Send Out The Clowns
Did you see this article last week about clowns easing the fears of children who are waiting for an operation? The presence of a clown lessened pre-surgery anxiety, which reduced later complications.
This wouldn't work on my son. One sure-fire way to convince him that he's on his way to a very bad place would be to put him in a room with a clown. I can't figure out why he hates clowns, he just always has. He's also not terribly fond of costumed characters, like at Disneyland. He wouldn't go anywhere near Winnie the Pooh or Mickey Mouse. At Silverwood, our local amusement park, they have Garfield and Odie as mascots, and my son will actually make me turn around and go the other way when he sees those characters coming down the sidewalk.
I did manage to convince him to take a picture of me with them. It's not that he's scared of clowns and character costumes, it's just that he doesn't like them. Really really doesn't like them. His sister is a different story. She loves those big fluffy costumes, especially characters she knows. We had to drag her away from Eeyore and Tigger.
This wouldn't work on my son. One sure-fire way to convince him that he's on his way to a very bad place would be to put him in a room with a clown. I can't figure out why he hates clowns, he just always has. He's also not terribly fond of costumed characters, like at Disneyland. He wouldn't go anywhere near Winnie the Pooh or Mickey Mouse. At Silverwood, our local amusement park, they have Garfield and Odie as mascots, and my son will actually make me turn around and go the other way when he sees those characters coming down the sidewalk.
I did manage to convince him to take a picture of me with them. It's not that he's scared of clowns and character costumes, it's just that he doesn't like them. Really really doesn't like them. His sister is a different story. She loves those big fluffy costumes, especially characters she knows. We had to drag her away from Eeyore and Tigger.
Permalink posted by Phil at 12:47 PM
9 Comments:
Ditto for my son. Though 9 now, he has never been a fan of clowns or character costumes. Going to the circus this weekend, will let you know how that goes.
Man, clowns are scary! That wouldn't work for my kids either. Unless the point is to distract them from their fear of surgery with their fear of clowns!
Also, my son loves all things Elmo. But when confronted with a 6' tall Elmo at a recent street festival? Shrieking!
my wife HATES clowns, and my kids find them kind of creepy for some reason... We don't see too many large sized stuffed animals, the closest was when my son was about 2 or so and a giant walking taco was hanging out on a downtown street. He was fascinated with the walking, talking, dancing taco.
My daughter's first picture of her son when he was 2 with Santa at the mall, is of him bawling... there was no way she could get him to smile. So she told the gal to take the picture anyway.
At 5 she took him to ChuckyCheese. one look at that mouse and he was out of there. She had a heck of a time getting him to go back in for the games.
I think those mascots are way too big. Unless you're talking about Big Bird, the other muppets and Disney Characters don't evoke the same nice, gleeful feel they do from the other side of the TV or movie screen.
Great pics, Phil =)
P.S. Probably, a visit from a puppy or a really friendly dog like a Lab would work better in easing a child's anxiety pre-surgery...
I never liked clowns much. And since I grew up in Chicago, that discomfort was reinforced by news accounts of "he who must not be named" on a blog.
My son probably has never seen one, but I suspect he's the same way. I think it has something to do with being cautious by nature.
Hey Phil...
i just forwarded your blog on to a colleague of mine who is doing a research project on stay-home dads. Her name is Joy and she may be contacting you sometime soon.
Peace,
khalil
So are you the mascot between those two characters?
You -- a research project? :-)
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