Master Frugal has come home from school today all excited because he’s auditioning for the school talent show on Monday. Yes, that would be next Monday! So now we have a whole weekend to work on his audition as I want him to help him to do well. Not because I’m a pushy mother but because I hate the thought of my little boy being told by the Britains Got Talent style panel (yes, that’s what they have planned) that he isn’t good enough to get through the first round and actually be in the talent show!
Before we can practice and perfect his act, we have the small matter of deciding what his act is actually going to be…. Not an easy task with a six year old who’s quite shy, has no sense of rhythm, the ability to clear a room with his singing and no other notable talents that I’m aware of. Which is where you guys come in – what can I teach him in a weekend that he will be able to do to the level that he will be confident performing in front of the judging panel and possible manage to get past the first round of auditions….
I really, really disagree with this sort of thing, especially when the younger children in the school are involved. I love the idea of a fun talent show but I don’t think that young children should have to audition to be a part of it. I really believe that everyone has at least one special talent in life, I’m pretty sure that most children, especially the younger ones, won’t have discovered theirs yet. For a younger child to try their absolute best and be told that they’re not good enough to get through to the show itself is awful and makes me feel so sad for them.
Whatever happened to ‘It’s the taking part that counts’….
Added 14 July – We decided to go with a magic trick and he made it through the audition stage and is in the final tomorrow 😉 I’m so proud of him as he told me he was shaking before he went on stage and he still managed to do it.
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Well Done Master F!! And Good Luck in the Final! 😀 x
He did briliantly, his headteacher made a point of telling me how well he'd done and how proud she was x
My daughter's school did a similar thing last year (she was 7 at the time). She was horrified at the thought of doing something and others not thinking it was good enough. We've worked hard to get her self esteem and confidence up and I wasn't going to let a 'talent' show ruin it – so I politely went into school and spoke with the teacher who agreed that she could just spectate if she wanted to. Some people thought I should have pushed her out of her comfort zone, but I think as a parent you are the one that knows your child best. Is he bothered by it or does he really want to participate? If he does, I think the magic trick idea was a good one. Or maybe read a funny but short poem/ limerick?
Thats exactly how I feel, we try hard to get him to believe in himself as this could send us backover. Saying that, although he feels nervous, he wants to do it as his friends are and he doesn't want to stand out by not doing it if you see what I mean. He's going to do a magic trick I think….
Aw, a Britain's Got Talent style judging panel sounds awful. Whatever happened to a talent show full of all sorts of kids doing all sort of things not matter the ability?
My thoughts exactly – sounds more pressured than fun!
What about a simple magic trick? Go to the toy shop and find some simple card trick! I do like the comment above though about the boycott 😉
That's a great idea – only problem is that I've just mentioned it to him and he loves it but thinks that he needs a magicians cape! Thanks for that one lol Have you seen my sewing skills! Margic Marvin here we come x
You'll probably be able to buy a cheap magicians cape from a toy shop? x
I'm going to pop out and try and find one this afternoon – thanks very much x
Um, I might be wrong here, but boycott it , what a sick thing for a school to do, and complain to the governors!
I've thought of that believe me and I'll definitely be complaining as I find it ridiculous – to me you should be allowed to take part in the show if you want to, making it all competitive takes the fun out of it for the children. The only thing stopping me from not allowing him to take part is that he's going through a stage at the moment where he doesn't like to stand out from the crowd and all of his friends will be taking part in the auditions. I just hope there won't be a Simon Cowell wannabee on the so called judging panel otherwise there will be serious trouble!