THE PROS AND CONS OF USING SPOLIN’S THEORY
Spolin’s theories in the article children and the theatre point out the effect that acting imposes on children. While it pits children in the arena where they can openly express themselves, it has its implications for both the positive as well as the negatives. As seen in the article, children are put in different age groups and permitted to act different roles without being told on what to do, say, or how to behave in any particular manner.
The result of putting children on a stage to act a role can be seen to cause a change in how they behave. For instance, when a child in the company of his or her peers is given a role to act, he demonstrates much more empathy towards others, especially when not told on how to treat the rest. He or she knows what to say and behave from how others treat them. If they had been known to lie, for instance, and the others start secluding him, he quickly learns that this negatively affects his or her relationship with the rest and thus changes their behaviours.
The other pros of putting children in a theatre are that they are given any role to act. They can be kings who live in palaces, fairies, princesses as well as pirates — putting children in these different roles brings out their creativity as well as how to express themselves. These hypothetical situations allow then to be whoever they want to be, even if it’s just for a brief period. This builds in their mind the freedom of expression while considering how their perceived behaviours affect other people around them.
While the pros are seeming of great value addition to young children, we can’t ignore the cons that come with allowing them this much freedom. A young child given the freedom to express themselves without adult interference might treat others unkindly. Children being adorable can also be so harsh towards their peers. For instance, while in a theatre, a child might be given a role above the rest of his or her peers and from such a position, he might start looking down upon his or her peers. This would, in the long run, bring about negative implications in how children treat each other.
The other con that might arise in putting children on a theatre is stage freight. If a child is subjected to scrutiny in their initial stages as actors, this will leave a bitter taste and an experience that might stay with the child for a very long time and make them withdraw from their peers.
To summarise Spolin’s theory can be an excellent way to allow children to find their voices as early on in their lives and this will, in turn, build their empathy and their creativity. Though it should be recommended and encouraged, it shouldn’t be without adult supervision to control a situation very early on before it spins out of control. My take is that all children deserve a great childhood where they can express, experience and live a happy, fulfilling childhood and as they turn to adults they can take from what they learned and be able to apply it in their lives.