It is now widely acknowledged that many children are spending too much time staring passively at a screen; TV, games or internet, throughout their crucial developmental years.

During a phase which should be jam-packed with all sorts of new challenges, both intellectual & physical, many kids have their biggest childhood adventures whilst sitting in a chair & interacting with a console.

Sustainable Games

No screens, no batteries, no buttons, no fuel. You could say that it is good old fashioned fun, except…It’s Now!

Many of the skills in Suitcase Circus are based on pastimes which have been enjoyed for centuries.

There are strong reasons why each game has thrived for so long & endured some massive cultural changes.

Juggling, acrobatics, plate spinning, diabolo, poi, sticks & hoop all have a nice easy starting point.

There is always a simple way to achieve the basics & start having some fun. Then, step by step, there is always a new trick to try, the next level to accomplish.

Another reason for the long term appeal of these skills is that the games are all about playing with factors of the real world, big stuff like: gravity, balance, momentum, friction & time…

A direct experience of how the physical world works, an understanding of concepts which can be quite difficult for students to put into words initially, but easily understood & shared hands-on.

The discovery of these traditional activities is as exciting for new students today as it was for those enjoying early Suitcase Circus projects more than 30 years ago.

Working Together

In today’s learning environments both teachers & students enjoy the cooperative nature of a Suitcase Circus program. Everyone is striving to improve, but students are not competing against one another, instead it’s “All of us vs. gravity!”

If taught correctly the practice of circus skills encourages continual improvement of coordination, balance & problem solving.

Just Breathe

The games in our workshops encourage good breathing which is a key to ongoing improvement when learning any new skill.

We’ve all found ourselves holding our breath when concentrating on a task which is new or challenging to us.

Without oxygen our brain function goes downhill within seconds, but with some tasks it can be difficult to tell that this is a factor holding us back.

For instance a student practicing their reading, playing the piano or tackling a demanding math problem, may not initially realise that lack of oxygen is limiting their ability to focus for any period of time due to sporadic breathing.

With Suitcase Circus skills & excercises, if we hold our breath for too long…things start hitting the ground which helps to remind us to breathe, whilst at the same time concentrating on the task at hand.