How to help kids get over stage fright? Tips, please!

If you can find an acting class I would sign her up! Might just be something to give her the confidence she needs!

If she does a play, she should do it with a friend. That will make it much easier on her. And you should select a program where every kid gets to participate (there are still try outs but just to see which part they should play). Tell her that she should do this play, not so she can be on stage, but so she will get the "nuts and bolts" experience of what putting together a show is like. That way if she wants to write plays or direct, then she'll have a better understanding of how they work. Also tell her, if she doesn't want to be on stage, she doesn't have to, she can work back stage instead.

 

Does (did) your elementary school have musicals? Ours did a musical each year plus there was always a 5th grade play each year. Every kid can have a part if they want, even if it's small, or just in the chorus, etc. If you could find something like that where she could be part of an ensemble, but not have to maybe speak alone or sing alone etc to start with, it might help her get her feet wet.

I know my niece went to a local theater camp too...a wk long....so maybe she'd like something like that. They work all wk on the play, then usually perform it for the parents the last day.

Either of those ideas might ease her into it. Both my kids did some in elementary school, and my DS was especially good (not the singing...the acting) and loved it!! So I'd say go for it.

We had middle schoolers where I directed a small musical that were very shy about being on stage but we gave them parts where all they had to do was stand here, wave there, and that helped them get comfortable. A few of them even auditioned for the summer show for some very small roles. I suggest having her do something that doesn't require her starting as the spotlight person but to let her work her way (and confidence) up to it if she wants.

Get to know the director too. Our local guy, both of my children love him, and when we happen to run into him in the community they take off, running after him and hugging him. He's really good at reading the kids and at pushing them just enough to get them onstage but not enough to ruin the experience for them.

Our school has the 5th graders put on a Disney play every year.  Tryouts include a reading, a solo and a dance in front of a panel of judges.    Aaron is a natural actor too.  He cracks us up and amazes us at the same time.    He was much the same way.  Terrified to perform in front of people but wanted to try out at the same time.  I was at a loss too.  His music teacher approached him and asked if he had signed up to try-out.  That was all he needed.  40 kids tried out and he got one out of the six principal parts!  He's already asked to do Community Theater this summer.  I'm so excited.  This is his 'thing' he just doesn't know it!

Check your local area or even in the twin cities for the summer a performing arts camp. I went to one in middle school in South Dakota of all places for a week and it was a great experience for me I was somewhat shy in those types of settings. We did all aspects of art and at the end of the week we put on a show for family and friends.

 

 

Also look for opportunities that start out in a slightly smaller setting and work up to a larger one might help her as well.