One of the most common questions I get asked by parents of young actors is how they can best support their children at auditions. Whether it’s running lines, serving as a reader, or helping with a self-tape, if parents don’t know a thing or two about technique, they may actually be doing more harm than good. I recently worked with a top L.A.-based casting director and when asked how to remedy these issues, her advice was simple: “Take an acting class.” Here are five reasons why that advice is sound:

For more than 30 years, I’ve worked with young actors and found that many of them fall victim to the same simple mistakes. Talented children are regularly passed over in auditions because of bad habits that parents sometimes don’t even notice. If you’re on the lookout for these common mistakes and can fix them, you might find your child getting more attention in the audition room. Here are seven mistakes you can help your kid avoid.