5 Great Tips and 6 Precautions for Parents of Kid Actors

Pihu Sharma (Amrita Mukherjee) of TV Serial "Bade Achhe Lagte Hain" fame is now a mini celebrity

1. How to Build the Confidence of your Child Actor

To build confidence, let your child actor know all the good things they are doing and encourage them. Do not overload them with lots of activities at the same time. It is possible that a child may possess diverse talents like acting, dancing, singing, games etc. But, if you find that the kid has talent and is interesting in being an actor more than anything else, then encourage the child to be an actor. Let the kid focus on one particular talent.
Of course, true confidence is built through accomplishment - not words. And to achieve success, you as a parent can contribute a lot. Help your child actor Improve their acting abilities by accompanying them to acting classes and going to child acting auditions.

2. Be Supportive 

Your child will be turned down at most acting and modeling auditions so it is also important for you and your child to learn to deal with rejection. Never tell them that they should have gotten a role if they had done this or not done that. Your child will always look up to you, so set a good example. Always stay calm and objective. Find out a few small moments when they performed well and appreciate it wholeheartedly.

3. Let who can help your kid do their jobs 

Try not to interfere with acting coaches and casting directors or directors in a shoot. You can watch during the child acting auditions, but don’t interfere by adding comments and suggestion while training is in session.

4. Give your Kid Variety of Opportunities

Children should have different opportunities. Try not to focus on one “specialty” for example to work only in Bollywood films or TV serials or Fashion shows or print. Let the kid try for different types of genre, It could be a real fun for him/her.

5. Get Top Children Acting Agency/ Coordinator

Finding and registering with a top children's artist agency/ coordinator can help you make the right connections in the industry. An agency can get information about auditions for roles, either directly from casting directors and producers or from the insiders. If you and your child actor are ready to make the commitment to go for auditions as recommended by an agency, this is definitely the way to go.

How to Protect Your Child in the Entertainment Industry

In addition to predators, fraudsters and crazy fans, the entertainment industry is a very cutthroat and complicated business.  Parents of kid actors often worry their safety.  Whether your child is in small-town school or community  plays or inn movies and television shows, following these tips will help protect them.

1.  Don’t give your phone number

Especially,  if you have your kid’s profile on Facebook or on other social media.

2. Check your child actor's postal mail carefully 
A kid actor may get mails. You must be careful when allowing your child to read the letters that come in. Check the envelopes and addresses carefully. You should read the letters first to make sure they are appropriate.

3. Protect your child actors' photographs. 
Ask the photographer if you can bring your digital card (Pen Drive) when getting their headshots and portfolio pictures. If the photographer still shoots on film, ask to keep the negative.  Protecting the raw images of your child actor will help keep their likeness from being used inappropriately online.

4. Audit their acting classes. 
Some acting classes for children will allow parents to sit in on a class, most not. Check this. Good acting coaches usually allow. Check whether they are expert in training or coaching aspiring kid actors. Training kids for acting is totally a different ball game. Teaching kids to be an actor require a great amount of patience and the learning should be like playing games with lots of fun.

5. Do the Research
Read books on child actors, auditioning, acting technique, and biographies of former and current child stars. Visit acting schools and kids acting coaches.  Learning everything you can about the entertainment industry will not only help keep your child safe but can be beneficial to his/her career.

6. Register your child’s name as a web site domain name. 
Create a website for you child actor. As soon as your child gets few opportunities, register your child’s name as a “dot com” immediately so somebody cannot steal it out from under you. Plenty of cheap domain name registration services are available in India and internationally, so it will be a cheap investment in your child’s safety.
Most of these items involve common sense, but you will be surprised how easily they are forgotten when your child has a chance at stardom. Be an intelligent parent and remember your number one priority is the welfare of your child, not just getting an entry into the entertainment industry!
Based on source