Become a Child Actor
If your child wants to become a child actor, trying to help them achieve this goal can be confusing, frustrating, and expensive.
That was one of the difficulties I faced as I tried to find acting and modeling opportunities for my young child.
I bought books about getting started in acting, and I enrolled my daughter in schools and classes. But I did not know if they were good ones. I even put my daughter in pageants when she was young just trying to give her the opportunity to perform.
Honestly, I needed help, but I could not find anyone who could answer my questions. As a result, I made some decisions that might not have been the best. I wanted to learn more about the entertainment industry, but I did not know where to turn.
Are you wondering how to help your child become a child actor and having the same problems that I did?
Before you do anything, make sure that your child really wants to become a child actor. Pushing a child into something they don’t want to do or something they are not right for can have disastrous consequences for them and for you.
Take some time to evaluate whether your child has the right characteristics to become a child actor and whether you are up for the responsibilities and demands of being a stage parent.
I’ve previously discussed things you can do to help your child become a child actor in my previous post: “How can I help my child become an actor?”
I recently was excited to discover a DVD product called The Actor’s Journey for Kids, covering this topic in great detail. It was created by someone who should know a lot about how to become a child actor because he was a well-known child actor himself.
The Actor’s Journey for Kids is a set of 5 DVDs on the topic of helping your child become a child actor. This product is particularly good because it is not only created by a former child actor, but it also features a number of child actors, who are now adults, talking about their experiences as child actors.
Stanley Livingston, who starred as ‘Chip‘ in “My Three Sons” is the creator of The Actor’s Journey for Kids. The DVDs present perspectives and advice from over 100 show business industry professionals — child actors, casting directors, directors, and producers — as well as some parents of young children in the industry today.
I highly recommend The Actor’s Journey for Kids to anyone who is considering a show business career for their child.
This product will truly help give you a better understanding about what it means to become a child actor. It will also tell you what you need to do as a parent to help launch a successful show business career for your child while preserving the happiness of your child and your entire family.
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chuggin mccoffee@home coffee makers
May 28, 2009 at 8:19 am (UTC -8) Link to this comment
I think overall I would be pretty unsure of putting my child into that industry.
Debbie Sikkema
May 28, 2009 at 9:35 am (UTC -8) Link to this comment
It is something anyone considering this should think long and hard about. When you have a child who is so determined to entertain (as my child always has been), as a parent, you want to give them the opportunity to do what they love. But at the same time, you have to question the costs for the child as well as for the whole family. It is a challenge to maintain a good balance between a normal life and the pursuit of a showbiz career.
kathy@Irvine Attorney
June 5, 2009 at 11:41 am (UTC -8) Link to this comment
You need to write more about the subject. I didn’t get my fill.
Mrs. Owens
June 30, 2009 at 3:07 pm (UTC -8) Link to this comment
What I think is very important to emphasize is that a parent steps up in support of their child, ONLY in support. There shouldn’t be a push from any parent simply because a child is talented. My child had to beg me for years to bring her to auditions. Yes it was time lost but at least I was sure she really wanted to do this. People have to remember that this is WORK….memorizing lines, auditioning, learning songs, singing, dancing and acting are very demanding on an adult, and even more so on a child. It also has social impacts…both good and bad. If your child watches Hannah Montana and suddenly says she wants to be famous, perhaps you should step back before you dive in. Wanting to be famous and wanting to be an entertainer are two totally different things.
Jessica
July 3, 2009 at 11:08 pm (UTC -8) Link to this comment
I am 13 and I want to know what I need to do to get into the acting buisnesss. I joined an acting company but it only runs for a year. Any Help?
Jessica
July 3, 2009 at 11:09 pm (UTC -8) Link to this comment
Sorry I meant the start of the year only
Jessica
July 3, 2009 at 11:09 pm (UTC -8) Link to this comment
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Sorry I meant the start of the year only Not the whole year…. 😳
Brandon
July 24, 2009 at 2:48 am (UTC -8) Link to this comment
its not as easy as just saing “i want my kid to be an actor ar actress. weater you want ito or not it is really difficult to even make it. Its hard geting a agent. and if you do get an auditon witch take lots of time and effort to get one. hunderds of people try out so its not just your decison. its not as easy saing i want this. the best way is to start off putting them in actting school that way they can obtain the skills it takes. I would know im a 14 year old boy trying to bc an actor i spent several nights on the web tring to find people that have connections to acting but is really difficlt even when ur parents dont have anoghf money to pay for schools.
Debbie Sikkema
July 24, 2009 at 4:13 pm (UTC -8) Link to this comment
You are so right, Brandon! The point that I am trying to make is that it is NOT easy at all. It takes a lot of work and dedication, and even then there are no guarantees as to whether you can get an agent or even if you get an agent whether you can get any jobs or not! It also takes a lot of money for acting classes and headshots and coaching and gas to get to auditions. No one should ever make this decision without a great deal of thought. You are a wise young man!
Best HDTV
August 18, 2009 at 5:33 am (UTC -8) Link to this comment
Hi there I like your post
ear thermometer
September 2, 2009 at 11:19 pm (UTC -8) Link to this comment
support their want but before doing that, explain first the things that will take place in doing their wants…
itjobs
November 12, 2009 at 11:03 pm (UTC -8) Link to this comment
Suppose, it’s rather a hard job to be critical to your child. And perhaps you don’t need to do it becase if a child starts considering it as a possible career, you should only help and support.
Debbie Sikkema
November 13, 2009 at 5:29 pm (UTC -8) Link to this comment
Yes! You’ve got that right. Help and support are the best things we can provide for our child actors. That is what they really need. If we could teach them to have a thicker skin, too, that would be great. Handling rejection can be tricky.
San Jose Girl
January 23, 2010 at 9:55 pm (UTC -8) Link to this comment
Just wanted to say thanks for this
genesis
June 11, 2010 at 10:07 pm (UTC -8) Link to this comment
ok im only 11 but my dream is to be a actress not for fame ,money, but cuase i really enjoy acting i think if your child really wants this i think you should enrool her in classes audition for plays and if your child wants more THEN you get her an agent and stufff so goood luck! 😀
leicester architects
July 31, 2011 at 1:36 am (UTC -8) Link to this comment
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What Does a Child Give Up to Become a Child Actor? | Your Young Actor
August 31, 2009 at 9:40 am (UTC -8) Link to this comment
[…] like an exciting and fun thing to do. And Los Angeles seemed like a cool place to be. (See “What Should You Do If Your Child Wants to Become a Child Actor?” and “Should You Move to Los Angeles for Your Child to Become a Child Actor?” […]