Voice and Movement - Social Skills

Drama for Everyday Life Program

Developing social skills and taking them into everyday life
Improving self esteem through creative expression

The Drama for Everyday Life Program assists children, adolescents and adults in developing appropriate social skills and self confidence.

Using fun drama games, role plays and improvisation the program covers the following areas:

Social skills This area covers the standard social skills we use regularly in everyday life. These include conversation skills, play skills, greetings and farewells, manners and appropriate use of personal space. Also, students learn that different skills are required in different settings, for example, greeting a friend at school is different to speaking to a shop assistant.
Relationships This area of the program takes standard social skills a step further by learning how to make and develop friendships. This includes appropriate boundaries within friendships, such as, how often to call your friend.
Self confidence and self awareness Students learn how self confidence is expressed through body language, facial expression and voice. By increasing self awareness, students can be more confident in expressing themselves.
Emotions & Body Language Students learn how to recognise other’s emotions through verbal and non-verbal cues. Students then learn how to react to other’s emotions appropriately, for example, what to do when your friend is really excited about receiving an award. This area of the program also covers recognition of your own emotions and how to deal with those feelings appropriately in various social settings.
Creativity Students are encouraged to develop different solutions to social scenarios, such as, what to do when three friends want to do three activities, or, what to do when your brother/sister annoys you.

After doing classes, teachers, parents and friends have noticed that students are:

More alert and interested in what's going on around them;
More aware of their own body language;
More sociable and interactive;
More aware of how their actions affect others.

All Programs are Tailored to Suit the Needs of the Students

Private Sessions
Private sessions are vital in laying the groundwork for group lessons. By working one to one with a teacher, students are able to develop their skills with a positive role model.

Students commence with a ten week program consisting of one private session each week, with home activities. Programs are tailored to suit the needs of the individual, so if there are specific issues that parents/carers or students would like addressed, they can be included. It is recommended that students complete a minimum of ten private lessons, however if there are specific issues to be addressed, a longer time frame may be beneficial.

Instructors provide parents/carers with regular feedback. This includes weekly verbal feedback at the end of each class and regular written checklists of student progress.

Group Sessions
After completing private lessons students are prepared to apply their skills in a group setting. Regular attendance at group lessons provides an excellent opportunity for students not only to learn to new skills, but also to build friendships within class. Parents/carers and students are welcome to suggest any issue that they might be currently dealing with so instructors can include these in the program. Instructors provide written checklists at the end of each term.

In addition to the weekly group classes, students are provided with regular home activities. It is recommended that students continue group sessions for a minimum of one year, though they can continue indefinitely. The program grows with the students.

Concert Afternoons
Our popular Concert Afternoons are held every six months and give students an opportunity to perform for parents and friends, and also to practice their social skills at the afternoon tea. Concerts are enjoyable events where parents and friends can relax, have a cup of tea and a chat.

Holiday Programs
Short holiday programs are run during school holidays. They are a fun and relaxed way for students to learn more about drama and to develop their social skills. A variety of programs are available for students to choose from.

Venue
34A Hamilton St, Mont Albert VIC 3127

Further information

For further information contact us on 03 9890 0728 or at info@voiceandmovement.com.au