Why Preschool Theater Classes Are a Hidden Gem
Why Preschool Theater Classes Are a Hidden Gem
When I read about preschool enrichment activities online, most of the resources relate to art, music, or dance classes. Theater classes, however, are less common for preschool-aged children. Most theater programs catering to schools begin at the elementary level, leaving preschoolers with limited access to the magic of theater beyond dramatic play or play-based learning.
But I have found that preschool is the perfect time for theater! At this age, children are the most willing to express their creativity, share their ideas, and dive into imaginative play. Programs that incorporate storytelling, role-playing, and improvisation are perfect for young learners, offering them a joyful way to explore self-expression, build confidence, and develop social-emotional skills.
As someone who has taught theater to various age groups, I find preschool theater classes to be especially fun. Every day is filled with surprises, laughter, and the kind of uninhibited inspiration only young children can bring. Over the years, I’ve experimented with different formats and activities, and I’ve seen firsthand what works best for this age group. Below, I’ll share a simple guide to structuring and teaching engaging theater classes for preschoolers.
Theater classes are also a great opportunity for reinforcing current curriculum objectives. The activities shared below can easily be aligned to your preschool’s monthly or weekly curriculum theme, giving students additional opportunities for practicing vocabulary or deepening their understanding of the curriculum concepts.
The Best Format for Preschool Theater Classes
A 30-minute class with 7-10 activities is ideal for preschoolers. Here’s an outline for a 30-minute class with a few examples for each activity. This outline can be used every week.
Opening Share Circle - Start the class by gathering the children in a circle. Each child has the opportunity to share something—such as how they’re feeling, their favorite color, animal, toy, etc., or even a silly sound they can make. Invite students to show a movement or hand motion that represents their answer. Then everyone in the circle can repeat the movement/hand motion. This simple activity sets a welcoming tone and helps children feel comfortable and connected to the group.
Warm-ups - Help the children loosen up and prepare their minds and bodies for theater. These exercises are short, playful, and energizing:
Vocal - Have the children make sounds for specific letters or sounds such as buzzing like a bee or howling like a wolf. Students can also practice tongue-twisters or think of their own phrases to say with different emotions and/or volumes.
Physical - Lead students in focused movements such as stretching, shaking out different body parts, balancing, or moving in slow motion.
Short Intro Activities
Team-Building Activity - Activities like “Mirror Game” (where students pair up and take turns copying each other) or “Energy Ball” (where students take turns tossing an imaginary ball to each other) work great for building focus and teamwork.
Imagination Activity - Invite the children to move around the room pretending to be a series of characters or objects, like different animals in the jungle, different types of weather, or different toys. Encourage them to use their bodies and voices to fully become each character or object.
Longer Imagination Activity - Choose at least one of these activities to do per class. These give students a chance to develop self-confidence and self-regulation as they practice presenting to each other, listening to each other, and taking turns.
Storytelling and Story-acting: Create a story together as a group. Start with a simple prompt, such as, “Once upon a time, there was a magical frog,” and let the children contribute ideas to build the story. For larger classes, students can be split into groups of 4-6, with each group having a chance to take the stage and create a story together. For smaller classes, each student can tell their own short story.
Then, narrate the story and give each student an opportunity to act out one or more of the characters as you narrate.
Storybook-Acting: Act out a favorite storybook. Assign roles, and let the children bring the story to life with movement and/or dialogue. They can stay in their spots in the circle and stand up to do their parts, or you can designate an area of the classroom to be the “stage” and students can enter and exit the stage to do their parts.
Imagination Journeys: Guide the children on an imaginary adventure such as a hike through the forest or a quest for buried treasure. Each imagination journey should have different stops or obstacles along the way where students have a chance to improvise, share ideas, and help create the adventure.
Focus or Movement Game - An ending game gives students an opportunity for extra movement and facilitates the transition from theater class to the next activity of the day.
“Red Light, Green Light Theater Edition”: Instead of just stopping and going, children can act out emotions (happy, scared, excited) or characters (robot, monster, superhero) as they move across the room.
Freeze Dance: Play music and have children dance, but when the music stops, they must freeze in a dramatic pose!
Calming Closing Activity - Have students sit in a circle and participate in one final, non-verbal activity (such as clapping different rhythms or holding an imaginary ball and tossing it up and down a few times) to conclude the class.
Why Preschool Theater Matters
Preschool theater is more than just fun—it’s an incredible tool for fostering creativity, confidence, and collaboration. By introducing young children to the world of theater, we give them a joyful way to express themselves, connect with others, and grow essential skills that will serve them for a lifetime. They learn to take turns, listen to each other, share their ideas, and empathize with others. They also reflect on different emotions and develop early literacy skills.
If you’re inspired to bring theater to your preschool class, I’d love to help you get started! I offer customizable curriculum products and resources designed specifically for preschool theater classes. Feel free to email at theaterinmotionimprov@gmail.com or call me at (206)659-9594 for more information.
Image Attribution: “Preschool Storytime” by Skokie Public Library, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0