Would you let your child be a model?

[Strawberriesonasummersevening]

This week I was approached at the local
supermarket by a lady and asked if I wanted to put dd, almost 3 through for some modelling projects in the the capital (we live abroad)
She gave me her details and all is legitimate, and are well known and reputable, they had an advert scouting for child models for this campaign.
Spoke to friends and some of them have done similar or would be happy to, given the opportunity.
Aibu to feel weird about it? I’m not sure it makes me 100% comfortable or am I being too uptight and it’s just a bit of fun?
I don’t want DD’s worth to be based on looks, have to say, she is beautiful to me inside and out, for many different reasons, but she has quite a unique look (reddish hair and blue eyes) and I’m quite surprised they asked, as looking at their work, the child models have a different look.
She’s contacted me twice since, would you do it?

Marsha mine made tens of thousands each.

I was in the same situation.

I declined. Mainly because I know my child and she wouldn’t have been happy hanging around, being dressed and undressed, hot lights, photo posing etc.

@HelloMissus

Marsha mine made tens of thousands each.

I'd be very surprised if that was the experience of most child models though. For everyone earning ten of thousands I imagine there are thousand upon thousands of children earning no more than a bit of extra pocket money or nothing at all.

We were on a beach in Norfolk one summer and Next were shooting their Christmas catalogue. The young children were dressed in coats and hats looking thoroughly fed up with pushy ‘showbiz’ mums and dads stood to the side prompting them to pose and smile. It just felt very depressing and certainly not in the children’s best interests. I guess some campaigns might be fun but it’s not for me!

If I had more than one child I would be concerned about one being set up with a nest egg while the other(s) weren't. It wouldn't be fair to split the money that the model had earned but I would also think it not fair that the other child/ten weren't getting that start - different when they are older and it is their choice but when they are too young to be part of the decision process I would feel obliged to match the earning for the other(s) which might not be possible if they were earning tens of thousands.

It's just a bit of fun and some photos

Have a go, don't do it again if you don't like it

I absolutely would at that age. They won't be recognisable as adults, and assuming the money is used to benefit them, and its not incredibly boring, I don't see why you wouldn't.

A friends little brother did a national ad campaign for a supermarket around that age: the family used the money in part to pay for drama lessons for him and his sisters which they would have been stretched to afford otherwise, and which they all loved.

I find the paedophilia hysteria really annoying tbh - yes, paedophiles may see a photo of your child advertising jam/childrens toys/whatever other presumably appropriate product you're happy with. Its equally if not more likely paedophiles will see your child in the flesh on the street. People are entitled to photograph children in public - there are no laws against it. And most children are actually abused by people they know.

I think your main issues are: it affecting your child - I think v v likely at the age of, say, 9, and I wouldn't do it then, but not v likely at 3 unless you make a fuss of them inappropriately and, it being somehow an issue for them in the future - again, not v likely as they're not going to be linked to it as adults (ads don't have names) and are v likely to look differently. So given you could possibly have some money that will help them through uni/buying a car/etc etc I wouldn't see an issue with it.

If it was all legitimate and safe, I would and I’d put all the money she made into her savings account.

No definitely not. Narcissistic of the parents and complicated if you have more than one child.

As a red headed child I was also scouted. Thankfully my parents said no. I am glad photos of me as a child are not in the public domain.

I wouldn't judge anyone who did (and do know a couple of people who have done this with their children (not close friends, so it's never come up but I've heard it on the grape vine)) because I can see how tempting it would be in building up a nest egg.

But I wouldn't personally because I know enough about aspects of the entertainment industry, through friends, to know that it really can be a toxic environment which attracts some quite nasty characters, and I wouldn't want to normalise that whole thing of auditioning, being judged on appearance, being rejected for jobs etc. at such a young age.

Because of that, my kids can do what they want when they're adults (or ideally in their mid-twenties and have properly developed their sense of self and so have the confidence not to deal with any crap), but before 18 I wouldn't allow them to do any kind of professional modelling/acting/singing etc, especially nothing on tv or in media.

If it’s legit I’d go for it. The money could be life changing later on.

(I don't think the paedophilia thing is such an issue (eg. with paedophiles looking at the photos) and you'd be there or have a chaperone at all times. It's more the emphasis on appearance, on compliance, on basically being a child in an adult environment of work. I think unless your child is extremely chilled, it could give them all sorts of psychological problems in the future.

One of my DC was scouted, aged about 8, in a perfectly respectable way at a dance event. But as DC was totally uninterested in the idea, we didn't take it forwards.

The main embuggeration, from a friend who did it briefly, is that you have to drop everything to get them to shoots because if you decline even once, it's curtains.

I went to school with someone who was a child model. She was unbearable😄. So on that basis, no.

I had a similar scenario when my daughter was a little bit older than yours. My DD was very outgoing and photogenic and probably would have enjoyed it. However, it just didn't sit right with me for some reason and I decided against it. I wouldn't judge anyone else though. It's entirely up to the individual.

I'd try it for a day and see if your DD likes it
Whilst not a model, there are a few pics if DD that were taken professionally and have been sold on(I signed a waiver) and it's been quite interesting seeing them 'in the wild'. They've been used a few times in journals and reports. She's quite striking looking but is quite a few years older now and she might not be automatically recognised from that image. She's amused by seeing it from time to time.

GreenCrayon you may well be right.
Mine did some huge campaigns so the money was great. I don’t know if we’d have bothered otherwise, except for an initial let’s-see-what-this-is-like try out.

All of mine enjoyed it too. And DD went on to do some acting.

Never

A friend of mine's DD was scouted and did some modelling as a teenager, she didn't really enjoy it - she's a very beautiful girl, but quite shy and I think it just wasn't for her.

I don't think I'd want a child as young as 3 doing it - I imagine it is very boring with a lot of sitting around doing nothing and children getting fractious and tired.

My cousin did a European campaign for Tampax when she was a pre-teen.

She regrets it now and the money wasn't that great to make it worthwhile.

Very young children are too young to consent and I think it is exploitative.

No I don't think I would.
If i did i would never leave their side.

I considered it for my baby. I wouldn’t for an older child, but for a baby / toddler I think I could have made peace with it. But I think if it gives you an uneasy feeling, that’s your heart telling you something.

My children do, 6 & 8yo.
Not modelling, but they've done TV commercials etc. All good fun. Nothing about their looks have ever been mentioned by anyone.

To clear a few things up...

-No you don't get much notice and it can be a bit 'we say jump and you do it'.

• It's extremely well regulated. You have to stay with your child at all times, plus have a chaperone to ensure the correct working conditions (not on set too long etc.) Children have their own areas away from adult cast/ crew members.

• Yes there's waiting around, but this is usually my kids' favourite part 😂 They get to make friends and play with other kids. Their other favourite part is the food!

• Both children have a nice little nest egg, but I do worry about one getting more than the other.

• if you're not happy with the job/ role than you don't have to do it. There's lots we wouldn't allow. (swimwear, shows involving crime etc or anything that showed the kids in a bad light.) We avoid adult TV shows completely.

• I've never met any bratty/ badly behaved kids on shoots. Part of what makes a child a good prospect is being able to listen and follow instructions.

-some roles you don't even see them, voice over jobs and so on.

Neither of my DH are big headed about it, it's just another hobby to them. It's really not the big deal people make it out to be. We've had nothing but brilliant and fun experiences.

No I wouldn't

I was approached when DS was about 3 asking if I'd be interesting in him doing some modelling. I looked into it briefly, but decided to hold off and see if he was interested as a teen - he wasn't.