Does anyone know where to purchase inexpensive giveaways for children under 3? I was buying some plastic sea life animals that another clown recommended, but found that most were too small and would be a choking hazard.

Does anyone NOT provide an alternative to children under 3 when ballooning?

Thanks! :D

Hey there Stitches! Welcome aboard!

A very good question, one that should be a common concern among us
as I've found quite a few parents that aren't too worried about one of their children sucking a bitten balloon down their throat!

I have little red puffy pom poms that I use for magic and walkaround giveaways that seem to work really well. I get these at my local arts and craft store. They are commonly used in crafts to make other animals and things and come in a variety of sizes and colors. They are very easy to carry, and very inexpensive!

Great concern!

That's why I have pretty much given up doing balloons.

Here's a tip -- anything that will pass through the
cardboard tube in a toilet paper roll is small enough
to be a choking hazard for kids.

That means coins and a lot of other common items.

One of the worst hazards is hot dogs. Their cylindrical
shape is just right to plug a small windpipe. (Cut them
lengthwise.)

So, there is my criteria towards choking hazards. With
those guidelines in mind, I look for "trinkets" that
pass the test.

Try Oriental Trading (orientaltrading.com) for an online
place to buy crafts and trinkets.

Ashes

I've been using the floating animals in TJ myers but some I have to check some of them to be sure they're not to small. Jamz told me another place to look but I forgot to write it down

Hey Jamz was it Rhode Island.....?

Oriental Trading is a great place to look.

Also, I give out stickers to the under 3 crowd. I have a booklet of Winnie the Pooh stickers and a booklet of Thomas the Tank engines. So many times, kids that young are terrified of clowns, so I don't even attempt to coax them into getting their faces painted. (Besides, the first thing they do is put their hand in it, and then it's on Mom's shoulder, etc.)

But you know, even the most hesitant kids have let me give them stickers. It's a great way to break the ice.

Yes Sue it is Rhoad Island Novelty

i do alot of stickers for the under 3 crowd. Usually doesnt end up in thier mouth and you dont really have to worry bou tit being to small and what have you.

I've used those floating animals in the past but many of them will fit through a toilet paper tube - too small for under 3. I've purchased them through Rhode Island Novelty - even their customer service department will tell you that nothing in their catalog is suitable for children under 3. I'd like to give more than a sticker. What's a clown to do? :?

as I've found quite a few parents that aren't too worried about one of their children sucking a bitten balloon down their throat!


I'll side with Bips on this one. I used to be very concerned with giving kids under 3 balloons & in all the balloon classes I have taken they tell you not give kids under 3 balloons. However, I have had more parents get very upset when I refused to give their kid a balloon, even after I explained the hazard. Now I just give the balloon & as I hand it over to the child I ask the parent to please keep an eye on the kid & why they should, that why I'm covered from liability. I figure they are responsible for their kids.

I just give the balloon & as I hand it over to the child I ask the parent to please keep an eye on the kid & why they should, that why I'm covered from liability. I figure they are responsible for their kids.

Amen to that Sparkles! Fortunately I have never had to use the liability insurance, but after doing balloons for several years and dozens of huge crowds, it makes things easier for both you the children and parents, and also makes me feel like I'm not just throwing the money away...

I found a nice novelty website, haven't ordered from them yet so I can't give a real opinion but I'm hoping to try it soon...

www.windycitynovelties.com

thanks I'll check it out too.

Heh. So that is where all of this glowy stuff I see people on the street downtown selling comes from! The ones that people use to make it look like their teeth are flashing colors is actually pretty cool.

wait a minute! as i continued browsing, i realized this is the place where I ordered gifts and give aways for my bat mitzah. It was a few years ago and I wasn't the one footing the bill, but as far as I can recall it was very fast shipping and excellent service.

We ordered stuff from them for our relay for life event. Prices are great, they are fast and do a good job of keeping everything in stock.
They are a terriffic place to do business with.
Btw, they also have the light up name badges everyone is going Ga Ga over!

wait a minute! as i continued browsing, i realized this is the place where I ordered gifts and give aways for my bat mitzah. It was a few years ago and I wasn't the one footing the bill, but as far as I can recall it was very fast shipping and excellent service.

ur jewish???? cooool!!!! so am i!!! hahaha another jew clown!!!! hurray :D

My boss clown - being the frugal and efficient person she is - recycles McDonald's Happy Meal toys. I'm not sure how McDonald's feals about it, but if you like fast food and yet don't want to gorge yourself, order a happy meal with an under 3 toy. Sure you'll get higher colesterol and heart disease and all that, but let's not be selfish here - it's all about the kids! :P :lol:

I bring a book of temporary tattoos for one of the parents to apply to some of the young ones.

I like Sparkles idea! I actually did balloons yesterday for a Fall Festival, and had a lot of young kids. This was the first time I had done that many balloons for little ones at one time and I actually thought of the same concern. Parents are not always real understanding on safety! I am curious, as a clown just getting started on the "professional" end of clowning... How important is the liability insurance? How much coverage do you think I would need and where do I look to get coverage? Thanks!!!

you can get it through wca and coai.

What about handing out a little red clown nose of their own? It's big enough to not be a choking hazzard, and it would make kids of all ages feel more inovolved in the act (even if it's just a passing by in a parade).

Small bottles of bubbles would work too. (the kind that they hand out at weddings.) Everybody loves bubbles.

