Unless a kid has theatrical or literature leanings, most don’t care all that much about Shakespeare. It’s required reading to muddle through in junior high and high school. Cue the cliff notes! The kids might enjoy it if they have a good literature teacher who explores the language and imagery, but even then, the end result is much like the one faced by poor Emily Dickinson: something to be read and promptly forgotten.
It’s unfortunate since Shakespeare and Dickinson both have a command of language that continues to cause envy. Perhaps, though, something can be done to get kids excited about Shakespeare. Maybe these five ideas will help.
- Read Shakespeare to your kids. I recently met a woman who said she reads Shakespeare to her kids the same way she reads nursery rhymes and fairytales. She makes the playwright accessible by setting his writing a part of normal, everyday life. Plus, according to her, the words work great as a lullaby, so maybe the next time the kiddo’s awake at 2 a.m. it’s Shakespeare that should be quoted rather than a song.
- Explore Shakespeare through performance art. Shakespeare has been interpreted in so many ways that it’s easy to find an interesting entry point. Ten Things I Hate about You is an adaptation of The Taming of the Shrew. Local theatre troupes sometimes interpret plays via different cultures, as in a Bollywood version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream I saw last year. I’ve even heard of Shakespeare hip-hop performances.
- Look and listen for Shakespeare everywhere. That is, turn it into a sort of “I Spy.” Shakespeare’s portrait and sayings are everywhere, from stamps and coffee mugs to t-shirts and tote bags. His words feature in a lot of conversations, too—that’s how pervasive his work is. All you have to do to spot him is keep your eyes and ears open.
- Send your kids to a Shakespearian camp. Some theatre groups have day camps where kids can get to know Shakespeare on a level appropriate for their age. Others have a traveling curriculum that allows kids to learn about the bard through a variety of activities.
- Introduce Shakespeare through other activities. This is a self-motivated point, but you can introduce kids to Shakespeare through coloring. A couple of Shakespeare-themed coloring books are on the market, but I doubt you’ll find one exactly like Write Right’s. In this coloring book, she travels through several plays in different guises, which allows kids (and adults) to journey with her. Each coloring page also features lines from the corresponding play, so colorers? colorees? can learn the language and maybe even use the words in an upcoming conversation. I mean, who doesn’t want to be able to say “unto the breach, dear friends” at some point and know they’re quoting Henry V?
Those are only a couple of ideas about how to get kids excited about Shakespeare. I’m certain there are plenty more. Maybe you’ll share yours in a comment?