Why kids should watch live shows

Concerts and theatre programmes for kids provide multisensory experiences and up-close interactions

- Elisa Chia

Families with young children will be spoilt for choice when it comes to live performance options in the coming months.

Get ready for singalong concerts with popular characters from CoComelon and Disney Jr. And the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) will be introducing kids to classical music in an accessible way.

The stage is also set for theatre adaptations of beloved books such as Beauty And The Beast, The Emperor's New Clothes and The Tiger Who Came To Tea.

"The landscape for children's programming has always been a crowded one, with many excellent productions," says Ms Jamie Sim, programmer at The Esplanade Co.

"Since the pandemic, we have seen the return of large-scale international productions, alongside a noticeable growth in Singapore companies developing their own youth and children's programming."

She views this as a positive development for the industry, signalling a healthy demand and providing a wider variety of voices and stories for children.

Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay is currently staging Koko The Great until Aug 31. Inspired by local pioneer artist Liu Kang's iconic painting Life By The River, the production is recommended for children aged three to six.

It is one of many diverse shows aimed at the pre-school age group. You may be wondering, what do young children gain from these performances and how do you select the most suitable ones?

The Straits Times finds out from theatre practitioners.

WHAT MAKES LIVE PERFORMANCES FOR CHILDREN UNIQUE?

Your kids get to connect with their favourite characters as many shows feature popular personalities, from animated series such as CoComelon and Peppa Pig, or classic fairy tales like Beauty And The Beast.

Show promoter Biz Trends Media staged Peppa Pig's Adventure in 2024. On Sept 27 and 28, it will present CoComelon: Sing-A-Long Live, showcasing JJ and his friends from the popular YouTube channel.