As most parents will know, social media plays a huge part in a young person’s life. Love it or loathe it, there’s no getting away from the impact it makes both positively and sometimes negatively.

Understanding teen talk and what it important to youngsters is something that is especially important. So, whether they are talking about OOTD (outfit of the day), TBH (to be honest) or ILYSM (I love you so much), getting to grips with what makes a teen tick is halfway to understanding them better.

Many youngsters will also go through a time when they find communicating quite challenging. Whether they feel pressure to keep up with the latest trends or something more serious such as online bullying, giving children a platform to work through their feelings is important to build their self-confidence.

Performing arts has been credited for building life skills and allowing students to express a range of feelings to encourage them to understand and deal with the different emotions that they go through, especially during the adolescent years.

But more importantly, performing arts is fun and gives every student the chance to be a child and play and laugh, which will improve motivation and reduce stress. So why not give your child the chance to put themselves into the frame with Razzamataz Theatre Schools and let them learn new life skills so they can have fun on and off their phone.

“We want to help young people create long and lasting friendships through sharing some wonderful experiences together,” explains Denise Hutton-Gosney, MD and Founder of Razzamataz. “Whether that’s the bonding experience of rehearsing and performing in the annual show or helping to raise funds for a local charity, children and teens respond so positively when they work as a team.”

With January being the time of year when many adults commit to get fit, the New Year is also a good opportunity for parents to consider their youngsters physical and mental health and wellbeing.

“Participating in a dance, drama or singing class will help improve your flexibility, co-ordination, balance and stamina,” adds Denise. “As well as the physical aspects, performing will help focus the mind, improve your memory and encourage empathy to develop compassion and tolerance for others.”

There are almost 50 Razzamataz schools up and down the country offering a wide range of performing arts styles for children with classes in dance, drama and singing. Students experience various genres from classic West End musical theatre through to pop singing and street dance. In all sessions, the emphasis is on having fun and bringing out the creativity and unique potential in each and every student.

For a number of years, youngsters across the UK schools have been performing at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London and new for 2018, they will be performing at the Indigo Centre at London’s O2 and just recently at Disneyland® Paris. There are also opportunities for professional work and Razzamataz is proud of former students who are currently performing in the West End and training in some of the best colleges throughout the UK.

Being part of a franchise with links to established and respected names in the performing arts world has enabled many people to launch their own successful Razzamataz Theatre Schools. Principals can succeed in business without having any prior experience, thanks to the support and training they receive at Razzamataz and include teachers, stay at home parents and retired performers.

To find out if franchising is the right option for you, the Head Office run Discovery Den days across the UK where potential franchisees get a chance to meet the team, find out more about franchising in general and discover what it is like to run a part-time theatre school.

To find out more about becoming part of the Razzamataz network of Principals, contact Head of Franchisee Recruitment Suzie McCafferty. For new franchisees, Razzamataz has a special offer of just £7,995 (£2,000 saving) to launch a Razzamataz theatre school. Plus until the end of 2017, Razzamataz will pay your VAT – a saving of around £1,600 and your first term management fee is free. Chat to Suzie on E:[email protected] or call 07793 054 233.