Affects child, following performance (4,2)

I believe the answer is:

acts on

'affects' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'child following performance' is the wordplay.
'child' becomes 'son' (male child).
'following' says to put letters next to each other.
'performance' becomes 'act' (act is a kind of performance).
'son' after 'act' is 'ACTS ON'.

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.

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