Every Child Is an Artist: Creating a Family Theater at Home

At Little Sunshine’s Playhouse, our Creatively Shine® curriculum theme Every Child Is an Artist invites children to explore creativity in all its forms. Throughout this theme, children discover that art is not limited to painting or drawing. It can also be storytelling, music, movement, theater, architecture, and so much more. As they experiment with different materials and artistic experiences, children begin to see that creativity lives everywhere, including within themselves.

To bring this exploration home, we’re sharing a playful and imaginative at-home activity your family can enjoy together: Put On a Family Mini Play.

This experience invites children to step into the world of theater by creating their own story, designing simple costumes, and performing a short play for family members. It’s a wonderful way for children to explore storytelling, dramatic expression, and collaboration.

What You’ll Need

(In the spirit of Reggio Emilia, try using what you already have at home!)

Costume Pieces

• Dress-up clothes or hats
• Scarves, fabric scraps, or blankets
• Sunglasses, costume jewelry, or belts

Props & Set Ideas

• Chairs, pillows, or boxes (for building a stage)
• Paper and markers (to create signs or scenery)
• Stuffed animals or toys as extra characters

Optional

• A small flashlight or lamp for “stage lighting”
• Paper tickets for family audience members

Step-by-Step Guide

Create the Story

Invite your child to imagine a short story for their play.

You might ask:

• Who are the characters in your story?
• Where does the story take place?
• What happens first? What happens next?

The story can be silly, magical, adventurous, or anything your child imagines.

Design Costumes and Props

Work together to find simple costume pieces and props around the house. A blanket might become a royal cape, a hat could belong to a brave explorer, and a stuffed animal might become a helpful sidekick.

Encourage your child to think creatively about how everyday items can become part of the story.

Build a “Stage”

Choose a small area of your home to become the stage. Chairs or pillows can outline the performance space, while paper drawings can become scenery for the story.

Time for the Show

Invite family members to watch the performance. Your child can act out their story, narrate it, or even invite others to play different characters.

Applaud enthusiastically when the performance is over. After all, every artist deserves a standing ovation.

The Learning Behind the Play

Dramatic play helps children practice storytelling, communication, creativity, and confidence. As they invent characters and act out ideas, they learn how to express emotions, solve problems, and share their imagination with others.

Through the Every Child Is an Artist theme, children discover that creativity can take many forms, including theater. Experiences like this reflect our Reggio Emilia–inspired philosophy, where children are encouraged to explore the many “languages” of expression, from art and music to storytelling and movement.

With a little imagination and a living room stage, your child can discover that being an artist might simply mean telling a story worth sharing.