What's your favorite circus act?

Do you like the circus? I do. My favorite circus acts are the trapeze act and the acrobats! I've always been awed by the grace and agility demonstrated by these performers.

What I don't enjoy about the circus? The cost! It's easy to drop $200 to go to a show. And in today's economy, that is not a cost many of us are willing to spend.

Fortunately, Jodifur is giving away a set of four tickets to the circus. The tickets apply to DC, VA, and MD - to the opening day show only.

Go sign up to win. The details are on her blog.

********************
Is your child ready to visit the circus?

Here are these easy ways to tell:

1) Circus' are often very crowded and busy places. Be sure your child can handle many things happening at once. The circus can be extremely overwhelming, even for an adult. Over stimulation is no fun for anyone.

2) Believe it or not, the fear of clowns is a very common fear. Experts believe it may be triggered during very early childhood. Small children are still trying to gauge the world around them. Clowns with static expressions render a person unable to gauge feelings properly and can lead to a phobia. Being vigilant of this phobia while attending the circus will give you and your child a safe experience.

3) And finally, at the circus there are live animals who defecate naturally. Precautions are taken so that visitors are not in direct contact with anything that may be hazardous. However, the smell can often be very pungent and is unavoidable. Children who are overly sensitive may become overwhelmed in this environment.

You are the best judge of what your child can handle. Considering their age, their tendencies, and their fears is an important part of knowing if your child is ready to attend the circus. Don't be afraid to leave in the middle of the show. You'll be grateful you did.

If you deem that your child is not ready, you can still enjoy a good circus show on television. This way, you can pause the action to explain what's happening and give them an opportunity to ask questions.

By no means is this meant to discourage you from attending. I can't wait to take my daughter this year!