What do you say to the kids?

Okay, so a lot of my clients are Hispanic... I don't speak Spanish, and so it makes it very difficult to get them to close their eyes or lift their chin up.

So I was very excited to hear about the new translate ap for the iphone. So... I actually don't have an iphone; just an itouch, so if I want to use it while I'm working I have to save the phrases to it.

So, aside from close your eyes and pick your chin up, what do you ask the kids to do the most, or tell them to do the most while painting?

Thanks!

How about these Clayton,

Keep still.........sit/move forward
sit/move back........sit up straight
turn your head to the right/left
All done/finished
What do you think/Do you like it
What would you like
How about I do a ______on you today

If they are super wiggly (and if I have time) I will tell them to stand up & get all the wiggles out so when they finish they can sit still. I usually wiggle with them too (gives me a chance to stretch). Then right before I have them sit back down in the chair, I ask them, are you SURE they are all out... cuz you have to stay very still in the chair. It's a cute way to get the point across. I also have to tell them not to scrinch their eyes too much (close them too tightly). That's about it.

I use a lot of gesturing, like pointing at my eyes & closing them & then pointing at them.
Merryposa(sp?) = butterfly
Floures = flowers
Spiderman = Spiderman
Tigre = Tiger
Batman = Batman
Ironman = Ironman
I've notices most countries & languages keep the English words for super heroes.

colours, beautiful, super cool, do you like it, glitter

I also paint a lot of hispanic non-english speaking kids, and I've learned to say some things pretty fluently. "Close your eyes" and "You're pretty!" or "You're handsome!"... of course, "Thank you" and "You're welcome", and Adios!

Most of the rest is just smiling and gentle nudging.

Cerrar los ojos - close your eyes.
Ahora puede abrir los ojos - Now you can open your eyes.
Porfavor, cerrar tu boca - Please close your mouth. For cat/tiger muzzles.
Cual Quieres? - What do you want? I show them pictures. It is easier.
Cual colores? - Which colors?

Y tambien:

Te gustas? - do you like it?
Que Bonita! - How pretty
Que guapo! - How handsome
Gracias - Thank you
De Nada - You're welcome

That is all that I can think of right now. My Spanish is a bit rusty. I will be practicing it more often now that I am going to Central America over the summer.

Here I mostly get English, French, Hindi & Punjabi...amazing how much of the simple stuff you can pick up when you have to! I haven't had any real Spanish up here but I would be doing myself a favor if I could pick this up a little!

pjhamel wrote:Cerrar los ojos - close your eyes.
Ahora puede abrir los ojos - Now you can open your eyes.
Porfavor, cerrar tu boca - Please close your mouth. For cat/tiger muzzles.
Cual Quieres? - What do you want? I show them pictures. It is easier.
Cual colores? - Which colors?

Y tambien:

Te gustas? - do you like it?
Que Bonita! - How pretty
Que guapo! - How handsome
Gracias - Thank you
De Nada - You're welcome

That is all that I can think of right now. My Spanish is a bit rusty. I will be practicing it more often now that I am going to Central America over the summer.

Your spanish reads just fine and as far as face painting goes those few words in spanish can hold you/anybody over pretty darn well.