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Legal Requirements for Child Actors: An overview of work permits, Coogan accounts, and labor laws

9 minute read | Last updated: 4 months ago

Introduction

When my son was booked for a commercial with a well-known, family-friendly brand, we were thrilled. The footage would be everywhere—TV, online, billboards, even mall signs. It felt like a huge opportunity. But the shoot itself was a different story.

The director had a guerrilla filming attitude. He didn’t bother to get a permit for the public park location, creating a stressful, rushed environment. Despite there being two children in the cast, there were no studio teachers on site, no breaks, and no real concern for the kids’ well-being. Even the adult actors were frustrated—there were no bathrooms nearby and no breaks were scheduled!

At first, we didn’t know our rights or how to assert them. Eventually, my son started crying, and we told them we were done. The director kept promising, “Just one more scene,” but we stood firm and left. We felt guilty and worried, but it wasn’t worth the money or exposure. The final product looked great, but the experience left a sour taste and taught us a valuable lesson: knowing the legal requirements and advocating for them is essential.

Work Permits: Protecting Your Child’s Right to Work

Work permits are the foundation of legal child acting. They ensure that children are hired responsibly and that productions follow labor laws tailored to protect minors.

Work Permits for Child Actors

A child work permit is like a permission slip for entering the world of acting. It verifies that your child is eligible to work and meets the basic requirements to do so. These typically include:

Proof of school attendance and satisfactory grades to ensure acting doesn’t disrupt education.
Parental consent forms, showing that you’re on board with your child’s participation.
Sometimes, a medical clearance to confirm your child is physically fit for the demands of production.

Permits expire regularly, often every 6–12 months, so staying on top of renewals is crucial. Missing a renewal can mean your child is ineligible to work until the paperwork is sorted.

TIP: Need help? Check out our step-by-step guide to obtaining and renewing work permits in the Resources section.

The Hidden Hours

When we think about time commitments for parents of child actors, we often focus on the big-ticket items like driving to auditions or spending hours on set. But in reality, a lot of time gets eaten up by the little, unexpected tasks that come with the territory. These are the moments no one warns you about—but they add up quickly.

Here’s a realistic look at the behind-the-scenes activities that can fill your schedule:

Submissions: Many times communicating with directors, producers, and their teams (like wardrobe and PAs) takes an unexpected amount of back and forth. If you have multiple projects in the pipeline you’ll spend a significant amount of administrative time keeping tabs on everything.
Auditions: Setting up the backdrop, camera tripod, and lights can feel like assembling a mini film studio in your living room. And getting your child in front of that camera can sometimes feel like herding cats. You might spend two hours coaxing them to deliver a 15-second slate or a five-word line. Finally, you’ll need to take it all down and put it away (until the next audition).
Shoots: It’s not just about showing up; it’s about being prepared, which takes time. You’ll need to pack snacks, books, toys, and other essentials to keep your child comfortable and entertained during downtime.
Following up: After the job is done, you may spend weeks or months chasing production for clips, copies of the Final Cut, release dates, or even payment details.

Financial Commitment

Let’s talk money—because this isn’t a cheap endeavor. The costs of launching a child acting career can add up quickly:

Startup Costs: Professional headshots and acting classes are costly. You’ll also need basic home recoding equipment for shooting self-tapes and auditions.
Casting Sites: You will likely subscribe to multiple casting sites, each of which can cost well over $150 per year.
Hidden Costs: These include gas, parking, wardrobe items, and travel for shoots. Some of these may be reimbursed by production, but not always. Also, don’t forget to factor in the toys you may need to bribe your child with for settling down to shoot that last scene!
Ongoing Expenses: You might not realize how often you’ll need to replace or update things like headshots or self-tape equipment. Classes are always on-going.
Legal: Every project is governed by a legal contract. It’s always a good (yet expensive idea) to have an attorney review the documents you sign.
Accounting: Even if your child isn’t yet making a lot of money yet the government will want some of their income. You may need to hire an accountant to prep tax forms.

REALITY CHECK: Acting is rarely profitable in the early stages. Many child actors don’t book enough jobs to offset these costs right away. Are you prepared to cover the financial commitment without relying on your child’s earnings?

Check out: “How Much Does It Really Cost to Start a Child Acting Career?”

Emotional Commitment

Your child isn’t the only one who needs resilience—you’ll need it too. Here’s why:

Managing Your Expectations: Not every audition will lead to a booking, and that’s okay. Your role is to help your child stay grounded and motivated.
Dealing with Rejection: Sometimes, the “no” feels more personal to parents than to kids. You’ll need to model emotional resilience for your child.
Burnout is Real: It’s natural to feel exhausted or discouraged at times. Recognizing this and finding ways to recharge is crucial.

TIP: Connect with other parents of child actors through forums or on set. Sharing your experiences with someone who "gets it" can be incredibly grounding.

Advocacy and Professionalism

As a parent, you’ll often need to act as your child’s advocate. This includes:

On Set: Ensuring your child gets adequate breaks, meals, and rest. More importantly, you need to make sure your child is always safe. This includes not being put in adult situations or emotionally uncomfortable scenes, as well as keeping them away from physical danger.
Contracts and Negotiations: Understanding the terms of contracts and being prepared to ask questions, including negotiating pay rates and filming schedules.
Working with Professionals: You’ll interact with agents, managers, and casting directors. Maintaining a professional demeanor helps build trust and good relationships.

TIP: “Be informed, not pushy.” Research child labor laws in your area and know your rights, but always approach production teams with a collaborative attitude.

Balancing Production Needs and Your Child’s Well-Being

One of the toughest parts of being a parent on set is navigating the tension between production needs and your child’s limits. You’re the bridge between production’s needs and your child’s well-being. Balancing these roles can be tricky, but clear communication is your best tool. For example:

Scenario: Production is running behind schedule, and they ask to extend filming another hour. Your child, however, is visibly tired and losing focus.
Your Role: Advocate for your child without disrupting the flow of production. Often, a polite but firm reminder about labor laws or asking for a quick break can resolve the issue.
Scenario: Production asks your child to sit on a box on top of a chair so they are positioned better in the frame, but the box seems wobbly or your child is afraid of heights.
Your Role: Do not allow your child to be in a dangerous position. Insist the director finds a more stable and comfortable way to get the shot. This is best for everyone involved, including production.

Balancing Life

Being a child actor’s parent doesn’t just affect you—it affects your whole family.

Siblings: How will you ensure your other kids don’t feel left out?
Your Career: Does your job have the flexibility needed for this lifestyle?
Your Sanity: Staying organized and finding moments for self-care are crucial to avoiding burnout.

Want to stay on top of it all? Check out our article on “Time Management for Busy Parents of Child Actors.”

Conclusion

Parenting a child actor isn’t for everyone. It takes time, money, emotional strength, and a commitment to balancing production needs with your child’s well-being. But for those who are ready, it can also be an incredibly rewarding journey, full of unforgettable experiences.

Now that you know what it takes to parent a child actor, let’s talk about the legal side of things: work permits, Coogan accounts, and more. Check out our next QuickSTARt article, “Legal Requirements for Child Actors.”

What excites you most—and scares you most—about parenting a child actor? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Legal Requirements for Child Actors: An overview of work permits, Coogan accounts, and labor laws

Table of Contents

Introduction

Work Permits: Protecting Your Child’s Right to Work

Work Permits for Child Actors

The Hidden Hours

Financial Commitment

Emotional Commitment

Advocacy and Professionalism

Balancing Life

Conclusion

The Child Actor QuickSTARt Guide

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