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Create an acting warm up

Create an acting warm up
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Lead a short acting warm-up with breathing, vocal exercises, physical stretches, mirror work, and quick improvisation games to prepare bodies and voices for performance.

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Step-by-step guide to create an acting warm-up

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KIDS WORKOUT - 30 MIN Home Exercise Class for Kids! | Cosmic Kids Sports

What you need
Adult supervision required, chair, mirror or reflective surface (optional), open space, water bottle

Step 1

Clear a safe open space and put the chair to the side so everyone has room to move.

Step 2

Ask everyone to stand in a circle and tell them how long the warm-up will last (about 8 minutes).

Step 3

Lead five deep belly breaths with hands on the belly to calm and focus the group.

Step 4

Lead three vocal sirens sliding from low to high and back to warm up the voice.

Step 5

Lead three lip trills or hums to gently wake up the vocal cords.

Step 6

Say a tongue twister once slowly and once quickly and have the group repeat it (for example: "red leather yellow leather").

Step 7

Lead slow neck rolls three times in each direction to loosen the neck.

Step 8

Lead shoulder rolls five times forward and five times backward to relax the shoulders.

Step 9

Lead a standing whole-body stretch by having everyone reach their arms up and hold for three seconds.

Step 10

Stand in front of a mirror or a partner and make five different facial expressions slowly while the group copies each one.

Step 11

Lead a 30-second mirror-movement where you move one arm slowly and everyone mirrors your movement.

Step 12

Start the improv game "What Are You Doing?" for one minute where one person mimes an action and others ask and switch quickly.

Step 13

Start the improv game "Statues" for one minute where movers create poses and everyone freezes when you call "Statue."

Step 14

Lead two slow cooling belly breaths to relax and finish the warm-up.

Step 15

Share your finished acting warm-up on DIY.org.

Final steps

You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!

Complete & Share
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Help!?

What can I use instead of a mirror or DIY.org if those are not available?

If you don't have a mirror for the facial expressions or the 30-second mirror-movement, pair children as partners to mirror each other, and if you can't post on DIY.org, record the warm-up on a phone or tablet and share or save the video instead.

What should I do if kids lose focus during the five deep belly breaths or the improv games get chaotic?

If children lose focus during the five belly breaths or 'What Are You Doing?' becomes chaotic, slow the pace by counting each inhale and exhale out loud for the breaths and model one calm round of the improv before restarting with shorter turns.

How can I adapt the warm-up for younger preschoolers or older teens?

For preschoolers, shorten the routine to about 4 minutes by doing three belly breaths, one vocal siren, simple facial expressions, and a 30-second mirror-movement, while for teens extend to 10–12 minutes by adding extra vocal sirens, longer improv rounds, and trickier tongue twisters.

How can we make this warm-up more engaging or personalized?

Personalize the warm-up by letting each child choose a song for the standing whole-body stretch and mirror-movement, creating a class tongue twister for the tongue-twister step, and filming the Statues or 'What Are You Doing?' rounds to upload or replay.

Watch videos on how to create an acting warm-up

Here at SafeTube, we're on a mission to create a safer and more delightful internet. 😊

Pump It Up With Fresh Start Fitness | Activities For Kids | Exercise | GoNoodle

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Facts about theater warm-ups and acting exercises

🎭 Acting warm-ups help performers focus and shake off nerves — many theatre groups spend 10–30 minutes warming up before rehearsals or shows.

🌬️ Diaphragmatic (deep) breathing lets actors support longer phrases and can help lower heart rate and stage anxiety.

🪞 Mirror work sharpens facial awareness and timing by helping actors notice and mimic subtle expressions using the brain’s mirror systems.

🎲 Quick improvisation games build fast thinking and teamwork — improv practice is linked to boosts in creativity and communication skills.

🗣️ Vocal exercises like sirens and tongue twisters improve clarity and expand range — some pros warm up their voices for 15–30 minutes.

How do I lead a short acting warm-up for kids with breathing, vocal exercises, stretches, mirror work and improvisation games?

Start with a 2–3 minute breathing exercise: slow inhales and long exhales while sitting or standing. Move into gentle physical stretches (neck rolls, shoulder circles, side reaches). Do vocal warm-ups (humming, lip trills, sirens, and call-and-response phrases). Pair children for mirror work—one copies the other’s movements—then swap. Finish with quick improvisation games like “Zip Zap Zop,” freeze-frame, or 60-second character improv. Keep energy positive, time the whole warm-up to 8–15 minutes

What materials and space do I need to lead this acting warm-up?

You mainly need a safe open space with enough room for movement and soft flooring or mats if available. Optional materials: a small speaker or phone for background music, scarves or simple props for imagination, a timer, water and cups, and name tags for large groups. No special costumes are required. Have first-aid basics nearby and clear any trip hazards before starting to keep the warm-up safe and smooth.

What ages is this acting warm-up suitable for and how should it be adapted?

This warm-up works for ages 4–18 when adapted: preschool (4–6) keep exercises very short, game-like, and visual; elementary (7–10) add simple vocal drills and partner mirror work; tweens (11–13) introduce character improvisations and longer vocal exercises; teens (14–18) can handle more technical breathing and projection work. Adjust length from 5 minutes for little kids up to 15–20 minutes for older groups and always supervise closely.

What are the benefits of doing a short acting warm-up with kids?

A structured warm-up improves breath control, vocal clarity, and body awareness while reducing stage nerves. It increases focus, listening skills, and ensemble building through mirror work and partner games. Physically it loosens muscles to prevent strain, and quick improvisation boosts creativity, spontaneity, and confidence. Regular warm-ups also teach routine, discipline, and respectful listening, all transferable to classroom and social situations.
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Create an acting warm up. Activities for Kids.