Does an Acting Career Make an Impact on a Teenager?

If your child is interested in pursuing an acting career, you may worry about how the effects of early stardom could impact his overall wellbeing. After all, the media all too often paints troubling portraits of young actors whose lives have suffered from being in the limelight at an early age. Should your child be interested in becoming an actor, it is helpful to understand the impact ̵1; both positive and negative ̵1; the career can have on his education, friendships, and health.

  1. Education

    • One of the most substantial ways your child will be affected when he becomes an actor is through his education. If he̵7;s serious about his career, he may want to enroll in a performing arts school, such as The School of Performing Arts in New York City of ̶0;Fame̶1; fame. At a performing arts school, in addition to academic studies, children focus solely on acting or theater classes. Moreover, teens who are aggressively involved in acting may need alternative schooling, such as homeschooling or cyber schooling, to suit their altered schedules.

    Peer Relationships

    • Teens who are actively acting may have difficulty establishing and maintaining friendships with people their own age. If they are acting full-time, they may be moving from location to location and from set to set for certain roles, and will be mostly interacting with adults. Moreover, acting roles also may prevent teens from enjoying standard high school fare such as dances, sporting events, clubs, and perhaps even graduation.

    Treacherous Territory

    • It̵7;s no secret that the acting world can be a treacherous place for a teenager̵7;s already precarious emotional and sexual development. Early exposure to drugs, alcohol and sex can stress test the limits of a teenager̵7;s boundaries. Should your child become a successful actor and achieve a level of stardom, these limits can be tested even more. According to "Psychology Today," young actors are also often plagued with rejection, self-doubt and jealousy, which can sometimes lead to substance abuse.

    Positive Skill Building

    • In spite of the pitfalls and the overwhelming potential for rejection, an acting career can also teach a child to be more mature, responsible and independent. According to Backstage, acting classes can help to build your child̵7;s self-confidence, even if he chooses not to pursue an acting career long-term. Acting can also improve upon your teen̵7;s listening and speaking skills, as well as his ability to think on his feet ̵1; all skills that will only benefit him in the future, no matter which career path he takes.

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