MANILA, Philippines?Show business is such a tough, competitive world that only hardy adults should dare to work in it. It?s literally the place where angels (should) fear to tread, for fear of having their pure, white wings singed or clipped. Children are angels of sorts, so they should give a career in show business a really wide berth.

Realistically speaking, however, there are juvenile roles to play, and if adult midgets portrayed them, the results would be ludicrous instead of sweetly, perkily childlike. So, kids?and their ?stage parents? along with them?are encouraged to act, sing, dance and endorse products in the tough, competitive world of entertainment.

Reality

Since that?s the reality, what we need to do is not to prevent children from becoming performers, but to figure out how they can be shielded from the industry?s worst threats and dangers.

The initial threat could come from the juvenile talent?s own ?stage parents.? Some of them have questionable motives for pushing their children in front of the microphone or cameras.

If they?re poor, they don?t make enough money, so they get it into their heads that, since performing pays better, they can stop working and their children could do the earning for them by performing.

Disturbing phenomenon

Some children may agree to do this out of their love for their families, but the child performer as his family?s breadwinner is still a disturbing phenomenon. Children should be given the time to play and grow, and shouldn?t be prematurely burdened with the responsibility of making money for their parents and siblings.

The image of the stage parent is further tainted by the fact that, for some of them, thrusting their children into show business is one way of making up for their own failed stellar aspirations.

Even if the child performer has parents whose heads are screwed on straight, he still has to watch out for the dangers lurking in the show biz trade itself. These include many opportunists who are out to exploit naive and clueless young talents.

Work schedules in the entertainment world are also problematic. Although young talents today are protected by a number of legal stipulations and limitations, the fact remains that long shooting and taping schedules, as well as lack of sleep, cut into child actors? study and play hours, and could take a toll on their health.

Some show biz people have noted that, many child stars grow up into relatively ?vertically challenged? adults?like Vilma Santos, Nora Aunor, Niño Muhlach and Aiza Seguerra.

What could account for this ?rule?? Sleepless nights, stress, no time to eat well or rest, even the fact that child actors work under hot spotlights?these are some of the factors ?blamed? for the phenomenon of the vertically challenged ex-child star.

Atmosphere

Even more distressingly, child talents are sometimes exposed to crassly adult behavior and language that could throw them for a loop. They also have to contend with the hectic and highly competitive show biz atmosphere that could sour and spoil them long before their time.

Some child stars have managed to ?survive? their stints in show biz relatively unscathed, but others have been severely compromised by the dangers inherent to the system. So, if your child harbors dreams of stardom, make sure he?s guided and protected as he embarks on his quest for it.