One of the greatest ways for parents to encourage their children to self-expression is by introducing them to the wonders of the performing arts. Learn below how to gradually guide your kid to the world of acting, dancing, and modeling in a supportive and safe way.

1. Discovering The Child’s Talents

Any sort of introduction of kids to creative forms of expression should ideally begin by observing the potential likelihood of them already having any interest in it by themselves. For example, a child might already be singing or dancing spontaneously on their own just for fun, and without being prompted to do so. Parents can observe even more subtle hints at their child being interested in exploring their talents further, including enjoying listening to music, repeating things seen in movies, being in front of the camera while having photos of them taken, and enjoying giving performances in front of other people.

As the hints of a child’s natural talents are there, parents can expose them to the respective activity further. If the kid enjoys singing, they can introduce them to more varied genres of music, as well as enhance their listening experiences more. The same can be applied to dancing, since there are so many types of dancing, and surely one or two will inspire the kid more than the others. When taking photos or videos of them, try to guide them with posing instructions – they might be natural at acting and modeling from the very get-go!

Finally, once the child’s interest in such things is undeniable, parents can go ahead and actually ask their kid about taking a liking to the respective activity and whether they would like to try learning about it more and improving their talents further. Make sure not to put pressure on the youngster to decide about it positively by any means, yet encourage them to believe in themselves, and dispel any doubts or fears of stepping into the uncharted territories.

2. Embracing And Honing The Child’s Talents

Once the child is ready to take the next step in their favorite creative activity, it is time for the parents to carefully research and find reputable classes and programs to enroll their child in. Look for tutors and institutions that specifically focus on working with children, as they are best positioned to specially cater to the needs of kids through age-appropriate tutoring and creating a safe environment aimed at their developmental needs in acting, modeling, or other types of performance arts, and even beyond these creative activities.

These professionals will be the ones responsible for the child’s skill set foundation in the respective field, so choose wisely and do diligent research on the feedback from other parents before making the choice.

As the child’s skills in the given activity increase, the family can realistically start looking for auditioning opportunities. It has never been easier than in the current day and age to find reputable and legitimate opportunities, as the dedicated online platforms for kids casting are a very efficient way for parents to search for opportunities that fit their child’s skills, experience and wishes, as well as other key factors such as the geographical location.

Parents should aim to create a portfolio for their kids even if they do not have any credits to their name, as it will regardless allow casting staff to evaluate the candidate better, thus significantly increasing their chances of receiving an invitation to audition, or even getting really lucky and immediately being chosen for the gig.

Thankfully, also gone are the days when parents had to sit in a long line waiting for their child’s turn to appear in front of the casting director. The culmination of casting calls normally takes place on a previously agreed specific time and date, and sometimes even the auditioning happens in an online format. Sometimes, auditions can take more than one stage before the casting director ultimately makes their choice from the available talent pool.

3. The Main Thing For The Parents Of The Child

Regardless of the ultimate result, parents should remain supportive of their child through the process and remind them that a rejection is not the end of their creative pursuits – it is actually only the very beginning of the road to fulfilling their dreams. While managing their expectations, parents can also encourage their kids to also look into trying other creative activities, as they not only can turn out just as interesting but also will enrich their portfolio for casting calls in the future.

It is important for parents or guardians to ensure clear communication with their aspiring kid performer, so that the child feels free to speak about their feelings while navigating through the whole process of becoming a creative performer. They can offer help and encourage practicing at home, thus helping their children not only with the preparations but also spending quality time together. As much as it is possible, it is important that parents are also present at the various aforementioned stages, so that the child has a sense of security. It can also give parents the chance to at least slightly monitor the new environment and interactions with industry professionals working with their child.

The kids have their whole life ahead of them, so the most important thing during such pursuits is for them to have a good time while gaining important experiences that will last a lifetime.