"Because I'm so totally on the ball, my favourite song at the minute is 'Leave (Get Out)' by American pint-sizer JoJo.

As always happens with anybody under the age of 80 releasing a record, I keep reading articles about how it's wrong for JoJo to travel the world, perform to millions and top the charts. Apparently, she's missing out on a 'normal' upbringing. What is normal? Based on what the most 13-year-olds I know get up to, what JoJo's doing is pretty tame.

Now I admit that I too was a little surprised to find out that this make-up wearing girlie with her boobs pushed up was only 13 years old but she's obviously having fun doing something she loves. And she does have an amazing voice, which reminds me a bit of a pre-'Dirrty' Christina. (You remember, when she sang Disney songs. Happy days.) Plus, JoJo's got a full time tutor on the road with her so she's most likely getting a far better education than friends who have to sit in overcrowded classrooms fighting for the teacher's attention by sticking bubble gum under the seat and waving guns around. Not that there is anything wrong with sticking bubble gum on furniture - I often do it. Because, as you should know by now, I am such a rock 'n' roller.

Sure, a lot of 'Child Stars' have gone off the rails - Drew Barrymore, Judy Garland, Wacko Jacko and that kid with no teeth who played Artful Dodger in Oliver - but these are all from an era when they weren't properly looked after, and when it was rare for anyone who wasn't in their twenties to be a part of the big bad world of showbiz. Nowadays famous kids are common place - S Club 8 are on their way back (hoorah!) as I Dream, McFly are on a sold-out tour having entered the Guinness Book of Records as the youngest band ever to top the album charts, and Hillary 'up the' Duff is America's golden child. Incidentally, while I'm on the subject of The Duffster, was I the only person to realise how amazing 'Come Clean' was? (Yes - Ed)

Also, I think people are quick to forget that one of the UK's most successful (and most respected) pop bands started out when they where just 14 years old. Five years on and the Sugababes are still knocking out the tunes (although hopefully not each other).

We live in an age when kids are encouraged to follow their dreams, and if they're able to achieve success at any stage in their life the opportunities have to be grabbed with both hands. Pop music is the only area where successful kids are frowned upon - young teenagers who excel at sports, for example, are often praised in spite of having to lead an exhausting lifestyle and heading for an inevitable burnout in their twenties. And do the people who are so against kids in pop object to, for example, Chesney in Coronation Street, or the Harry Potter films?

So people, instead of unnecessarily worrying about whether these young popstrels are being properly educated, enjoy their talents and (this portion removed for reasons of taste and decency - Ed). That's what I do..."

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