How To Help Your Child Overcome Stage Fright

How To Help Your Child Overcome Stage Fright

Performing on stage among the lights can be the highlight of a child's life, but it can also be very stressful. Anxiety on stage is a huge thing and can be debilitating for children who have never experienced it before. Known colloquially as stage fright, this sudden burst of fear when performing in front of a crowd is normal, and most children experience it at some point. 

Supporting your child in the midst of an episode of stage fright is vital to keep them engaged with the performing arts that they love. It is also important to understand where their feelings are coming from so that you can help your child overcome their fear. 

If you want to learn more about how you can help your child overcome stage fright, keep on reading, and we will give you some pointers that have helped countless children along the way.

What Is Stage Fright?

We have all been there before, fearful of what others think while up on stage or in front of the class. This feeling of anxiety when presenting or performing can stop you dead in your tracks. This experience is often known as stage fright. 

On stage, this can cause an actor or musician to freeze up and forget what they are doing. With children, that may mean that they bolt off stage and head to the green room in a panic. Stage fright is extremely common and can affect just about anyone. 

This form of performance anxiety can be physical or emotional, and it impacts approximately 73% of the population. Many professional artists, athletes, actors, and musicians report instances of feeling insecure or extremely anxious. 

What Triggers Stage Fright

Stage fright is a form of anxiety and can happen just about anywhere that someone feels judged about a performance. This anxiety can turn into fear and could emerge in front of small crowds or large audiences. 

A person may experience stage fright during the following events:

  • Musical performances
  • Class presentations
  • Business meetings
  • Dealing with customer service
  • Making small talk
  • Making speeches or toasts
  • Acting in front of a camera
  • Job interviews.

All of these events have one thing in common: someone is listening to you as you “perform.” While most people are supportive, the fear that someone may not be can easily get a person inside of their head. This spiral triggers a feedback loop of anxiety, and the next thing you know, stage fright has taken over.

Internal Causes for Stage Fright

While there may be several triggering events that cause stage fright, so much of it is internal. A lot of these causes have deep-rooted fears attached to them that many parents don't even know about. Knowing what causes stage fright can help give you tools to combat fear and help your child build confidence despite their anxiety. 

Stage fright is likely a physical representation of the classic fight or flight response in which a child's body reacts to how it perceives danger. While performances are not life or death, the amygdala will send a stress response throughout the body just like it would during a more serious situation.

Tips for How to Support Your Child Who Is Experiencing Stage Fright

1) We All Get Nervous

Understanding what stage fright is is the first step to being able to support your child who is experiencing stage fright. Additionally, it is important to give them the tools to deal with anxiety. First of all, let your child know that nerves are normal.

We all get nervous, and they are not alone in that. Instead of telling them that they will simply be okay, let them know that other children are experiencing the same thing and that sometimes you, as a parent, experience nerves, too.

2) Psych Them Up

Your child thrives on positive energy; all children do. When you get them excited about a performance, they may forget about the fear that they were experiencing before. While this doesn't work for every child, an excited child is unstoppable.

3) Teach Them Relaxing Techniques

Some children need to find something to focus on to relax their nerves before a performance. There are plenty of different grounding exercises that your child can do to calm their anxiety. One such way is to teach them breathing exercises or to find three things to listen to, two things to smell, and one thing to look at. By breaking up the flow of fear, your child can refocus their energy on the task at hand and crush anxiety.

4) Preparation Is Everything

One of the main causes of stage fright is the fear of not being prepared. By practicing their performance, your child can feel more confident in their ability to perform. This allows them to go into auto-pilot so that they can simply enjoy performing and not worry about messing up.

How Asheville Performing Arts Academy Can Help Your Child Overcome Stage Fright

At Asheville Performing Arts Academy, we can help your child shine like the bright star that they are as a performer. Our instructors are certified and trained to work with your child to help them confidently pursue a passion for performance. If you want to learn about the surprising benefits of performing arts for kids, check out our blog on the subject. 

Armed with these techniques and more, your child will build confidence and squash anxiety, all while experiencing the joy of performance art. To learn more about our programs or to schedule a consultation, contact us today!