Child Star Challenges

Child Stars -- Should You Let Your Child Act?

By
Relationship Advice Expert April Masini

I have a friend who constantly tries to compete with me. However, we have a huge difference between us: She allows her daughter to audition for parts in movies and I refuse to let mine. Am I keeping a valuable experience from my daughter or doing the right thing?

Sincerely,

Hollywood or Bust

Dear Hollywood or Bust:

Child stars make money. And that is the primary reason that parents promote their kids in the entertainment industry. Kids don't usually command big salaries, but child stars do, and that fact is more true than ever. Why? Family movies have never been more popular, and this means child actors are necessary and in demand to keep those family movies coming out — not just on the big screen but on the small screen and the very, very small screen. There are more technology advances that create more places to enjoy entertainment in movie format — like the big screen, the home television, the personal telephone and home delivery systems like Netflix or movies that stream directly to home computers. With all of these outlets there is a need for product — and because family films are big sellers, that means more child actors. And the more child actors there are, the more parents get the idea that they want their child to be the next MacCauley Culkin, Mary Kate and Ashley Olson or Lindsey Lohan.

Is it moral for your child to spend childhood making money?

American families have lost their way, for the most part, morally. The breakdown of the American family and the American leadership structure has meant a chaotic workforce where children are employed because single mothers can’t provide for children on their own — and have been left without an inadequate means of collecting child support or even having it ordered by a court that is easily manipulated by lawyers.

In addition, there is a celebrity morality now because there is so little leadership by our public servants. This breakdown of morality allows for children to be thrust into the workforce when a more moral society would allow them to remain “as children” for as long as possible — or at least until they are 18 without having to work for a paycheck -- no matter how much they say they like it.

And don't forget about keeping up with the Jones'. What used to be enough is never enough any more. Families would rather work harder to have more things than work less and have more time together, in a less fancy home or with a less extravagant car.

What's the difference between child beauty pageants and child musical prodigies?

There has always been more of an acceptance of music competition and ballet competition among children than of beauty contests that have a tendency to sexualize children early in order to gain attention of judges in these contests. However, classical music and dance are no longer the only outlets for children who want to learn the arts. Many parents are no longer interested in the basics of education or the arts. They want to shortcut their children from child to MTV star where they think the big money is. This desire by parents has spawned a world of sexualized dance and music for kids, overstepping traditional classical training as the first step in any music or dance career.

But don't worry. The child star problem will soon give way to other parenting issues as years pass! For now, don't compete with your friend who's daughter is on the child-star track. Take your daughter to the park and fly a kite. You'll be happy you did.

April Masini -- nicknamed "the new millennium's Dear Abby" by the media, is author of the best-selling books Date Out Of Your League and Think & Date Like A Man, the two (just released) step-by-step dating and relationship manuals, Ideas for a Fun Date and Romantic Date Ideas, and the critically acclaimed dating and relationship online magazine www.AskApril.com.

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