Don't send in the clowns!

[The Mrs]

Apparently clowning around isn't all it's cracked up to be!

Researchers from the University of Sheffield have this to report:

Bad news for Coco and Blinko -- children don't like clowns and even older kids are scared of them.

"We found that clowns are universally disliked by children. Some found them quite frightening and unknowable."

Would this report have any effect on those who use clowns for children's outreach?

I think it's sad that clowns would scare kids.

[Ron]

Originally Posted by The Mrs

Apparently clowning around isn't all it's cracked up to be!

Researchers from the University of Sheffield have this to report:



Would this report have any effect on those who use clowns for children's outreach?

I am offended by this thread!!

[AmazingGrace]

I know it did in our old church! First of all I will say that my kids are all terrified of clowns! To the point that even on TV they cant watch it! They have always watched Wife Swap since Bro Hovers family was on there and the show I guess it is this week has a family of clowns and they are like... NO NO NO cant watch it!

We had an outreach big thing that I organized at our church in OKC.. had all kinds of kids stuff and I had a clown suit and one of our guys was going to do it. Well that morning before we even left the church to go to the park.. there was such screaming and fits from the little ones alone in our church.. we scratched the clown idea real quick.. No one seemed to like them at all! We even had people tell us they didnt come because they had heard we were having a clown.. Yea a lot are scared of them!

[Mrs. LPW]

I was never terrified of the 'stupid' things.. but I never liked them. In fact, I never liked anyone behind a mask... I still to this day don't care for Mascots...

Just the fact you don't know who's behind the mask I think...

We have found that children don't get nearly as scared if you don't use the clown face make-up. Really....Just an observation we have made over the years. So we use goofy clothes and get goofy accessories and make the kids laugh! You should see MrBoom's goofy outfit! The kids love it!

[nahkoe]

Originally Posted by The Mrs

Apparently clowning around isn't all it's cracked up to be!

Researchers from the University of Sheffield have this to report:



Would this report have any effect on those who use clowns for children's outreach?

I think it's sad that clowns would scare kids.

The white face paint is a big part of it. I never used that. We never came across a kid who was scared of us, we were just dressed up goofy. We did paint our faces, rainbows, flowers, hearts, but NOT the white stuff. The kids loved "clown kisses". We'd look a mess after several hours of taking paint off our faces and putting it on theirs.

[The Mrs]

Originally Posted by MrsBOOMM

We have found that children don't get nearly as scared if you don't use the clown face make-up. Really....Just an observation we have made over the years. So we use goofy clothes and get goofy accessories and make the kids laugh! You should see MrBoom's goofy outfit! The kids love it!

I was hoping this wouldn't affect Mr. Notchbuckles career! He's done such a good job with it.

[The Mrs]

Originally Posted by Ron

I am offended by this thread!!

Guess it's time for you to hang up the big, red nose Buddy!

[Ron]

Originally Posted by The Mrs

Guess it's time for you to hang up the big, red nose Buddy!

I have been in retirement for three years!

My wife unit is trying to nudge me out of it!

[nahkoe]

http://www.associatedcontent.com/art...of_clowns.html

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-coulrophobia.htm

Most agree, however, that the main reasons for coulrophobia are the make-up and exaggerated features of the clown. Painted eyes and painted smiles, as well as the red bulbous nose, can be frightening initially to children. In fact some children share a similar fear of Santa Claus as well.

True coulrophobia usually dates from an initial childhood incident with a clown that provokes intense fear. Many also consider coulrophobia to be a basic dislike or distrust of the painted face of the clown, which obscures true facial expressions.

I was very, very aware of this issue when I was clowning. Our purpose was ministry, we didn't want scared kids, or adults for that matter. We'd often take our wigs off, our shoes off, let the kids play with them and any props we had.

I've seen soooo much good come from clowns used in ministry I can't imagine eliminating them from the toolbox. I just think they need to be used with compassion just like any other thing that's used to reach kids/people.