TADA! knows that parents play a crucial role in the creative, social and educational development of their children and that the optimal environment for student achievement rests in the triangle of learning: student, teacher and parent/family. Research documents what arts educators have always known—that parental involvement is crucial to the learning process of all children. Thus, TADA! offers Parent and Family Workshops to provide families with hands-on activities and educational resources for actively participating in the education of their children. Two TADA! teaching artists lead these workshops and engage participants in applicable theatrical exercises and ways to reinforce learning at home. TADA! Parent and Family Workshops are held at our partnership schools and community centers.
Here is a sample TADA! workshop for families of elementary school children:
| Before 9:00 am | Gather and Greet |
| 9:00 | Name Game: getting comfortable
Introduction & Overview: Theater Education in the schools & home |
| 9:15 | Using Your Breath: how breathing exercises help with preparation and performance—and in every activity we endeavor to do
Call and Response: music activity |
| 9:30 | Character Work: acting activity-- helps with building perspective and introduces need for research (background information) (individual) |
| 9:45 | Storytelling: i.e. The Tortoise and the Hare (literacy through arts)
(large group) |
| 10:30 | Hands-on Exercises and Techniques for Parents to Use at Home (smaller groups) |
| 10:50 | Reflection and Process (of activities and the workshop itself) |