5 Simple Ways to Add Theatre to Your Homeschooling

One of the beautiful parts of homeschooling is the freedom to explore learning in creative, engaging ways. Theatre is an incredible tool for building confidence, imagination, and communication skills—and the best part is, you don’t need a stage or a full production to bring it into your home! With just a few easy ideas, you can add theatre to your homeschooling in a way that feels fun, simple, and stress-free. Introducing theatre to your homeschool curriculum does not need to be overwhelming and scary in fact it can be simple and who knows maybe even fun!

Here are 5 simple ways to bring theatre into your homeschool:

1. Create a Time and Space for Theatre

Theatre isn’t like math or spelling—it thrives on energy, silliness, and creativity. To help your kids feel safe trying new things, set aside a dedicated “theatre time” in your week. Create a space (even just a corner of a room) where theatre happens.

Before you start, share some simple guidelines to set the tone:

• Be respectful (of your director and fellow performers)

• Try it—even if it feels silly

• Listen before you act

• Leave it at the door (no stress or distractions allowed!)

• Have fun!

  
  

These rules remind kids that theatre is a safe place to explore, make mistakes, and play.

2. Start with a Warm-Up

A warm-up signals to your kids: “This is something different!” It helps them connect their body, breath, and voice—all tools of the actor. It can be as simple as stretching tall, shaking out the sillies, or saying a tongue twister together.

Over time, this ritual becomes a tradition your kids will look forward to, and it helps set the stage (pun intended!) for creativity.

Here is a simple warm - up (or you can follow along to one here)

Take a huge breath in and fill your whole body with air let the air out with a whosh sound

Take in another a huge breath and this time let the air out as slow as possible on an "s" sound like you are a balloon slowly deflating

Take in a big breath and let out on a "ho, ho, ho"

Take in a big breath and let out on a "he, he, he"

You can continue this for a few more sounds and have your kiddos give sounds as well. Getting them involved will make them feel more comfortable.

Next connect your performer's diaphragm by panting like a dog and saying:

Hip

Hip Hip Hooray

Hip Pow

Hi

How

Are

You

Then move into giving your face a little massage, making your face big (eyes and mouth) and then very small - repeat three times.

Next part of the warm up should be tongue twisters and diction.

One of my favourite tongue twisters is

"The tip of the tongue, the teeth, the lips"

Have your performer say it slow, then faster, then faster and with different indentation.

3. Play Theatre Games

Games are at the heart of theatre! They keep things light, build teamwork, and encourage thinking on your feet. A few of my go-to favorites:

• Yes, Let’s! – Someone suggests something silly (“Let’s all be penguins!”) and everyone responds with “Yes, let’s!” and does it together. Everyone should have a turn suggesting something.

  It's a great game to remind everyone that in theatre it is best to support everyone's ideas as that is what makes a great scene.

• Zip, Zap, Zop – A fast-paced energy-passing game that keeps everyone focused. Start with everyone in a circle one person has the energy makes eye contact with someone else and says zip while moving there hands, the second person makes eye contact and says zap while sending the energy the third person makes eye contact and says zop. It starts again. This game is all about focus and how quickly you can have the energy moving in and around the circle.

• Back to Neutral – A quick reset game that teaches kids how to switch between characters and calm focus. Performers walk around the space and the director calls out something like walk as though you are very tired. The performers walk around the room very tired then the director claps their hands and says back to neutral.

  The director can call out directions about becoming different characters, different emotions, or different situations always stopping to clap and go "back to neutral"

These games sneak in learning while making kids laugh.

4. Use a Favorite Character as Inspiration

Does your child love a certain superhero, cartoon, or video game character? Use that! Have them explore how that character walks, talks, and moves.

Do they slouch, march, tiptoe? Is their voice booming, squeaky, or robotic?

This is a fantastic way to introduce character work without making it feel like a “lesson.”

Have your performer become their favorite character and put that character in different situations. For example what if The Hulk was baking a cake? Or brushing his hair? Or learning ballet?

They could even write a character page about how old this character is, where do they live? Who is their best friend? Who is their enemy?

5. Find (or Create) a Script

Once your kids are comfortable playing, they may be ready to play with scripts. The good news—you don’t need a Shakespeare anthology. Start with what they already love: a scene from a favorite movie, book, or TV show. Or, write a simple script together using characters they know.

When kids recognize the characters, they’re more excited to bring them to life—and they forget they’re even “doing theatre.”

Depending on how brave they are you could have them perform the script or even make it into a short movie (don't forget the popcorn)

Final Curtain Call

Remember, theatre is about fun, exploration, and creativity. There’s no right or wrong way to do it. Celebrate every effort, cheer them on, and remind your kids that trying is more important than being perfect.

Adding theatre to your homeschool doesn’t just build performance skills—it builds confidence, creativity, and connection. And who knows? You might discover your own inner actor right alongside them!

Of course if you are looking for some help in this area I have a resource page of free and paid resources for homeschoolers.

Start with the Kids Theatre Starter Kit for $5 with the code LESSON