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Why Summer Is the Best Time for Kids to Try the Performing Arts

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 13:43:26 GMT

As parents begin mapping out summer plans, the same question comes up year after year: How do we keep our kids engaged, growing, and confident, without the pressure of the school year? One of the most powerful (and often overlooked) answers is performing arts education.

Summer offers a unique window for children to explore dance, theater, music, and movement in a way that feels exciting, low-pressure, and deeply enriching. Whether your child already loves the spotlight or is still discovering their interests, the performing arts can be a transformative summer experience.

Learning Without the Academic Pressure

During the school year, children juggle homework, tests, schedules, and expectations. Summer removes much of that stress, allowing kids to learn simply for the joy of learning. In performing arts programs, students are still building discipline, focus, and problem-solving skills, but in an environment that feels playful and creative rather than academic.

Without grades or report cards looming, children are more willing to take risks, try something new, and step outside their comfort zones. That freedom often leads to breakthroughs in confidence, coordination, and self-expression that are harder to achieve during the busy school year.

A Low-Commitment Way to Discover New Passions

One of the biggest advantages of summer performing arts camps is their short-term nature. Families don’t have to commit to a full season or year to see if an activity is the right fit. At EMC Performing Arts Studio in New Freedom, kids can sample different styles: Dance, Theater, Music, or AcroGymnastics, and discover what truly excites them.

This kind of exploration is invaluable. Some children discover a lifelong passion, while others simply gain a deeper appreciation for creativity and performance. Either way, the experience helps kids learn more about themselves and builds the confidence to try new things.

Building Confidence Before the New School Year

Performing arts are uniquely powerful when it comes to confidence-building. Learning choreography, memorizing lines, performing with a group, or stepping onstage teaches children how to be seen, heard, and proud of their efforts.

By the end of summer, many students return to school standing a little taller, more comfortable speaking up in class, collaborating with peers, and handling new challenges. The confidence gained through performance doesn’t stay onstage; it carries into classrooms, friendships, and everyday life.

Why Families Choose EMC Performing Arts Studio

At EMC Performing Arts Studio, summer programs are designed to be a low-pressure, high-impact introduction to the performing arts. With fun, themed camps and classes led by experienced instructors, children are encouraged to grow at their own pace while building real technical skills in Dance, Theater, Music, and AcroGymnastics.

Just as important, EMC fosters a welcoming community where students form meaningful friendships and families connect with others who value creativity, confidence, and growth. For many families, summer at EMC becomes the first step in a journey that continues well beyond the season.

A Summer That Shines

Summer is a time for discovery, growth, and joy…and the performing arts offer all three. Whether your child dreams of center stage or simply needs a creative outlet, summer programs provide the perfect opportunity to explore, build confidence, and have fun along the way.

Sometimes, all it takes is one summer experience to help a child discover who they are—and who they’re becoming.

What to Expect From Your Child’s First Dance Season

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 13:36:44 GMT

Starting a new activity always comes with a mix of excitement and uncertainty, and enrolling your child in their first dance season is no different. You may be wondering what to buy, what the classroom looks like from the inside, and whether your child will love it or want to quit after three weeks. These are completely normal questions, and the good news is that the first season of dance is almost always more joyful and manageable than parents expect. Here is what you should know going in.

Getting Dressed for Class

Proper attire is more than a dress code. Dance clothing is designed to allow a full range of motion, let instructors observe body alignment, and minimize distractions during class. For most beginning students, this means form-fitting shorts or leggings, a fitted top or leotard, and the appropriate footwear for their style. Ballet typically requires ballet slippers. Tap classes need tap shoes. Jazz and musical theater often use jazz sneakers or slip-ons.

One word of advice for brand-new families: resist the urge to invest heavily in the first few months. Start with the basics your studio requires. Most children find their footing and grow to love it, but if you are not certain yet, a modest starter wardrobe is perfectly appropriate. You can always build from there.

Classroom Etiquette for Students and Parents

If your child’s studio asks parents to wait in a lobby or reception area rather than watching from inside the room, trust the reasoning. Children, especially young ones, perform very differently when a parent is visible. They call out, seek approval, or become distracted in ways that make it harder for them to focus and actually learn. The studio is their space. Most children settle in beautifully once they understand that pickup is right after class.

As for the children themselves: arriving a few minutes early, listening when the instructor speaks, and treating the space with care are the three essentials.

Practicing at Home

At beginning levels, formal at-home practice is not necessary or expected. What you will likely notice instead is your child spontaneously dancing in the kitchen, playing music and asking you to watch, or showing you a step they learned. That is practice. That is exactly what it should look like at this stage.

If they want to share what they learned, let them show you and celebrate it, even if the “leap” looks more like a hop. Avoid drilling or correcting at home unless an instructor has specifically asked you to reinforce something. The goal right now is joy, confidence, and a love of moving.

A Word on the Whole First Year

The first season of anything new has a learning curve, for children and for families alike. There will be weeks when your child is tired, or bored, or swears that dance is not for them anymore. There will also be weeks when they practically skip through the door.

Stay the course. Focus on whether they are generally happy, growing, and connected to their instructor and peers. Perfection is not the goal. Progress, confidence, and a sense of belonging are what you are really after. That is what the performing arts give children, and it tends to show up in every other part of their lives too.

Robin Snyder-Wiencek is the founder and director of EMC Performing Arts Studio in New Freedom, PA, which has served the greater Baltimore City and Southern York communities since 1992. She is a regular contributor to Southern York Living on topics related to arts education and child development.

The First Performance

Most studios hold a showcase or recital at some point during the year, and it will likely be one of the more memorable experiences of your child’s life. For both of you. Expect nerves in the weeks leading up to it. Expect your child to say they do not want to do it. This is completely normal. Nerves before performing are not a sign that something is wrong. They are a sign that something matters.

When they step out under those lights and find you in the audience, something shifts. Parents consistently describe watching their child perform for the first time as one of those quietly extraordinary moments.