{"id":1783,"date":"2023-03-15T09:16:03","date_gmt":"2023-03-15T09:16:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/?p=1783"},"modified":"2024-01-05T17:18:55","modified_gmt":"2024-01-05T17:18:55","slug":"how-to-motivate-young-actors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/news-and-advice\/young-performers\/how-to-motivate-young-actors\/","title":{"rendered":"9 Tips to Help Motivate Young Performers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Top tips for keeping your child focused on their performing goals when it\u2019s the\u00a0last thing they feel like doing<\/em><\/h3>\n

The performing arts world is a space that provides constant opportunities to learn and grow \u2013 not only as performers but as human beings, too. In this industry, goals are big, and like anything worth having, reaching those goals takes time, hard work and dedication. Every baby step taken is a building block toward achieving our dreams \u2013 but sometimes when we\u2019re in the thick of it, seeing that big picture can be difficult, and striving toward big goals can seem daunting.<\/p>\n

Working in the performing arts world as an Exercise Scientist, this is something I often come across. Many of my clients struggle to consistently stay motivated and accountable. And that\u2019s normal. It\u2019s totally natural that at times your child (or even you as the parent or guardian) will feel tired, demotivated or distracted. By accepting those human traits, and embracing and understanding them, it makes it much easier to deal with moments when your child needs extra help to feel inspired to work towards their goals.<\/p>\n

It’s also important to remember that the path toward their goals isn\u2019t one straight line. It\u2019s full of wonderful twists and turns and obstacles that will challenge them and help them to grow and learn important lessons about themselves. This all contributes to making your child a stronger, more well-rounded and interesting human being and performer. More often than not, when they feel like they\u2019re taking two steps back, they\u2019re actually gaining the most incredible insights and understandings and building resilience. These are some of the most useful tools for success in this career.<\/p>\n

So often as performers, we\u2019re taught that to progress we have to show up, practice hard and put in hours and hours of dedication. I hear this all the time from my clients \u2013 and as a performer myself \u2013 and it\u2019s true. In order to grow and progress towards goals, putting in the work is essential, but that isn\u2019t always so easy. Sometimes feeling demotivated or uninspired is one of those obstacles that your child will find in their path as a young performer. They\u2019re told to stay accountable but oftentimes what they aren\u2019t taught is\u00a0how. And that\u2019s essential.<\/p>\n

So, how can you help your child to find motivation in moments when they need that extra support? Let\u2019s look at a few practical things that you can do:<\/p>\n

1. Self-reflection<\/h4>\n

If your child is struggling to work towards their goals, it\u2019s important to understand\u00a0why. Self-reflection exercises are a great tool to use to help your child articulate their feelings and help you gain insight as their parent or guardian. Consider these:<\/p>\n