I normally let the party host know ahead of time...that I don't give balloons to children under the age of 3...I have used the TMyers plastic animals for some time now...and they don't pose very much of a hazard...If a parent is insistent upon their younger child having a balloon...I make the balloon and hand it to the parent and impress upon them that I am not giving the balloon to the child but rather to them...once its in their hands...I am not responsible for whether or not they pass it on to the little one...

If I had a dollar for everytime a parent said...oh lil' johnny won't eat it...and 3 seconds after you've given it to them...it's dinner...I think after awhile your eyes become trained to spot balloons in mouths (even from far away places...so I can normally gently remove the balloon without startling the kid...

as for the other kids...I like to bring attention to the fact that balloons can be dangerous...so I make the kids raise their right hand (of course when you're face them, most of their left hands will go up) and take the "I promise not to ever...ever...put a balloon in my mouth...and I challenge the big kids to watch the younger ones...

What about handing out a little red clown nose of their own? It's big enough to not be a choking hazzard, and it would make kids of all ages feel more inovolved in the act (even if it's just a passing by in a parade)

Great idea! The last church event we did, some of the kids wanted me to face paint them up like me! Giving out noses would have gone over big there!

as for the other kids...I like to bring attention to the fact that balloons can be dangerous...so I make the kids raise their right hand (of course when you're face them, most of their left hands will go up) and take the "I promise not to ever...ever...put a balloon in my mouth...and I challenge the big kids to watch the younger ones...

Oh - I LOVE that. That's a great way to stress the safety importance and another opportunity for interaction rather than just handing out balloons...

OK GUYS___I know this is WAY off the subject of actually having something to GIVE under 3 yr olds, but it happened tonight, and I just have to share.
My one year old loves to sit on my lap while I'm at the computer, but he drives me nuts because he has to hit the buttons, and play with my mouse, etc. So, I'd just finished drinking some water in a big plastic cup (you know the kind we clowns drink out of!) and he picked it up and put it up to my face. So, I sucked it up onto my face so it stuck. He was amazed, and tried to pull it off. I sucked harder (almost giving myself a hickey!) and then when he managed to finally release it--He's never giggled so HARD!! This went on and on, him giggling hysterically every time. Until my face hurt so bad, I had to end it. Just thought it'd be a cute trick--although I don't think our makeup could withstand the cup!!
Jitterbug :cake: yum--cake

I have used the TMyers plastic animals for some time now...

I couldn't find them on his website. Could you direct me? If they are similar to those sold by Rhode Island Novelty, they may not be safe for under three. I bought some but threw away half because they fit through a toiler paper tube (supposedly how to determine if a toy poses a choking hazard or not).

I did find some under 3 toys at a dollar store: sets of three squirting bath toys and sets of six wiffle balls. I bought about $10 worth and split up the sets. Naturally, I'd prefer a whole gross of something for $10 as long as they are safe.

This works for me- I give the sticker- then spend a minute playing with the little cutie-peek-a-boo, can you beep your nose? (as I beep mine-say beep-beep) it almost always works well- good time to express my conscern about giving tots balloons- offer my card, and parents are now greatful. If you do it that way, you have accomplished a great deal: Made the child feel comfortable and special, let the parents know that you care- and gave THEM something- what to do about the next birthday party!!!!(and as you walk away, the whole family is "beeping" each others noses!) :lol: PolkaDot

I give out stickers too. I actually posted the site on here under another catagory in the last few days. They say "I met T. Tator Tot the Clown! with my web address and my phone number along with a cartoon picture of me (I posted a picture, its not the best but you can see what they look like). I gave those away when I was doing the 2 fairs last month. The little ones under 3 loved them and so did the parents because they had something to get ahold of me later... speaking of.. I booked 3 jobs from one of the fairs!

my mentor clown has a bunch of those little googly-eyed finger puppets... they'd be good. I think I saw them in that oriental trading catalogue? The clown noses are a good idea too.

As a parent of a 2 year old and a 3 (almost 4) year old, most kids over 2 won't put stuff in their mouth, but I understand the whole liability thing... stickers are literally a dime a dozen and my kids aren't at all impressed by them anymore, so anything bigger and different that you can do, I'd go for it.

I usually give away small inflatables like dolphins or bats. I find that Rhode Island Novelty has the best prices.

3 and under... I tell the parents... "Because of the risk, I can give the balloon to you not to the child. If you give it to the child, please don't let him/her put it in their mouth... we don't want any one to get hurt." Then I feel like it becomes their responsiblity. I don't want anyone harmed, but the parents can get so upset if their child doesn't get a balloon.

Hypodermic needles are out of the question!:pie:

i got a stack of plastic/vinyl coasters at a boot sale. they are round balloon looking in different colours with different expressions. I will stick my business labels on the back and i will call them balloonies.
Do you reckon these are dangerous? I got loads...

They sound like a good idea to me Milli

i also got pieces of paper with explanation why its dangerous to give under age children a balloon, with disclaimer for the ones who dont care

Some kids will be happy with just a sticker, others demand something, I usually stock up on foam noses and give those to kids under 3. The parents are the real nutjobs about their kid not getting a balloon. I really don't get it. As a parent of two school aged kids I wouldn't let them have balloons as babies......it's dangerous. I've found the foam nose quiets the parents as much as the kids most of the time. I have had to under my breath explain to some parents that it's an "insurance thing" which they accept more readily than the actual truth which is "your kid could die".