Clowns, jugglers, puppet shows, storytellers, and so on have entertained children and adults of all ages through the centuries shaping young minds and by extension adults.

Clowning has of course been central to many cultures; in Europe the clown or jester became central even to the most powerful adults in many cultures. In some of the continent's most important literature the clown or the fool takes a central role to the plot, not only providing comic relief, but also enjoying the privileged position of being able to say what no one else could say and becoming an important character telling the truth when it is too uncomfortable for others to say.

Of course, the appeal of a clown is not usually something as grandiose and important as this, the main point of clowns is simply to make everything fun. When a party or gathering has lulls, a clown is on hand to play the fool, to take the fall, make a joke, or play a trick.

Storytellers are another kind of children's entertainer who has indisputably shaped our cultures and ideas. Although as children's entertainers, for some reason their talents are not so much in demand as they were in times gone by, a good storyteller can bring an incredible amount of joy and fun to any children's event. It is amazing and reassuring to witness even in this day and age with so many distractions for children, how they can still be captivated and amazed by a good story well told. Tall tales and riddles can not only amuse children, they can also educate them and make them think.

Puppet shows have seen something of a resurgence in the past decade or so, of course children have always been amused by the exploits of puppets, television shows such as Sesame Street and the Muppets have amused and educated young people for generations, and even with the popularity of computer generated images today, puppets still have a big place in most children's hearts on television. In the 'real world' puppet shows are becoming increasingly popular again, although perhaps for many parents, the traditional Punch and Judy show now may seem a little violent and scary for their children, there are any number of other puppet shows better suited to modern audiences.

An added bonus with puppets is the interactive nature of the medium, as much as or even more than watching puppet shows, kids love making their own puppets and shows. It is an incredibly creative and productive way for children to amuse themselves making their own puppets and telling their own stories with them.

Children's party entertainers can vary greatly dependant on the target audience. Children of different ages will obviously be entertained by various different types of entertainers. Whilst younger kids would enjoy puppets and dancing, older kids could easily be entertained for long periods by a magician, especially one that uses members of the audience as assistants.

Costumed actors are another great way to entertain children for parties or schools or anywhere there are a large group of children. What better way to make a function really go off with a bang than to have a pirate or spaceman or anything that you choose attending.

Despite all of the distractions for children in the modern world, children's entertainers have lost none of their appeal.