One Thing Leads to Another, theatre show for babies, aims to charm infant audiences – Feb. 9, 2016 CBC article

Drawing by a child who was 3 years old in 2003 depicts a little horse; it was created for a friend who was also 3 at the time. Source: Jaan Pill

A Feb. 9, 2016 CBC article is entitled: “One Thing Leads to Another, theatre show for babies, aims to charm infant audiences.”

The subhead reads: “Babies have ‘a sense of engagement that’s so delightful,’ says show creator.”

The opening paragraphs read:

“An intimate and interactive new stage production is captivating a very specific audience in Toronto: babies.

“Young People’s Theatre is performing One Thing Leads to Another, a new work designed specifically for infants as young as three months old. Devised by former YPT artistic director, performer and theatre artist Maja Ardal, the show premiered at the Toronto venue on Monday.

“The non-verbal play involves performers using music, sounds effects, props and textiles to engage baby theatregoers in a basic story about cause and effect — and give them what’s likely their first-ever theatre experience. Afterward, the babies are invited to join in and play with the performers.”

[End of excerpt]

Video

The article includes a video  in which “a child psychologist reveals how babies can benefit from theatre and parents offer their take on the show.”

Comment

Early childhood is such an important time in a person’s life.

Research related to early childhood education is a topic of ongoing interest for many people.

I got my start in a teaching career in the mid-1970s when I worked at a day care centre for infants and toddlers in Toronto. I so much enjoyed working with kids of that age – they are so attentive, so entranced with the world, and have such a sense of wonder. I learned so many things from working with them; the children taught me so many things. In time I moved on to the public school system, and enjoyed working in that system as well. I’ve now been retired from teaching for a decade.

As I’ve noted at a previous post, after graduating from university it took me a while to find my way. Eventually I became a teacher, because I noticed that infants and toddlers were convinced I was a celebrity.

In the day care (which has now been closed for many years) where I worked at an old house at 228 McCaul Street in Toronto, children ate age 1 and a half would consult with their parents and arrange for play dates at each other’s homes. Kids of all ages love to hang out and play with their friends.

I began as a substitute teacher at a day care and later became a public school teacher. Among other grade levels I taught elementary school. My favourite activity was arranging role plays and dramas created by students. People had such a great time, and so many kids found out that they had a flair for drama that they had not really ever tuned into before, except possibly they had tuned into it in very early childhood and had then forgotten about it. Live music, live dance, live drama: People have so much fun, and learn so many things.

Updates

An Aug. 19, 2016 Brookings Institution article is entitled: “The long-term impact of the Head Start program.” The opening sentence reads: “A growing body of rigorous evidence suggests that policy interventions aimed at early childhood bear fruit for decades.”

An April 13, 2017 CBC The Current article is entitled: “Roughhousing benefits kids, suggests Quebec daycare guide.”