I have a birthday party for a 1 year old in about 2 weeks. There will be other children ages 2 to 5. They want me to show up, play with the kids and blow up a few balloons. I have strong reservations about balloons for kids under 4. I thought I could blow up a few balloons and emphasize and reemphasize to the parents that they need to watch the children closely the entire time they have the balloons. Also, do any of you have any suggestions for things (ex. games) that work well with very young kids?

Thanks 8)
Darrell "Hayseed"

Explain your reason for having reservations and agree to do it only if they are willing to sign a waiver absolving you from any legal action. Also include in the waiver the possibility of danger, describe the possibilities, spell out that in signing this document, they fully understand they pose a choking hazard to small children and the ramifications it entails. Also spell out that if an accident does occur, they waive the right to sue you for the cost of medical bills and/or for any personal damages.

Print two copies, have witnesses sign both copies, and have them notorized.

Also, you could do a larger balloon sculpture to put on the mantle, so the child can look at it, but not play with it.

I honestly don't know if this'll work, but it's worth a try. If worse comes to worse and they try to sue you, take the paperwork to a lawyer and tell him, "Hey, I did what I could to cover my butt."


Hope this helps. It'll either scare them off, or they'll understand your position.

Scruffy is right you should make every effort to cover yourself it would proubley be easier to say no balooons and tell them why it would be better to lose the job than to risk someone getting hurt

one birthday party I did for a 1 yr old, I explained to the mother that this was her son's special day and as most of the kids would be young I would not bring balloons, I wouldn't want him to be left out and it was unsafe for a 1 yr old to have a balloon and she agreed [made her child the focus of the party].

I you want ideas - I got a sing-a-long cd from Walmart has 50 songs, ie like "head, shoulders, knees and toes", "Ants go marching in" and some train songs", anther cd with "hokey Pokey'. We did silly song and had them act out movements with songs, then did the train [where one child leads and the other catch on and they go to the music], played with balloons then I did my magic show, with simple things like the magic coloring book, made popcorn with my change bag, I had bought a set of 4 tub toys, and did the force then gave them as my gift to the b-kid. these are some of the things I did. [about 1 1/2 hr]

btw on that cd is "Aint it Great to Be Crazy", Tink and I sing this song alot, and love it.

Great idea Scruff about the waiver!!! I might use that!! I agree Darrell that you do need to mention for the adults to watch the children closely! Sue, I like your music ideas!!!!

I do the same show for every b-day party, no matter what age that seems to be liked by everyone & work for all ages 1 - 101. I do some simple balloon animals before I leave, just so I have something to give the kids.

Here is my party show agenda:

Sparkles enters the room & greets all the kids 1 by 1. Shake hands or feet, look for something lost under arm pits & behind ears. Then I ask "Are you ready for a show", they say yes, but I continue asking this by saying " I didn't hear you" until they finally shout at the top of their lungs, YES.........

Tricks:

1. Coloring book. I choose a young assistant. Maybe 3 yrs old. Once the child is beside me I introduce myself & then I ask the child’s name, I have the crowd yell back to the child, "Hello Johnny", making the child feel very special! This also gives time for pictures to be made. Then I tell Johnny on the count of 3 to yell back "Hey Everybody!" This is usually VERY cute! Mom & Dad are saying "Ahhhhh".
Then I ask if he has a coloring book & what kind. Then I ask who in the crowd has coloring books & I ask each one what kind. Then I show my coloring book, & explain, its my favorite because it a circus one. Then I give the wand to Johnny and have him actually do waive the wand & be the magician. Like this: I show it with blank pgs. & ask him to put the lines in for me. Now, I don't just simply let him waive the wand & be done with it, I have a funny way to get some giggles. I call this the “Magic Dance”. I have him waive the wand in the air, jump up & down (I do this with him), stand on one leg, scratch him arm pit, turn around, while on 1 leg jumping & (by this time he is laughing & so is the crowd & all the adults have stopped what they are doing to watch) yell very loud "abracadabra lines appear!" Then I show the lines. Then I give him applause & have him bow & then say, something is missing, I ask the kids what, they say of course the colors. Then I explain to Johnny to get the colors he needs he must touch each persons shoulders with the wand, so he then proceeds to go around to every person in the room & touch them while we are clapping & chanting "go Johnny" "Go Johnny" & then I have him run back & HIT the book! When I show the book with the colors & ask him, "How did YOU do that?" This makes him feel so good in front of his friends! Self esteem booster!! Everybody claps for Johnny, NOT for me!! Then I have him take a bow, give him a sticker for helping me & usher him to his seat.

2. I yell "Are ready for another magic trick?" If I get a lame quite response, I pretend to pack up & go home, then they say "NO, NO". I do this in between each trick. Audience interaction is important.
Next trick is the change bag with various colors of scarves or the Happy B-Day scarf set. I choose an assistant, about 4 or 5, who would be proud to show they know their colors! I do the same introductions, hello to child, hello to crowd. I give child the wand. I put each scarf on the magic table, show the empty bag & explain for the child to put the scarves in the bag 1 by 1 & yell out the color from the bottom of their toes! (Sometime the crowd says the colors too, to help the young ones out. Then I repeat the routine, magic dance, of the wand waiving, jumping, etc. Then the child reaches in & pulls out the multi colored long rainbow scarf. I say oohh & ahhh & give the child the credit & so on.

3. I progress to a more complicated trick & a bit older child assistant. Maybe 8 or 9 yrs. I then do the Dove Pan where I have a b-day cake appear. The whole audience helps me name the items that go into a cake. I say strange things like tuna, hot sauce, etc. I have a foam fish prop, etc. They chuckle and say eeeeew! Then the child will waive the wand, doing the Magic Dance, jumping, turning, etc. & the cake appears. I have a lot more patter, I point out the grandma’s in the room who know how to make a cake & ask for their input. The young ladies sometimes don’t really remember, I crack jokes about they should not have skipped Home Ecc. In school. I ask the kids what kind of cake do they like & let them respond. Ya know, just silly small talk. Of course, the kid gets the applause & sits back down.

