Do child stars start with many acting classes, acting in community theater, commercials, and student films the way adults do?

Question

Do child actors treat this as a job? I never saw any of these child stars in commercials before they became famous. Do they have to put in the same effort learning audition skills, marketing themselves, getting head shots (with parents' help), and putting in the same effort as adult actors? Do the children treat acting as a job the way adult actors do? Do child actors auditioning for PBS shows have to meet the same standards as children auditioning for network TV? PBS shows probably have a smaller budget than network TV shows. I read that 2,000 to 3,000 actors audition for each role on each role on a TV show. This this also apply to child actors auditioning for PBS shows?

Cogito · Accepted Answer

Almost all child actors have been attending acting schools from a very early age - maybe 5 or 6 - and have been performing with a youth theatre for almost as long.
Most of the hard work, like applying for auditions, driving, dealing with agents, etc, is done by their parents, but if the child isn't very committed, really loves what they're doing and takes it very seriously, they aren't going to get very far!
Of course children don't all feel the same about acting - neither do adults.  
And almost all children who were really into acting as little kids, have quit by the time they reach their teens.

Anonymous · Answer

yes to all of the above

Do child stars start with many acting classes, acting in community theater, commercials, and student films the way adults do?

2 Answers