We all know that laughing is fun and makes us feel better.
More seriously, remember there has been a lot of research undertaken into the physical and psychological advantages of having a laugh. Scientifically proven results include an impressive list of benefits – ranging from increased well being through endorphins and dopamines, to the cognative and emotional advantages of increased creativity, improved problem-solving ability and increased confidence and self-esteem. And masses more.
I don’t think the young participants of Lee Cornes Comedy Workshop on Sunday were necessarily aware of how much good the day was doing them – they were just having too much fun! Lee covered a wide range of comedic techniques, from learning how to effectively tell a joke to how to achieve comedy in physical movement and how to use status to comic effect in a double act, plus lots more. The class finished with a showcase performance and refreshment provided by Victoria Davies Jones at her lovely home.
So remember: Laughing out loud, being quietly amused, anticipating something funny, and even forcing a smile or chuckle can all lead to increases in positive emotions and neutralize negative states, helping to keep us on the “upward spiral” to greater happiness and fulfilment while making us better communicators and people that other people want to be around.

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A quick pic of a great day – full of fun and comedy and a great learning experience!

We are getting used to a constant string of stories in the press about the lack of communication skills in many young people, school leavers, graduates etc. (True Grit) At Prep4 we work with young people of various ages using drama and vocal techniques to build confidence, and develop communication skills.

This week we are pleased to welcome comedian Lee Cornes as a guest workshop leader for our Comedy class. Lee will introduce the class to the wonderful world of comedy, using a variety of techniques ranging from mime and masks to improvisation and how to master comic timing. As well as learning the comedy basics, class members will learn some simple techniques that will help them connect with any “audience” in a variety of everyday situations. By the end of a day at Lee’s comedy class each young person will feel more confident and at ease whenever they engage in direct communication, whether in a performance or in any other situation.
In an article in The Times in 2010, comedian Sean Locke cites Lee as a major influnece “.. he was compere at the Comedy Store. He’s the comedian’s comedian.”

Do visit Amazon and order if you want to beat the rush!

Some intesting thoughts on the importance of soft skills by Canon Alan Blillings director of the Centre for Ethics and Religion at Lancaster University. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01g7yff

Articles in the Daily Telegraph and Evening Standard both comment on a warning given in a newsletter from The Good Schools Guide warning that constant parental pressure to succeed creates a gereration who will not pursue new challenges for fear of failing. The Good Schools Guide Newsletter suggests “Somewhere around year nine, just as children start to assert their own independence, attentive parenting can mutate into undue pressure.” Parents are also strongly advised to step back and allow children to make their own subject choices at GCSE and beyond.

Oxford High School for Girls is reported to be preparing a maths test where it is impossible to get 100% to prevent students becoming obsessed with being “Little Miss Perfect”, while Wimbledon High School runs a “failure week” to teach pupils to build resilience. When preparing pupils to go out and face the world it is important to stress to young people that there is no straight ladder to success – no matter how many A* grades you may have. In fact these days, on the Snakes and Ladders board of life, there are a lot more snakes to slide down than there used to be.

At Prep4 we look on this as a challenge and an integral part of the preparation for the new world which we offer to young people who can find themselves rudderless at key points in their developing lives. Our individual mentoring sessions have helped to turn round the career prospects of some candidates who had lost all sense of direction. Part of our process is to help the young people to understand that the whole concept of career success or failure as an absolute is fast being replaced by a newer model, part of which is, as it is sometimes dubbed ‘the portfolio career’. More on this in a future blog soon.

Victoria is delighted to have now signed the contract with John Catt Educational who will be publishing Prepare your Daughter for Boarding.
The book is scheduled for publication in late September with illustrations by well-known artist Martin Millard.
Victoria is now pushing forward with the International edition, designed to serve the needs of the many students who come to school in the UK. Prepare for Boarding in the UK (working title) is co-written with Jennifer Ma, Director of Arch Academy, one of leading learning centres in Hong Kong.