Joyful Joyful: The Glue that Holds it all Together
- Ms. A
- Aug 4, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 6, 2025
A 7-Part Series on How to Choose a Quality Drama Program for Your School
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Joyful Joyful: The Glue that Holds it all Together
Table of Contents:
What is Joy?
Joy is a deep, authentic sense of delight, connection, and presence. It’s the feeling of being fully alive, safe, and seen. In a child, it often shows up as laughter, curiosity, wonder, and the kind of unfiltered expression that makes a classroom—or a rehearsal room—come alive.
But joy isn’t just about being “happy.”It’s more resilient than that.
Joy can exist alongside nervousness, growth, and challenge. It comes from belonging, creativity, discovery, and freedom. It’s what happens when students feel safe enough to be themselves, bold enough to try something new, and connected enough to know they’re not alone.
Why does it matter in OST?
In out-of-school time (OST) settings, joy is more than just a bonus—it’s a core ingredient for engagement, learning, and well-being. OST programs often serve students during high-stress parts of their day: after long hours in school, during transitions, or in communities with limited resources. These programs become safe harbors where young people can breathe, explore, and be themselves.
A joyful OST environment supports:
Re-engagement with learning through play, imagination, and student-led expression
Relationship-building between students, peers, and caring adults
Emotional recovery from the social and academic pressures of the school day
Equity in access to enriching, high-quality, affirming experiences that nurture the whole child
When OST spaces are joyful, they don’t just “fill time”—they build confidence, spark curiosity, and help students feel valued, capable, and connected.
In drama, this matters even more. Because when kids are asked to perform, share, speak up, or create, it must come from a place of trust and joy. Drama is vulnerable. Students take creative risks every time they step into character or share their work. Without joy and emotional safety, students may shut down or hold back.
When kids feel joyful, they feel safe. And when they feel safe, they thrive. Joy fuels connection, risk-taking, teamwork, and creativity—everything that makes a drama program magical and meaningful.
What does the Research say
Joy isn’t a bonus—it’s a foundation. When learning spaces are rooted in joy, play, and emotional safety, students don’t just participate—they come alive. Research from the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) shows that positive, emotionally supportive environments lead to deeper engagement, stronger relationships, and better academic outcomes.¹
These are not soft outcomes—they are critical markers of long-term success.
In a 2019 study funded by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), researchers found that students in arts-rich, joy-centered programs experienced meaningful growth in motivation, empathy, and confidence.² These aren’t just theatre skills—they’re life skills.
Developmental psychology also affirms what educators and artists have long known: environments that prioritize play, imagination, and expression help children develop cognitive flexibility, emotional regulation, and social awareness.³ In other words, when students feel safe and joyful, they are more creative, more resilient, and more connected to themselves, to each other, and to learning.
What does it look like at Peak Theatre Arts?
At Peak, joy is at the heart of everything we do—from warm-up games to final performances. Here's how we intentionally create joyful spaces:
We begin each session with inclusive rituals and energizing games
We celebrate small wins, effort, and personal breakthroughs
We make room for laughter, goofiness, and play
We never pressure kids to perform before they’re ready
We respond to students’ needs with care, flexibility, and encouragement
Our teaching artists model joy, vulnerability, and celebration
We want students not just to attend, but to want to be here—to laugh freely, explore boldly, take up space confidently, and leave every session feeling inspired and uplifted.
What to Ask When Choosing a Drama Program?
If you're an educator, school leader, or parent looking for a program that centers student voice, here are some questions to consider:
Do students seem happy, relaxed, and engaged?
How do staff respond to nervous or reluctant students?
How is joy built into the culture of the classroom?
How does the program make space for every child to feel seen, heard, and valued?
What Makes a Drama Program Truly Great?
A quality drama program isn’t just about putting on a good show—it’s about nurturing whole humans through creativity, connection, and play.
If a program is:
…then you’ve found something truly special- something transformative. A space where your child—or your students—can grow, shine, and belong.
Grab The Spotlight Checklist™
A simple, powerful tool I created to help you clearly identify programs that honor students’ brilliance, support their growth, and align with your school or district goals.
Inside the checklist, you’ll find what to look for when:
Reviewing or selecting enrichment vendors
Advocating for arts funding or expanded arts access
Aligning programs with district initiatives and quality standards
Setting expectations with teaching artists and partners
Strong drama programs don’t just fill time — they create joyful spaces where imagination, culture, and community come alive.
Download The Spotlight Checklist™ and choose programs that truly serve your students.
References:
Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL). School Climate and SEL: A Review of the Evidence. 2020.https://casel.org
Menzer, M. (2019). The Arts and Social-Emotional Learning Outcomes Among K–12 Students: Developing a Theory of Action. National Endowment for the Arts.https://www.arts.gov/sites/default/files/Arts-SEL-Research-Report.pdf
Pellegrini, A. D., & Smith, P. K. (2007). The Nature of Play: Great Apes and Humans. Guilford Press.Also supported by frameworks from the National Institute for Play.https://www.nifplay.org
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