Is It Ever Too Late?
Let us get this question out the way before we start delving into the ages that most kids may start their first steps into the world of acting aspirations. The truth is there is no age that a person, kid or adult, could not start their acting career.
Similarly, how other types of professions can be changed after previously pursuing something else, the acting craft also is available to at least try to anyone willing to do so. The acting industry is welcoming to various backgrounds and experiences that can enrich the performance of the respective individual. And nobody remains a child forever which means there always are opportunities awaiting for new kid actors of every age stage.
Age 0-1 (Newborn & Infant)
Acting careers for children can start from nearly the moment they are born, as early as only three months old. Since newborns, as well as infants, grow up very quickly but the products related to babies remain, the demand for them to land their talents for a campaign is always high.
Of course, their performance abilities are limited to just behaving naturally, and it is their parents sole decision whether their baby should pursue casting calls. At such an age the child has long sleeping periods, and their movements are limited, thus casting staff won’t have many requirements from the very young performer. As long as the parents are present during the production process and ensure their child has breaks required for all their needs, such a start of an acting career is more common than one would imagine.
Age 1-3 (Toddler)
While at this age kids' biggest selling as performers point still is their own natural charm, they have reached an age where they can start to follow more directions and show more varied emotions than before, even if remaining limited to basic ones. This also is the age when participation in auditions really begins, so parents should make sure they can allocate time for that, as well as the likelihood of spending time at productions.
Children at this age are very playful and often enjoy receiving attention, so acting related activities such as dressing in costumes and being put in seemingly peculiar situations can be a significant cause of joy to the very young actor, while paving the way to more serious pursuits later.
Age 3-5 (Preschooler)
At this point in their young lives, children are usually naturally invested in pretend play in various ways, from acting ideas out themselves to just using imagination to create sorts of storytelling plots through their toys. By pursuing acting the preschool aged kids get a chance to express this creative urge in a more structuralized way.
Due to the possibility of actually acting by using a script, parents can start enrolling their kid to age-appropriate acting classes to start building a kid acting portfolio and potentially give them an advantage over their peers during casting calls and auditions. Of course, such classes are primarily based on child socialisation and development rather than professional acting knowledge, thus helping them beyond entertainment industry pursuits by potentially significantly enhancing their cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development.
Age 6-12 (School-Aged)
This is a key developmental time when the child can really start voicing their thoughts and opinions, so their aspirations for acting should be the primary reason for them to start pursuing it. It is also the age when performances may be required beyond just being a naturally cute kid, and some level of basic understanding about the craft is expected from the youngsters by casting directors and other industry professionals. Due to this parents also must make sure that their kid does not end up neglecting their other responsibilities in the process.
During this age, acting can further help the child to develop their memory detention, communication skills and overall confidence level, amongst many other things, including learning how to efficiently work together with other people. As their acting goals get bigger, children will look up to their parents for support and feedback that may affect how confident they are on stage and in front of the camera.
Age 13-19 (Teen)
With the child maturing into a teenager, there is a clear correlation with the fact that the acting demands from this age group get more serious as well. From Leonardo DiCaprio, Natalia Portman, and Jodie Foster, all the way to Timothee Chalamet, Hailee Steinfeld, and the cast of hit television series Stranger Things, teen actors sometimes take upon serious and mature roles that end up gaining a wide critical and even commercial appeal. There have even been plenty of cases when kids deliver a groundbreaking performance in their debut role.
Despite the nearly limitless possibilities, the expectations for teens starting off as actors should be managed just as it would happen for all of the aforementioned kid age groups, if not even more. That is largely due to the fact that at this point kids are getting more determined about their passions and pursuits which can result in a tougher competition for gigs. At this age, a professional acting portfolio is already an absolute must, and starting to gain experience is more important as well, while parents should help navigate their kid into the adult way of doing things. This is where acting can come in handy beyond the creative outlet, as it helps build punctuality, discipline, and more.
