Star Dreams: Is your child ready for the spotlight?

As Dollar says: "Every parent thinks their child is talented and we all think they're the greatest," but that doesn't necessarily mean they're what casting directors are looking for when they're searching for the right actor for a part.

Successful child actors who get hired for professional parts are often good readers with strong verbal skills and very precocious who have experience in church or community plays, she tells me. They must be able to wait for long periods of time and not get anxious around other adults.

Class clowns and active kids who are always trying to entertain people probably won't be, she says.