Say theatre veterans Adrian andTracie Pang. Theyshare fi ve tips forbringing up artisticand expressive kids– even if you don’thave an artsy bonein your body.By SASHA GONZALES
Adrian and Tracie Pang should know a thing or two about raising creative kids. Their two sons, Zachary (Zack), 11, and Xander, 10, recently scored leading roles in the couple’s musical production of The Full Monty, which kicks off June 18 at the Drama Centre Theatre. Both boys play Nathan, the son of the lead character Jerry (played by Adrian); Tracie is
the show’s director.
The musical, based on the book by Terrence McNally, is the inaugural production of Adrian and Tracie’s new theatre company Pangdemonium! Productions – for which they are also artistic directors.
“We’re embarking on The Full Monty as a family,” says Tracie with a hearty laugh. “This is the first time Zack and Xander are acting. They had a vocal session with the sound director and that’s when we realised they could sing!”
It’s funny,” continues Adrian, “because even though Tracie and I have been in the industry for ages, and our sons obviously know what we do, we’ve never really encouraged them to act. So when they said they wanted to be part of our show, we were quite surprised!”
But when you have a renowned stage and TV actor for a dad and an award-winning director for a mum, there’s no way to not be creatively inclined. On top of singing andacting, the Pang boys play musical instruments, are into art, movies and rock music, plus, they enjoy making things with their hands. Zack has a knack for storytelling and inventing games in his head, while Xander has expressed an interest in dance.
The successful couple must be doing something right, so we asked them to share their secrets for raising creative and artistic kids.
EXPOSE THEM TO ALL FORMS OF ARTS
Take your little ones to the museum, art exhibitions, concerts, plays and ballet. They may not understand everything they see or hear, but the experience is bound to pique their interest and arouse their curiosity. And they will want to learn more.
ENCOURAGE THOUGHT, EXPRESSION AND EXPLORATION
Going to a concert or a movie is relaxing, but it’s not anopportunity to “switch off”. “We tell our boys to think aboutwhat they’re watching and to critique what they’ve seen,instead of just sitting there passively,” says Tracie.After a movie or play, the Pangs discuss the characters,the dialogue, and the actors’ performances. “We wantour boys to have an opinion about things and to learn toarticulate these opinions, whatever they may be,” Adrianshares. “Even if a movie was bad and they didn’t enjoy it, wewant them to be able to explain why. It helps develop theircreative thought process.”
ALLOW YOUR KIDS THE FREEDOM TO DREAM AND EXPRESS THEMSELVES
Imagination inspires creativity. So encourage your child tolet his imagination run free, and don’t ridicule his dreams.“Zack and Xander have talked about being a scientist, ahelicopter pilot, a ship captain, even a spy,” says Adrianwith a laugh. “Every week they want to do somethingdifferent, but we don’t knock it. We tell them they can bewhatever they want and that they have our support.”No matter how crazy your child’s dreams may seem,it’s important not to suppress them, or you risk killingtheir creative streak completely. Adrian and Tracie alwayslook forward to hearing their boys’ wild ideas. “Zack, forexample, makes up this funny game in his head,” saysAdrian. “It’s a storytelling game, and he’ll come home fromschool and ask me to play it with him. Or he’ll go onlineand try to create his own simple games. Xander is greatat drawing and writing. He creates comics, complete withcolourful graphics, storyline and dialogue.”So encourage your little one’s fl ights of fancy, and watchhis creative side blossom.
CREATIVITY ISN’T SOMETHING YOU CAN TEACH
Sending your kid for drama or music lessons is well andgood, but he won’t learn much in a class. Says Adrian:“Classes aren’t a bad thing, but they may not be the bestway to help a child be creative.” Instead, let his artisticpassion develop naturally, and drop the idea that there hasto be some kind of structure or formality attached to it.Classes, with its grading systems and exams, can quasha child’s creativity, so if you must enrol your child in a class,make sure it’s fun, not stressful. “The impetus should beon the child to learn what he wants, which is why our boyshave never sat for a music exam. Zackplays the piano, and Xander, the guitar.They do it because they want to andbecause they love it,” says Adrian.
YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE ARTISTIC
You may not see yourself as artisticor creative, but that doesn’t meanyou don’t have what it takes to raisecreative children.SH
