13 Child Stars That Double as Great Role Models

The 10-year-old won our hearts as Hushpuppy in 2012's Beasts of the Southern Wild, a role that earned her an Academy Award nomination. She has continued to make smart acting decisions and will take on the roll of Annie in the 2014 remake.

She may play slightly dysfunctional characters on Mad Men and Flowers in the Attic, but in real life, 14-year-old Kiernan Shipka is completely put together. When she's not on set, she practices tae kwon do and attends ballroom dance lessons.

Even though he's only 14 years old, Karan Brar has quite an impressive résumé. He has starred in hit shows like Sofia the First and Jessie as well as the Diary of a Wimpy Kid films. He will voice one of the young boys in the upcoming Mr. Peabody & Sherman, too.

While many actresses take a turn for the worse at 16, Shake It Up star Bella Thorne continues to play wholesome characters and act appropriately. She recently signed on as the new face of Neutrogena and will star in this year's film adaptation of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.

This 18-year-old is a triple threat! As the star of musical movies and shows like Teen Beach Movie and Austin & Ally, Ross Lynch proves he can sing, dance, act, and win over our hearts.

The iCarly star has been acting since she was 8 years old, appearing in kid favorites like Drake & Josh and contributing her voice to Despicable Me. Though she will turn 21 this year, the actress shows no signs of becoming a Hollywood party girl.

Though his character on Modern Family seems to lack any sense, 15-year-old Nolan Gould is actually pretty smart. The actor has an IQ of 150, making him a member of Mensa.

Despite swearing a little too much in the Kick-Ass movies, Chloë Grace Moretz keeps it clean in real life. In fact, she wasn't allowed to see any of the R-rated movies she starred in until she was old enough to legally enter the theater.

Unlike other former Disney Channel stars, the 20-year-old actor has only gone on to bigger, better things. Jake T. Austin currently stars in the ABC Family drama The Fosters, which has won over families and critics alike.

The star of the popular Good Luck Charlie was recently named one of Seventeen magazine's 17 most powerful girls under 21. We think that earns Bridgit Mendler role model status!

Though he doesn't have the experience of our other teen idols, 16-year-old Max Burkholder's portrayal of a child with autism on Parenthood has set him up for years of success.

The 17-year-old actress has yet to take on an overly sexy role or show too much skin. Well, except when Abigail Breslin wore those booty shorts in Little Miss Sunshine.

He may not be a child, but we still love the sweet-faced star of Big Time Rush. We can't wait to see James Maslow's equally sweet moves in the upcoming season of Dancing With the Stars.