[Scruffy]

well, For starters, let the kid make the first move. If they want to get close to you. Then let them do it at their ow pace. Also, If they are having an obvious fit, Reaction, Don't look at them. In fact, pretend that you can't see them.. Calavera, Two of my cousins were afraid of clowns. One of them absolutely terrified. I did an event that I knew they were going to be at. Before it happened I took my clown costume, makeup shoes, nose... EVERYTHING- over to her house and set it on the floor. She asked what it was and I told her they were some funny clothes that I wanted her to see. I opened it, And showed her my coat, and my big baggy pants, and my shoes. And then asked her if she was afraid of clowns. She said yes ,I then asked if she was afraid of me and she said no. I then explained that when I put this on I became a clown. (I did this while showing her my makeup and nose.) But When I was wearing this, I was still "Me" on the inside.
She was fine with it. I even put a little makeup on her face (a white clown mouth.) and a clip on nose and showed her a mirror that she was now a clown.
Moral of the story, every case is different. But She has been fine every since.