View Single Post
  #1  
Old 2010-02-13, 2:08pm
patienthand's Avatar
patienthand patienthand is offline
Run Free Sweet Boy
 
Join Date: Jan 29, 2008
Location: Orlando, Fl.
Posts: 2,194
Default Hospital rep visits our Guild (What Types of Beads Kids Like)

Hi Folks,

Wow, I just got home from our Florida Glass Dragons meeting, and was it an eye opener.... We had a child life specialist form the hospital we sponsor for Beads of Courage come and visit us today. She told us a lot about how they operate the program and work with the kids using the beads and other forms of play therapy etc. Amazing!!!! But what was a real eye opener for me was exactly what the kids want in thier beads, the age groups that are most common, and the size beads the kids like and want.

so, here is the low down from someone who works the program every day....

She said they have lots of kids that are 3 and under, then the next age when cancers show up are at about 9 and the last about 16.

She said the little kids like BIG honking beads and really like anything character driven... cartoon etc etc, and things that are bright anything princess themed is a big hit with that group as well.

The next group tends to like all sorts of animals, sports themes are a giant hit with the boys and always in short supply. They also like character beads

The teens tend to like cutsie things and animals as well, and will sometimes go for the "pretty: beads, but also like the unusual as well.

She said often what we as bead makers think of as pretty beads are often the last ones picked, they like things they can identify with themselves in some way. and food related beads fly out of the place.. cakes, cupcakes, hot dogs, ice cream cones, she even had a fried egg bead. She told a story of one little girl that all she would eat for a LONG time was eggs, and a fried egg bead was her choice.

It was so nice to have someone form the Florida Hospital oncology pediatric unit come and visit us today, and I know I have a MUCH better understanding of how personal and important those beads are toa childs journey, and most of all.. what the kids actually WANT in thier beads. I have so many new ideas to play with now, and a better way to focus my efforts.

Hope it helps you too.

Candice
__________________
NEW FLAMINGO BEACH BEAD TUTORIAL AVAILABLE NOW.CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT AND ICICLE TUTORIAL, VISIT MY ETSY SHOP AT
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


"It's not what you have, it's who you are."
Reply With Quote