Dealing with little ones... post your tips here.

[Smacky]

Let me preface this by saying that I pride myself on my ability to work with almost any child, male or female, down to about 18 months and older. It's a knack I delevoped as an ugly but nice clown and has served me well as a makeup artist. It is a very rare thing when I can't do a kid. I am gonna post some of my tips and hope you do the same. In no particular order...

* When talking to a kid get DOWN to their level. This applies equally as well whether you are face painting or clowning. Never loom over them.

* Sometimes the problem when dealing with a nervous kid is not the kid, but the parents. How many of you have heard the cringe inducing: "There's nothing to be AFRAID of!" or "It's not gonna HURT!" If they start in with that crap shush the parent quickly or you can write the whole thing off.

* With girls and little boys you are not painting their face you are DOING THEIR MAKEUP. Even little girls get this one. Ask them if they want their makeup done "Like a PRINCESS" with the emphasis on the word princess.

* Begin talking loudly and then gradually reduce the volume as you proceed, until you reach the point where you are whispering just for them. Keep up a steady dialog telling them how pretty they are (for girls) or how scary/cute/whatever for the boys. Make sure you constantly tell them how good they are at getting their makeup done.

* Even if they never answer your questions, proceed as if they have. For example, "You are sooo GOOD at this! Have you ever had you makeup done before?" (silence) "You're so good at this I know you must have! You are looking sooo beautiful, just like a little princess! You are gonna be the prettiest (butterfly/kitty/chainsaw psycho/etc) I have done today!" Etc

* When working around the eyes the problem is not so much that they CAN'T relax their face, it's that this is a muscular command that no one except actors and models deliberately practices. You tell them to close their eyes and they crush them closed harder than a drunk smashing an empty beercan. The trick here is to give them time to relax, while feeding them key words to keep them relaxed. I prefer to tell them to...

--- "Close your eyes Princess" (they do, scrunching their face so hard they could probably chew on their own eyebrows)

---- At this point I whisper to them: "Pretend you are asleep. Just relax Princess....that's right... just like that... very softly.... soft...." They will almost always relax after a few second. It is often useful to LIGHTY brush their cheek or brow with a smoothy or dry sponge while repeating this "Soft" command. 99% of the time they will relax. Continue to whisper while working on their eyes.

* If they have VERY sensitive eyes, switch to a smoothie and white star blend. The stuff is hardly noticable anyway so if you miss some it's no biggie. Another trick is to go back when you are finished and, with a soft glitter brush, go back over the eyelids with shimmer.

* Finally, if they won't let you near them.... wont even sit in your chair...

This is emergency time. Sorry--

EMERGENCY TIME! That's YOUR money that's about to walk away. Here's one method that can save the day a good 50% of the time.

1. Keep up the banter with the child and parents while you step back to your table. Tell the child that you are NOT going to do their makeup, you are going to show them a fun game.

2. Grab your white and begin loading your brush. While doing so, crouch down to their level and SHOW the kid the makeup and ask them what color it is. If they answer you are home free. If they don't, and most wont, the parent's will supply the answer -- or you can. Whatever they answer reassure them that they are correct.

3. Grab another color and double load your brush. For example, grab red and tip the brush with that. Repeat the same question game about the color, and ask them what happens when you mix red and white. Again, they might answer and they might not. If they do you're set.

4. Now for the game. Tell them you are going to paint something pretty and their job is to shout it out as soon as they can guess what it is. Your GOAL here is to get the brush onto their skin. If they will give your their hand begin painting the leaves of a flower. Take your time and make it a game. Ask them after every petal if they know what it is yet. Even if they never answer that's okay, you're painting them and are 90% of the way home.

5. Ask them if it's okay for you to use glitter. If they are letting you paint their hand they are gonna nod their head yes. Finish your flower and glitter and make sure you tell them how beautiful it is. Now ask them if you can put a princess flower on their cheek, and without necessarily waiting for a reply go ahead and try. Odds are good that they will let you start, and once you've started you're home free. You can paint as many flowers as you like so long as you lavish them with praise about how GOOD and PRETTY they are. Ask them again if you can use glitter when you are finished.

6. The goal here is to get their money and make it something they ALWAYS want to do. Even if they won't let you do their face this time, next time they might.


And now it's YOUR turn. What are your tips and tricks?

[Special K'z]

If you have a child who just won't allow it. Don't be too upset. Many special needs children have more difficulties with this. Sometimes talking so much can make it worse for kids with Autism. They just get more confused. I realize it can be hard to tell if you have an autistic or special needs child in your line, but if you could see yourself through their eyes you might understand. Their world is a visual world so the heightened visual stimulus of a clown can be even more extravagant to them. Some things to know. Children with Autism are great imitators so if you say words like "Do this", and then do the action you want them to do, Such as sit in the chair, close eyes, etc. You may be more likely to get compliance if you give the 2 word directive and then do it yourself so they can imitate. Remember to limit your phrases as much as possible. Instead of Come over her and sit down honey - be more gestural and say "sit here". Quite often boys on the Autistic spectrum are enamored with trains so having a train design or Thomas the train small trinket in your pocket could be a great help. A small wind up toy or what we teachers call "fidgets" would be a great distraction for kids with ADHD also. It may make them wiggle a little while painting but it may also get them to stay with you the time needed to finish the design. You would be surprised the number of special needs children that are out there in your lines. Most are not distingushable from the mainstreem of kids.

