Child Actors as Role Models

Child actors in shows for young audiences should expect to be seen as role models. The reasoning behind this is fairly simple: if you idolize someone, you want to be like that person in some way. Many children, especially younger ones, look up to the people in the shows they watch, and I'm sure most of you have seen some form of that imitation. Simple things like wearing the same kind of clothes aren't particularly bad influences, but other issues arise as well.

Parents generally expect to be the role models for their children, and may not consider that their kids may want to be like the people in their favourite shows, which can have unfortunate results. To quote Dr. C. George Boeree:

"Unfortunately, most children today look to the mass media, especially T.V., for role models. It is easy to understand why: The people on T.V. are prettier, richer, smarter, wittier, healthier, and happier than anybody in our own neighborhoods! Unfortunately, they aren't real. I'm always astounded at how many new college students are quickly disappointed to discover that their chosen field actually requires a lot of work and study. It doesn't on T.V. Later, many people are equally surprised that the jobs they worked so hard to get aren't as creative and glorious and fulfilling as they expected. Again, that isn't how it is on T.V. It shouldn't surprise us that so many young people look to the short-cuts that crime seems to offer, or the fantasy life that drugs promise."

It can be difficult for children, particularly young ones, to tell the difference between fiction and reality. They may assume that because the characters on television do less-than-desirable things and get away with it, they should be able to do the same things without repercussions. Shows for both children and teenagers, not to mention those targeted at adults, don't portray life in realistic ways; children learn appropriate reactions from these shows at least as much as they do from people around them, though of course this varies with the frequency and type of shows they watch. In addition, many younger children watch shows marketed toward teenagers and sometimes even adults, making it more likely that they will encounter bad role models without realizing it.

You can say all you like that people, particularly children, shouldn't be taking their cues from people in the television and movie industries or the characters they play. You'd be right, too; no one should assume that X person is a good role model just because he/she/it is famous. But they do anyway. And child actors, at least, knowing that kids watch their shows frequently, should realize this and shape up.

Sources:
The biggest 2009 show-biz lesson: Celebrities are NOT role models!
Essay on Erik Erikson, briefly dealing with role models
Children and role models