Demand for child actors faces minor hiccups

Staying 'age-appropriate'

As the industry becomes more competitive and more tightly regulated, experts say the biggest question is no longer whether children should act, but how to ensure they do so in a healthy and age-appropriate way.

Su Yanjie, a professor at the Peking University School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, said the effects of acting on children should be understood through developmental psychology.

"Children at different ages have different developmental tasks. The key principle is that children should do things appropriate for their age," said Su.

In her view, acting and other performance activities can help children improve communication skills, emotional understanding and social adaptability.

"Every child has different strengths. If a child's interests and talents can be developed into a strength, it may also help support development in other areas," she said.

Su warned that filming should not interfere with the developmental tasks children need to complete at their current age.

Sleep deprivation remains a widespread issue among Chinese children and adolescents. National health guidelines recommend 10 to 13 hours of sleep per day for preschool children and 8 to 10 hours for primary and middle school students.

"Sleep has a disproportionately large impact on children's mental health and development. If regular schedules are disrupted for a long period of time, it may lead to emotional problems, lower learning efficiency and having other negative effects," said Su.

Child actors may also face pressure from public attention and online comments, she said. "Even adults often struggle with public feedback on social media. Children may find it even harder to cope," she said.

As concerns over children's wellbeing grow, regulatory efforts have been strengthened in recent years.

In 2019, the National Radio and Television Administration issued regulations requiring that minors' appearance and behavior in programs align with their age and developmental characteristics, and prohibiting content that encourages minors to discuss fame, wealth or romantic relationships.

On Jan 8, the administration's online audio-visual department released new guidelines on child-related micro-short dramas, calling for age-appropriate portrayals of minors, banning content that promotes inappropriate values or excessive commercialization, and strengthening protection of minors' rights during production.

Cautious approach

Changsha Xingche Media in Hunan province focuses on actor management and short-drama productions and has worked with nearly 100 child actors across dozens of projects.

Company founder Tang Kaijun said demand for child actors surged during the boom in live-action short dramas between 2024 and 2025. Children under 10 generally have more acting opportunities because they fit the "cute child" roles in short dramas.

"For many productions, children under 1.35 meters in height are often preferred for certain roles. Once children are older than 10, school becomes a bigger issue, and they no longer fit the 'adorable child' image many productions want," said Tang.

At the same time, the industry has become more cautious. After several child-focused short dramas drew criticism, some producers reduced child roles or adjusted storylines to avoid controversy or regulatory breaches.

"In the first half of 2026, demand for child actors has remained relatively weak, as projects involving minors face stricter review procedures and longer approval times. Now, productions involving child actors often need additional reporting and review, which increases both time and uncertainty," he said.

Agencies recruit young actors through online casting, training institutions and parents, while directors value cooperation and emotional stability.

"When a child first joins a production crew, cooperation matters more than prior experience. Some newcomers are attracted by high pay, but they soon face long hours, unstable opportunities, and intense competition," said Tang.

The fast pace of short drama production can be challenging. A 10-episode series may take a week to 10 days to shoot, with schedules stretching close to 20 hours a day.

"Some children are given little time to understand their characters before filming begins. There are crying scenes where children may need eye drops because the filming pace is so fast," he said.

Parents with industry experience are often more cautious, reading scripts carefully and rejecting projects with violent or overly adult themes.

"There is still a real market demand for child roles. But the key is to make sure the content is healthy and appropriate," said Tang, who does not fully agree that child actors are being "consumed" by the industry.

He believes the industry will become even more regulated, leaving fewer opportunities for children without clear strengths.

"Many child actors are cute, but they do not leave a lasting impression. There is still real market demand for child roles, but future opportunities are more likely to go to children with strong acting skills, memorable personalities and distinctive qualities," said Tang.

Contact the writer at sunnyu923@163.com