Five Fabulous Life Lessons Kids Learn from The Ohmies

Kiddie musical theater troupe The Ohmies expertly pack valuable life lessons and healthy tips into each performance in the form of dancing, tumbling, yoga, stretching, and colorful costumes. Check out our list of the important lessons kids can take away from an Ohmies performance after they boogie down on the yoga mat.

As inventive individuals, Ohmies creators Benjamin Tollefson (with a resume that spans PBS, Disney, and Word World plush toy designs), and Laurie Miller (whose pre-Ohmie life included a high-profile singing career and first-class credentials in both yoga and creative problem-solving), get through to their key audience using a kind of stealth teaching approach. "Kids don't realize they're developing social, emotional, and healthy tools," says Tollefson, "They're just taking part in a fun show and having a great time."

 1. How to use physical health as a vehicle to emotional and social competence (through example and movement): In Ohmieland activity is play and everyone gets to "fly," jump, squiggle, and boogie-down for a solid 55 minutes.

2. How to deal with fears: Whenever the Ohmies become frightened or anxious, the Worries (extremely naughty-looking thundercloud faces) appear. But before the show ends, they are sent packing because the Ohmies show how to deal with scary emotions in positive ways, like working with friends and diffusing negative energy with singing, dancing, and laughter.