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Cooperation – This is a touted benefit of sports, but the arts also help children cooperate and collaborate with others. Often, children work with peers both younger and older than them in a production, so they have the added benefit of multi-age cooperation. I like there is less focus on winning or losing and more focus on working together as a team.

Perseverance – Whether it’s learning to play a musical instrument, getting the pitch just right in a song, or delivering lines well, artists never get it perfect the first time. They have to try, fail, and try again. They may have to rehearse the production many times before it’s good enough to go in front of the audience, and this teaches kids to stay at it, work hard, and they can achieve their goals!

Stress-Relief – The performing arts can be hard work for sure, but there’s often lots of laughter and fun involved which is a huge stress reliever for kids. My kids always leave their theatre classes in cheerful moods.

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Building Friendships – It’s important for kids to have friends who share their passion. In the arts, children often find lifelong friends. Creating and performing with others builds incredible bonds.

Academic Achievement – Studies show that students involved in drama and the arts outperform peers on SAT tests, have higher standardized test scores, increased student engagement and consistent attendance, and improved reading comprehension skills.

The performing arts is a great way to round out your child’s education while providing many wonderful benefits and skills. I can’t think of a better extracurricular activity for creative children!

Rebecca Eanes is the bestselling author of multiple books including Positive Parenting: An Essential Guide, The Positive Parenting Workbook, and The Gift of a Happy Mother. She is the grateful mom of two boys.