Kaitlyn Maher is a Sensation on America's Got Talent.

Adorable as she is, little Kaitlyn Maher is an example of a child being used by adults for entertainment. She is certainly cute and a singing sensation for her age and I will not put the child down in any way, but how do parents, other adults and now the voting public who watches this show decide that this is ok? She is four and not exactly capable of making her own grown up and informed decisions about her future. I find it all a little bit more than disgusting frankly, but looking around internet blog posts and news stories almost all I see are serious praise of this little one. She deserves praise but I can't understand why this is not seen as exploitation.

The winner of this show gets a million dollars, absolutely incentive to put your little darling on the public stage to compete and be criticized. But let us explore further: the winner also gets a contract to perform in Las Vegas as a headliner of a show. Excuse me but does anyone seriously believe a four year old is capable of headlining a Vegas show? Should she be attempting it is another question, and I would have to assume there is something in the Child Labor Laws that say she should not be doing this. What in the world are people thinking? Blame America I suppose, as voters are continuing to put this little one up there each week. But then again, blame the producers who are thrilled I'm sure with the sensation that this child is creating. She is four, she's adorable, she's talented, she's polite, what more could we ask for?

But my problem is with her parents and it's absolutely irresponsible to not see what they are doing to their child. I don't even watch this show but have seen clips of little Kaitlyn's performances, critiques by the judges, and then the voting results. She looked like a deer in the headlights at the last results show, scared and unsure. To be sure, she is polite in saying thank you over and over while judges speak to her. Does she understand any of what they are saying or has she just been taught well to say thank you to adults that speak to her? We must give her parents credit for that; she is adorable and polite.

Seeing the results of so many screwed up child actors and performers as they grow into adulthood (Britney Spears, Danny Bonaduce, Todd Bridges, Dana Plato and so many others) should scare a parent away from something like this especially at such a young age. A million dollars though, that is awfully tempting. I am truly surprised that more people are not bothered by this. At least her church choir apparently thinks that little kids should be old enough to perform in front of a crowd, they apparently do not allow the kids to join choir until they are 5 years old.

When do we say enough is enough in the exploitation of little kids?