6 Things Every Parent of a Child Actor Should Know

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6 Things Every Parent of a Child Actor Should Know

Supporting a young performer comes with a mountain of changes and challenges that parents and children must navigate together. But as your child’s guardian (and often as their manager), there are some lessons that parents might have to learn the hard way. The information below is intended for you to facilitate this transition and provide valuable insights that might prevent headaches down the road.

Balancing your child’s career along with their education, family, and personal happiness takes a lot of hard work. The more information parents of child actors have, the better equipped they are to tackle these challenges. Here are six things every parent of a child actor should know in order to make their life a bit easier:

  1. You will need to be tech-savvy. Keeping track of all the important information and lines of communication related to acting takes a knowledge of and comfort with technology. Emails, calls, texts, and more need to be vetted by you, as well as a social media presence, if you have one for your child. Additionally, if your child is required to self-tape an audition, you may need to use editing software to make the footage presentable.  Because screen time is often an issue for young children, you should be the one responsible for most of these activities.

  2. Keep your child in your sight. On a set or at an audition, if you are able or required to be present, you should always keep an eye on your child. Never leave them where you can’t see or hear them. Safety first!

  3. Make education a priority. As a child required to have an education, this should always come first. When the time comes for a studio teacher to be involved, do your research and make sure you have discussed this with your child’s agent, so it is negotiated when you arrive on set. Schoolwork should be done first, and other activities can come afterwards. When it comes to important obligations that influence your child’s future, education is a priority. 

  4. Doing your research will never backfire. No matter what stage of your child’s career you are navigating, or what activity they have lined up next, you will always benefit from performing research and having all the facts beforehand. This can help your child prepare for important professional interactions, keep away from scams, and build their skills. 

  5. Your child’s career affects everyone in the family. If you have a spouse or other children, this is an important point to remember. You can’t dedicate all your time to your young actor and let other relationships falter. Try to keep family time a priority and encourage everyone to have fun together.

  6. Respect your child’s choices. You may be their manager and their parent, but if for any reason your child decides they don’t want to act anymore, or want to change some part of their career, you should listen to them. Showing them respect for their choices can help foster an attitude of independence and responsibility, which will help them later in life. 

Being a parent to a young performer can be difficult, but very rewarding as well. We hope these insights make your life a bit less stressful as you navigate this career together with your child.


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