4. The final one I say I am going to do ALL by myself & ask if they think I can! I usually get mixed reviews. I say at this point in the show I am getting thirsty & I use the Lota Bowl. I show an empty see through plastic cup. I say I’m going to pour a FULL glass of water. So I proceed to waive the wand, jump up & down, scratch under my arm, & stand on one leg. & then pour the water & of course only a little bit comes out. I wonder what I did wrong, the kids are quick to point that I didn’t turn around while doing the other stuff. I didn’t do the Magic Dance right! By this time they have this memorized. Waive the wand in the air, jump up & down, stand on one leg, turn around, scratch under arm pit. They are smart! So I do this, & still only a little water comes out. So then I resort to choosing someone to help me. Older kid maybe, 10 yrs. He holds the wand, does the movements & only a little more comes out. I say he needs a thinking cap. I pull out a funny wig & plop it on his head & pose for a few pictures. Then we repeat everything only to get a few more drops of water. I then say, maybe you need some help. I then use adults trying to get one of the parents. I pull out another wig or hat. This really does get laughs & lots of pictures! I have some 1 liners for the adults, flirt if it’s man, bat my eyes, etc. If a woman, she is sure to get the job done, etc. We then proceed to all go through the motions of jumping, etc. & still just a little more water. I then pull up a couple more adults. I give one my rubber chicken to baby sit & ad in some chicken power, I put on each of them wigs & hats, the cameras are now really flashing, we all do the magic moves & still not a full glass of water! I say maybe we need everybody to get up & do the magic moves!! Then finally I get a full glass of water! I may have to bring up more people, have them wiggle noses, bump the hips of their neighbor, etc. if I still don’t have a full glass, but you get the point.

As I am doing all my tricks, my background music YMCA, Chicken Dance, Shout, Twist, Hockey Pokey, Celebration Time, and other party tunes. They all love this!!! I have the CD player next to me & turn it up when ever the child is dong the “Magic Dance”. Then I pack up the magic tricks & with about 30 min. to go I do balloons. I blast the music for this. The adults are usually singing!! Before I leave, I pose for pics. B-day child & me, then all the b-day kids & me. The last thing I do is help the mom present the b-day cake, & sing Happy B-day & help blow out the candles & pose for a couple more pics at the cake. This is nice for the scrapbook! Then I tell them I love them & thank you for having me! This is a full hour for about 12 kids.

This is a very upbeat, interactive party & even the 1 year olds don’t fall asleep & I keep everybody’s attention. Moving fast, interacting on at eye level, sometimes squatting on my knees, encouraging the little ones to “dance a little & “shake their bottoms” is very cute. I have done the same party agenda for years. The 1 liners change with each crowd. Everybody says they really have a great time!

Hope some of these ideas have helped!!!

Random thoughts re: Balloons for young kids.

1. It is possible to blow balloons up soft. Back more air out than you normally would, and leave a longer tail. As you form each bubble, make sure its a soft bubble...if its not, squeeze a little more into the unblown part of the balloon. Perhaps practice this a few times first.

If you blow them up this way, make sure you tie the tail off. What I mean is if you make a dog, make sure the tail gets passed once between the back legs...a balloon blown up soft unravels easier and knotting it will prevent this.

Anyway, the logic here is the less air pressure behind the balloon, the less likely it will actually pop, and the less likely it will fragment if it does pop.

2. Its been said not to use "warm" colors. (red, pink, orange) The reason for this has got something to do with a doctor or medic being able to see the piece that's lodged in the throat in the event of choking.

3. There's lots of fun to be had with plain old round balloons. I always have some with me if I'm ballooning. If someone comes along that wants a balloon for an infant and won't be refused, that's what I give them. (again...blown up soft) Logic is that although the kid might still try and put it in his mouth, he's less likely to actually get it in there if its a big round balloon. (no ears or legs to chew on)

The real trick with round balloons is to treat them as much like a treasure as your wonderful twisty creations. Draw a clown face on it. Autograph it. Do something to make it special.

Hope this helps

ANY game can be made fun with a clown.....playing Duck, duck, Goose, Tag, Hide-And-Seek, any of those seem special if you clown it up!

PremierSparkles, sounds like you've got it all planned out! That's a great routine!

I came to this conclusion; no balloons for under 3 years old. At the last 2 parties that I did for 1 year olds, I didn't do balloons but gave out stickers instead. I explained to the parents ahead of time that I don't do balloons for children that age.

Also, I was doing balloons at the Fall Festival for my church on Halloween night and one couple that had a baby about 8-9 months wanted a balloon for their baby. I politely refused to make their baby a balloon and offered him a sticker instead. After I explained my reasons, the father seemed to understand but the mother was disappointed and sad. But I would rather have the parents mad at me and their baby safe than they be happy and put their child's life in danger.

Darrell 8)

A clown friend once told me that when a parent insists on a balloon for someone under 3 years old she tells them she will have to make it in a color other than red or pink so if it goes down their throat the paramedics will be able to see it. It gets their attention.

I agree a waiver is a great idea, for almost any event. Children may be over the age of 3 or 4 but still put balloons in there mouth, For some Reason Balloons seem fun to chew on. I would also read the forum balloons and babies some good ideas and suggestions where brought up about the danger of balloons :)

Great ideas for the balloons, the waver was a real good one ,thanks Scruffy,Pattycake and I are going to be doing an Easter Egg Hunt Party and they want balloons for the kids, these ideas will really help.