'Don't put your daughter on the stage,Mrs Worthington' Or do? And your son, too?

[Tigermoth]

Stage classes (minus pink tutus) for an extrovert 7 year old boy who LOVES attention. A good idea or not?

PS Anyone sent their child to 'Stage Coach' classes - the school that advertises itself as '1 hour to sing, 1 hour to act, 1 hour to dance'

I went to drama and elocution classes as a child and definitely benefited. But they didn't help my shyness on jot. I was still just the same shy me when I came off stage.

However, leaning lines and poems trained my memory and I am sure helped me pass physics and chemistry exams. I had no feeling at all for these subjects but drama gave me the confidence to memorise pages of text.

My son is the opposite of shy (and was more outgoing when I started this thread). I wanted him to channel his sociability into something other than sillyness and thought drama might help. I did send him to a drama class in the end, but at the time his sillyness won out. The drama teachers couldn't get him to focus on their activities. He lost enthusiasm. I think he was too young to benefit, though I am sure plenty of other children aged 7 find drama fun.

Finally, at long last ds1 (now 11 years old) has joined a youth theatre group he really likes (so far). Just what we were looking for way back in 2001. Lots of impro exercises, some singing and dancing as well. Before joining we went to see their lastest production and ds1 was most taken with it. He is the youngest there, and the only one still at primary school, but seems ok about this. So far no problems about him being silly, and he's very much looking forward to being in their next performance. He keeps thanking me for finding out about it thanks for all the help back then, and special thanks to one certain mumsnetter