, music and role play for toddlers age 2½ – 4 years Saturday at 9.30-10.10am FREE TRIAL CLASS Wanstead - Wanstead House, 21 The Green, E11 Neston - Neston Community and Youth Centre, Burton Road, CH64 9RE

Drama & Role Play

Reading stories to children is a great way to develop and encourage young children to read books for themselves in the long term. It can increase their vocabulary and listening skills not to mention triggering their imagination.

Listening – this is a vital skill for children to develop. An interesting story whether from a book or told from memory, will capture children’s attention and encourage their ability to listen attentively.

Through drama and role play the children are encouraged to physically and imaginatively express themselves.

Musicality
Young children can benefit from hearing and singing songs, rhymes and all kinds of music. When toddlers get to know lots of songs and rhymes they begin to connect with different sounds, rhythms and the pace with different things. They become familiar with deciphering one sound from another and one voice from another. They enjoy the repetition which assists with memory development. Also sounds and actions so often go together in an order which gives a sense of security and enjoyment with the familiarity.

Rhythm – even before babies are born they feel the rhythms of people’s movements and sounds around them – when they are rocked, handled or carried close. Hearing rhymes is a pleasurable experience for babies and toddlers (even if to adults it seems interminably repetitive!).

Expression – by joining in the toddlers are taking the very first steps in expressing through verbal communication. By listening and interacting with others they learn to be expressive.

When music, songs, rhymes and music are experienced by young children they are more likely to:

• Feel good about themselves
• Listen and respond expressively
• Be able to distinguish between sounds
• Increase their repertoire of songs and rhymes

All these are likely to help children become good learners.

Movement & Dance
Rhythmic movement helps the children develop gross motor skills and co-ordination. They develop physical expression and enjoy the sense of freedom that movement and dance can create. They also learn how to follow instructions to put dance moves together.

Social Development
DramaTots classes are a good way to build social awareness where adults and children meet and interact. The young children learn to co-operate, take turns, share, to consider the feelings of others and to communicate verbally with people from outside their immediate family.

Safe Space
For the children to learn they need to feel safe which is why we ask for parents/carers to supervise and participate with children under school age