I survived the kids!
Jul. 8th, 2005 08:44 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
grnvixenEalier this week I took a day off to do a costume presentation for a YMCA summer 'camp' program. This program is run by an old roommate of ours, hence the reason I was contacted. This summer's theme is legends and fairytales, this week was King Arthur, the excuse for an early period costume show 'n tell.
I will admit to some trepidation as this event got closer and closer. I am used to talking costume to adults but grade schoolers???? I get along pretty good with our dozen+ nieces and nephews but hey, they are family so we have to, at least on limited occasions :).
To make a long story sort-of short, I went, I talked, I survived :). I tried to take several examples of early period style clothes, then a few other, later period costumes with a 'wow' factor of bright colors or shiney bits (like one of DH's H8 ensembles). One thing I had not thought about, was using some terms the kids might not be familiar with, like "synthetic". Fortunately I had not been tossed completely alone into the sea of upturned little faces and one of the camp aides who was helping would break in every now and then ask "who knows what *blank* means?" :).
My biggest success came however when I remember how kids this age love the gross-out factor. I had brought samples of wool, linen and silk fabric to pass around for the kids to be able to touch and feel the types of fabric available to King Arthur. The silk pieces were some lovely, lightweight scarf type fabric. Several of the girls rubbed it on their faces. Then I told them what it was made out of: worm spit! I got a wonderful chorus of "oooo, Yuk!" :) :) :).
I will admit to some trepidation as this event got closer and closer. I am used to talking costume to adults but grade schoolers???? I get along pretty good with our dozen+ nieces and nephews but hey, they are family so we have to, at least on limited occasions :).
To make a long story sort-of short, I went, I talked, I survived :). I tried to take several examples of early period style clothes, then a few other, later period costumes with a 'wow' factor of bright colors or shiney bits (like one of DH's H8 ensembles). One thing I had not thought about, was using some terms the kids might not be familiar with, like "synthetic". Fortunately I had not been tossed completely alone into the sea of upturned little faces and one of the camp aides who was helping would break in every now and then ask "who knows what *blank* means?" :).
My biggest success came however when I remember how kids this age love the gross-out factor. I had brought samples of wool, linen and silk fabric to pass around for the kids to be able to touch and feel the types of fabric available to King Arthur. The silk pieces were some lovely, lightweight scarf type fabric. Several of the girls rubbed it on their faces. Then I told them what it was made out of: worm spit! I got a wonderful chorus of "oooo, Yuk!" :) :) :).
