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6 Useful Tips to Help Your Child Memorize His / Her Lines

Though you can never really get over the joy of having a little performer in the family, once your child gets a script, he/she may need some help. Raising a little star is not necessarily easy since most parents have to devote a significant amount of their time to kids auditions, preparing for meetings and the most dreaded task of all: helping them memorize their lines.

Contrary to what most people believe, the ability to memorize lines quickly is more of a skill or a technique rather than just a gift some lucky kids are bestowed with. Either way, there are countless ways you can help your kid with this theater task. Here’s the secret: kids are all in for fun and play so skip those boring traditional methods of line learning and turn the challenge in to a fun activity. Here are some tips you can use:

1. Practice with Them

Practice makes perfect. Become a crucial part of the learning process by rehearsing the scene with your child until they have completely memorized their lines and review it right before bedtime. Studies have shown that studying lines before going to bed can have a huge impact on recall. You may review the lines again the following morning to help lock them into memory.

2. Break the Lines

Do not burden your child by making them tackle the entire script all at once. Even adults like to break things down into simpler parts to make learning a much easier process. Sit down with your child and break down the script into smaller sections. Once your child has memorized all the parts, repeat them often so the lines are embedded in their memory.

3. Create a Song

Children love music. If your child has an audition and only has a few lines to memorize, turn those lines into a song. It will significantly increase their ability to memorize. A catchy tune is all your child needs, plus you get the perfect opportunity to bond with them.

4. Make Multiple Copies of the Script

Make multiple copies of the script so you always have a copy in your purse, in the car or mostly importantly in your child’s backpack. Encourage your child to read out their lines whenever they have the time. A trip to the grocery store can be made more constructive if your child spends the 15-minute drive going over his/her lines.

5. Explain the Script

Ensure you child understands their lines and most importantly the script. Read through the entire script with your child so they can put the puzzle together in their heads and have an understanding of what is going on in the script. Ask them questions about their character.

6. Relax

Most important of all, help your child feel relaxed, for kids acting should be fun. Scolding and continuously stressing your child will not yield positive results. If they are having a rough time, consider talking to them about it or divert their attention by taking them out to the park.

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