Center Ring

by WiseBozo

Now then, let's have some fun!

Center Ring

Now then, let's have some fun!

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Clowns Can Be Nice!

Posted March 25, 2007
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My Clown Character

When I tell people that I was a circus clown, I often hear "Oh, I hated clowns!" or "I was scared of clowns!"

It makes me want to smack the horrible clown who made them feel that way. Who wants to be hated or scary?

I never tried to scare the kids who came to the shows that I was on, yet some seemed to be automatically frightened. I finally realized that I was getting too close, too soon. I was too loud, too painted, too big. Of course they were scared!

So I adopted a gentler, quieter persona. If a child was frightened of me, I acted more frightened of them. I looked scared, turned away, and finally peeked through my fingers. Most of the time, the child would smile. Then I'd wave and return the smile. Sometimes a kid wouldn't respond, and then I would just wave - the tiniest of waves - and walk away.

If your kids have never seen a clown up close, you can minimize the fright with a little preparation. Show them pictures of clowns and talk about how they're just people with make-up on. Let them experiment with their own clown makeup or try on a red foam nose. Once you're at the show, let the kids lead the way; don't force an interaction. If a clown is any good at all, he or she will respect your child's feelings.

After all, children - of all ages - are the clown's best audience.

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Clowns Can Be Nice!

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Fun's the name of my game, from practicing juggling to eating new foods to laughing at the silliness surrounding us. Join the fun here on Family.com and in my personal blog, Red Nose.

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