Children Entertainers

It was a sad day in the world when one of the most popular children entertainers announced that they were losing one of their members. Greg Page from the Wiggles was forced into retirement by an illness that makes it impossible for him to go on with being Wiggle. His condition was one of the worst he could have considering his occupation, and the choice to step aside was pretty much made for him the moment the doctors figured out what was going on. It must have been one of the saddest moments of his life.

Kids often get very attached to the favorite children entertainers. My daughter has a special love for the Wiggles, and Greg’s condition has hurt her. It’s not anyone fault, as no one can stop an illness. It happens. She’s torn up though, as she has met Greg on a few occasions, and she thinks of him as a member of the family. Many children think of children entertainers as someone they know, even if the parents know the difference. To a child they are a friend, and when Greg retired my daughter felt as if she had lost a friend.

Though the Wiggles will go on, my daughter has yet to accept it. She already knows the man who will be taking Greg’s place within the group, but she refuses to acknowledge that Greg will not return. The Wiggles have been her favorite children entertainers since she was one year old, and now, at age five, she is having a hard time letting go of him. I assured her that Greg will always be her friend, but that isn’t helping her much. She likes other children entertainers, but the Wiggles have always been special, and now they have changed.

I guess we all form an attachment to the children entertainers that we watch when we are young. I remember feeling a deep sadness and sense of loss when Captain Kangaroo died, as he was a favorite of mine when I was young. Thankfully, Greg has not died, and can expect to live a long life as long as he can get his health managed. He may even go on to sing again, it just won’t be with the Wiggles. If your child is sad because of the retirement or even death of one of their favorite children entertainers, remember that they think of them as a part of the family. Help them understand if you can, and remember to let them be sad. It’s only natural.