Being part of a play shows children that there are people who appreciate them. Theater helps build up self-esteem with each round of applause the performers receive.
Public speaking can be a huge problem for someone too shy or someone who lacks confidence. Being part of the theater can help a child to move past her shyness and develop proper public speaking skills.
Theater brings out a child's creativity in a way that no sport can. This newly discovered creativity can help improve a child's reading and math skills by teaching her to open up her mind. If a child is playing a math whiz, she may become more interested in math as part of her research and characterization.
Being part of a theater program is a great way to teach a child about commitment. When a child is involved in the production of a play, he'll realize that there are many others who are depending on him. He has duties that must be fulfilled, or he will let his co-stars and co-workers down.
Theater requires a lot of dedication. A child must learn his lines and memorize stage blocking. Dedication is an important skill that is always used in the real world. Children learn this the moment they participate in a play production.