Dear Cheryl,


I will preface this by saying that there is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting the best for your child. Every parent wants their child to succeed in whatever they do and live a full life in the meantime. That said, you need to keep in mind why you want your child to succeed in this particular field. Is it because it would bring them joy or fulfil some deep desire in yourself? If you notice that your child doesn't seem to be enjoying all aspects of acting then pursuing it probably isn't worth their time or yours.  Ask yourself this - if they don't seem thrilled about acting then why tear them out of school for auditions? 

When a child begs their parents to let them act, more often than not, all parties usually don't know what is involved. After meeting with various agencies and going out on a few dead-end auditions, a child will most likely lose interest if acting isn't a passion of theirs.  Acting isn't just about being famous and making money; something both you and your child should be aware of.  If the child's heart isn't invested then the rest of them won't be either. 
If you're unsure as to where your child stands with acting then talk to him or her. Have an honest dialogue about what they want now and in the future. In the event that your child is motivated to act, it's important that you don't push your child too hard.  Often times when a parent places too much pressure on a young child, whether it concerns athletics or acting, a child will get to a breaking point. Too much pressure can either lead your child to quit all together or force them to act out their frustrations in another way. This can be a slippery slope because your child can become depressed or turn to substances or other destructive life choices later on. A well-balanced life is crucial to their overall well-being - something far more important than "making it" as an actor.   The audition process itself can be very difficult on a child. No matter how talented they might be there will always be a lot of rejection. And with rejection comes lowered self esteem.  Make sure you encourage them as opposed to pushing them.

It's widely reported that a lot of child stars fall into troubling habits and a lot of that stems from having too much, too soon.  Its hard for a child to endure success unless his or her parents are there to put limitations on their life. Don't give a child or teen access to too much money.  It's also important to keep them away from a lifestyle too fast for them to keep up with.  A stable home life will truly be the key to their success. Ensure they are on top of their homework and give them household duties just as you would any other child. Believe me, while they may kick and scream now, they will thank you later. Let them know that while they're talented they still don't deserve unusual treatment.