[Artsy]

I've posted/shared this before but since Smacky has a special thread for this, I will add it here.

I am always at the kids' level because I am 5'2" and I use a tall director's chair for the client to sit on, so they are at eye level with me. And I stand, yes, ALL DAY LONG, but it's better on my back than sitting.

Now, when I have a special needs child in the chair and they want an arm design (usually the parents have already ruled out the full face because they know what is tolerated and the limit for their child) I take out am ARM BOARD. It is made of sturdy thin plywood inside with a washable cover with lots of adhered obnoxiously lavished glitter peppered all over it.

The glitter board DISTRACTS them while I paint.
The arm resting on the board DIMINISHES my TOUCHING them to eliminate over-sensory load.
They feel more secure with their arm resting on something.
The parents are extremely appreciative of my thoughtfulness.

Oh, and it's very important to use SOFT brushes. Quality sable brushes are key to keeping the facepainting experience pleasant.

[Smacky]

Simple solution for special needs kiddies...



DUCT TAPE!

I'll be here all week. :P

[Special K'z]

Originally Posted by Artsy

The glitter board DISTRACTS them while I paint.
The arm resting on the board DIMINISHES my TOUCHING them to eliminate over-sensory load.e pleasant.

Superb example of a simple adaptation. I thank you on behalf all special needs parents. Being able to participate in the same activities as other children can mean so much to these families.
Thank you,
Sara K.

[Daisy Ray]

I've found it helps sometimes to let the little ones know what I'll be doing, before I do it. For example, if I need to swoop a line from under the eye to up above the eyebrow for Spiderman, I gently trace that line with my finger first, so they know where the brush will be going and they don't jerk away.

I also heard someone else say that sometimes they'll comment to a fidgety boy that they don't want to make them look like a princess, so they need to sit still. Obviously the same tactic could be applied to a fidgety girl.

[Smacky]

As a general rule I have little problems with squirmy kids. I think that the more practice you have the less it begins to bother you. I always keep my off hand holding their head, not so much holding it in place (I never use force) but more as a warning (that extra fraction of a second) and to help steer them. Every now and then, maybe 1% of the kids I work on, I get one that's a problem, but it's so rare that I don't even think about it. Believe it or not, as a general rule kids are WAY more still than the adult actors we got our start working on.

We NEVER tell our customers to be still, nor do I want the parent's saying it. A great way to get mom and dad to shut up is to grab their chair and shake it wildly (we also use the tall director's chairs) while telling them to quit moving. The kids always giggle at this one, and it's a subtle way of getting the parent's to be quiet. I always finish this one by telling the kid that they don't have to be still, they just have to have fun. Obviously use your head before doing this or any other "trick" as it could blow up in your face. This one is not for kids who are scared.

"Special needs" kids come in all shapes and flavors. I don't recall ever having a problem with any of them really. Actually though, now that I think about it, there was one once. Mom didn't tell me that she had a problem with hyper sensative eyes. She let me DO her eyes no problem, but then I made the rookie mistake of saying something about her eyes being finished and she panicked. I soothed her down, pretended to wipe it all off, and went on with the design.

For me, I talk to all the kids a lot, but generally I consider it more background music or hypnosis than conversation. I spend most of my time repeating myself, and as I said, I am usually speaking very softly. Even if it's a boy. By speaking softly you force them to pay attention. The repetition serves to build confidence. This applies to adults as well, including actors if you ever do theatrical work; it is important to continuously reassure them that they look great.

Finally, and another trick... MOST of the time when someone is squirmy it's because there are distractions. Have them close their eyes again, and relax. Have them keep their eyes closed if you need to. No one is wildly whipping their head around with their eyes closed. They are turning to LOOK at something, so take that away from them.

[Smacky]

Originally Posted by contrachapado

I've found it helps sometimes to let the little ones know what I'll be doing, before I do it. For example, if I need to swoop a line from under the eye to up above the eyebrow for Spiderman, I gently trace that line with my finger first, so they know where the brush will be going and they don't jerk away.

That's a good idea. I just might try that.

[Artsy]

I have often thought about wearing a mirror strapped to my forehead, like a miner's band or one like the three stooges wore when they were doctors, so that the kid can WATCH the strokes being applied.

I got this idea while sitting in the dentist's chair and I was watching him work on my teeth through the reflection of his eyeglasses.

Then the idea was reinforced when, one time I was facepainting wearing silly glasses, and the kid in the chair said, "Hey, I can see what you're doing!"

I wonder if it will work to keep kids sit still or if it will be a deterrent? I'll have to try it out.

[Smacky]

That's either brilliant or insane so either way you're good!