Last Saturday, a child stood just outside the door.
Bag on their shoulder.
Parent beside them.
Everything ready to go… except they just couldn’t quite step inside.
No drama. No meltdown.
Just that quiet, stuck feeling.
If you’ve got a child like that, you’ll know exactly what I mean.
And if you’re considering booking a taster, this is often the moment parents are most worried about…
“What if we get there… and they won’t go in?”
First - this is more common than you think
It doesn’t mean they don’t want to be there.
It usually means:
- it’s new
- they don’t know anyone yet
- they’re not sure what’s expected
- they’re imagining the worst (being put on the spot, getting something wrong)
Even children who really want to try it can freeze at the door.
We see it every term.
What we do in that moment
We don’t rush in.
We don’t force it.
And we definitely don’t make it a big deal.
Usually, one of the team will come over and introduce themselves – gently, at the child’s pace.
Not with lots of questions.
Not with pressure.
Just something simple like:
“Hi, I’m [name]. Do you want to come and see what we’re doing?”
Sometimes that’s enough.
Sometimes it isn’t, and that’s okay too.
They don’t have to join in straight away
One of the biggest misconceptions is that children are expected to walk in and immediately take part.
They’re not.
They can:
- stand at the side
- watch for a bit
- stay close to a teacher
- take their time getting used to the room
There’s no spotlight waiting for them.
No one is going to ask them to perform on their own.
Most sessions start with group warm-ups anyway, so children can ease in without feeling singled out.
What usually happens next
At some point (often when you’re not looking) something shifts.
They might:
- copy a movement
- laugh at something someone else does
- join in for just a few seconds
And then step back again.
That’s still progress.
From there, it builds.
Not all at once. Not dramatically.
But enough.
And sometimes… they don’t go in at all
Occasionally, a child isn’t ready that day.
They might stay by your side.
They might watch from the door.
They might decide they want to leave.
That doesn’t mean it’s not right for them.
It just means it was too much that day.
We’ve had plenty of children come back the following week and walk straight in, because now they know what to expect.
So what should you do as a parent?
If your child is hesitant:
- Stay calm (they’ll take their cue from you)
- Avoid trying to “talk them into it” too much
- Let us take the lead once you’re there
- Give it a bit of time before deciding
And most importantly…
Don’t assume that first reaction tells you everything.
The thing parents often say afterwards
Parents usually say things like:
“They were nervous… but something shifted.”
Or:
“They didn’t want to go in at first, but by the end they didn’t want to leave.”
That’s the moment you’re looking for.
If you’re unsure, that’s completely normal
Booking a taster when you’re not 100% sure how your child will react can feel like a risk.
If you have any worries, all you need to do is let us know and we will do our best to make your child feel comfortable.
Find out more about our
amazing performing arts classes here
Theatretrain Hitchin
Saturdays
Hitchin Girls School
9.30am-12.30pm
Theatretrain Letchworth
Saturdays
St Christopher’s School
9am-12pm
Theatretrain Stevenage
Saturdays
Marriotts School
1.30pm-4.30pm
