How Do Child Actors Cope With Studies?

Child actors often face unique challenges in balancing their education with the demands of acting. These responsibilities can seem overwhelming, but with the right strategies and support systems, many find ways to manage their commitments effectively. In this article, we explore common strategies and the legal frameworks that help child actors navigate their academic responsibilities.

Strategies for Success

Effective time management, tutoring, and support systems are key for child actors to excel in their careers while ensuring they maintain their academic performance. Here are some common strategies they use:

Tutoring and Flexible Schooling

Many child actors work with private tutors who can provide personalized instruction. Additionally, some enroll in online or homeschooling programs, which offer more flexibility in scheduling. This allows them to continue their studies without falling behind.
Moreover, film and television productions often have on-set teachers to provide education during shooting hours, ensuring that child actors can continue their studies. These arrangements are particularly helpful in places like California, where the state mandates the presence of a studio teacher on set 24/7, a requirement that is also included in the labor union contracts of SAGAFTRA and Equity.

Time Management and Prioritization

Effective time management skills are crucial for balancing acting commitments and study time. Detailed schedules and prioritization of goals often help child actors stay organized and on track. They recognize the importance of their education, even amidst their acting careers, and set specific goals to ensure they stay on track.

Support Systems and Mental Health Resources

The pressures of acting and schooling can be intense. Access to mental health resources such as counseling can help child actors cope with stress and maintain a healthy balance. Peer support is also vital, as some child actors engage with other child actors who are experiencing similar challenges, providing emotional support and sharing coping strategies.

The Legal Framework

In California, where many movie and TV studios are based, there is a clear legal framework that supports child actors. Per California law, a studio teacher must be on set 24/7, ensuring that child actors receive educational support while filming. This studio teacher is dual credentialed as a public school teacher and is also a state-certified welfare worker, a requirement that is also part of the labor union contracts of SAGAFTRA and Equity.

California also requires that child actors maintain satisfactory grades and attendance at their regular school in order to get a work permit. Pro actors must complete 3 hours of school each day, equivalent to the instructional time an average child gets in a school day. This work is typically done on set, with schoolwork from the child’s regular school brought to set by the parent and taught by the studio teacher.

What About New York?

In New York, things are a bit different. Child actors are only eligible for producer-paid education if they are going to miss their regular school day. On Broadway, where the focus is on live performances, actors only get a tutor during rehearsal weeks. Once the show opens, they go to school during the day and perform shows at night, often just a few times a week due to the double or triple casting required. This arrangement can lead to some challenges, as many child actors find their grades suffer slightly due to the flexibility in their school schedules.

Facing the Challenges

The question of balance often arises. Most child actors are good students, and they have to learn scripts, understand character arcs, and communicate effectively, making reading and writing typically not a problem. However, balancing school with the demands of acting can be tough. Child actors often have to leave class to go to auditions and jobs with little or no notice, which can affect their grades.

Most child actors hit a wall when they start working more than a few jobs a year. At this point, they often turn to homeschooling in one way or another, either through charter schools catering to performing arts students or independently. This allows them to “do school” on weekends or on traditional holiday weeks to make up for what they’ve lost.

Many child actors work hard to graduate from high school early, whether through homeschooling or the California High School Proficiency Exam (CHSPE), a shorter and less expensive alternative to the SAT that allows teens to work as adults and skip the studio teacher and 3 hours of school each day, saving producers significant costs.

In conclusion, while balancing acting and education can be challenging, many child actors find ways to manage their responsibilities effectively with the right support and resources. The legal frameworks and support systems in place, particularly in California, help to ensure that child actors can pursue both their acting careers and their education successfully.