For me, one of my most favourite times in the Scouting year is when all those 5-7 year olds show up for the first Colony meeting. Then I get to learn their names, but in a humorous way. The routines may be repeated through those first few weeks, and periodically through the year just for fun, but I use a combination of simple clown routines and ideas, and material I've learned and developed on my own through the years. Sometimes, I don't know who has more fun:  the Beavers, their parents, or me.

Without a doubt, the best examples of these dialogues are Art Linkletter and Bill Cosby. It's OK to have verbal fun with the Beavers, but be prepared for some of the most unexpected answers.

The Name Game

There are several variations I like to use. Let's call this one, Mistaken Name. Ask the Beaver her or his name? Now start a conversation with the Beaver using any other name other than the one the Beaver has just given you. If the Beaver corrects you, politely thank the Beaver, say, "Yes, I know" and continue using the wrong name. Don't carry this on too long before the Beaver corrects you a last time and you reply, "Oh, it's [name]! Why didn't you tell me that in the first place?" ... and so forth.

In Let Me Guess Your Name, tell the Beaver you'll guess their name. Use something like, Rumple Stiltskin, Amanda Overalls, or Chocolate Charlie — whatever comes to mind. No matter how many times the Beaver tells you their [name], you say, "No, that's not it, it's [something else fictitious]." As the Beaver keeps telling you their name, tell her or him, "Yes, that's close, but not quite right," and then give another guess that isn't even close. Finally, tell the Beaver you give up and let them tell you. Now matter how far out you took the name, tell them you were close — "right?".

Another alternative is to Confuse the Adult's Name. Here you ask the Beaver what her name is, then immediately ask the parent or guardian what their name is. Now talk to the Beaver using the adult's name. Play confused and again ask the Beaver her name and the adult their's. Again exchange the names. Finally, take your time an validate the names. It might go something like this, [to the Beaver] "Now, tell me your again." So it is [name], right? [turning to the adult] "And your name is ...?" Then to the Beaver, "Why didn't you tell me that in the first place? Hey, I finally figured it out."

Missing Teeth

If one of the Beavers is missing a tooth or two you might ask, "Did you forget to put your teeth in this morning?" To which the Beaver will probably reply, "No, I lost them." Your monologue might now go like this:  "Oh, no! Stop everything! Everyone look for them. (Start looking for them on the floor in the immediate area.) Where did you say you lost them? (Don't wait for the answer.) Call the police. Call the lost and found." When the Beaver finally gets an opportunity to explain that they came out naturally you might ask about the Tooth Fairy and make it subject of another dialogue.

How Old Are You?

This is one of my favourites since Beavers are in that wonderful 5-7 age group. Usually, the dialogue goes something like this:  "And how old are you?"Say the answer is five. "Then how old were you last year?" Obviously the answer is four so make your answer, "So you are 54?" The confused Beaver will give you their right age, but ask, "Then how old will you be next year?" When the answer is six then ask, "So you are 56?" Play this along for a while.

If the answer is six then sympathize, "Oh no, I didn't realize. Are you under doctor's care? Should I call a doctor? Should you be here? Can I take your temperature?"

If the answer is seven then confuse it with eleven. "Eleven years old. My you'll be going up to Scouts soon. How many stars did you earn?" You'll find seven year olds more sophisticated. Try something like, "Wow! You're old. Are you married? Do you drive?"

Are You Married?

Speaking of married, ask the Beaver, "Are you married? Did you bring your wife/husband with you? Are all these other Beavers your children? Well, do you have any children? Are they here."

A handshake is something that a Beaver might expect from an adult. After all, they see adults do it all the time. So an offered handshake is something you would expect to put a Beaver at ease. Besides, there is enough variety that not only can the handshake be fun, (what can be more fun than introducing a "left" handshake to a new Beaver), but it can be tailored to the Beaver (e.g., shy, boisterous, husky), and be a surprise — you change the handshake on them.

The Miss

Extend your left hand to the Beaver. When the Beaver figures out it is the left hand you are offering rather than the right, and offers the left hand, intentionally miss the hand as you extend yours. Repeat this several times as you try to get it right. Finally, and with great relief to you, you shake the Beaver's hand.

The Mix-up

Which hand is it anyway? This is a natural for teaching the scouting handshake.

Extend your left hand to the Beaver. Most likely the Beaver will begin to offer their right hand. When the Beaver finally offers the left hand and is just about to grasp yours, take your hand away and offer the right hand. Now when the Beaver withdraws the left hand and extends the right, take yours away and offer the left again. Repeat the process a few times, or the Beaver grabs your hand and shakes it.

Rubber Arm

When you take the Beaver's handshake it as if you are operating a hand-operated water pump. Keep all joints of your arm moving loosely during the shake, giving it a certain rubbery effect.

Rubber Hand

A prop is required for this one. Ask the Beaver if he or she would like to shake your hand. If the answer is "yes", quickly pull out your prop hand and give it to the Beaver. Tell the Beaver, "Well, here it is. Shake it all you want." If the answer is "no", quickly draw away your hand and tell the Beaver indignantly, "Well then, I'll just shake it all by myself." You can then join your two hands and do a handshake, or shake the hand in the air (like you're flicking off water.)

I Know It Is Here Somewhere

Ask the Beaver if he or she want to shake your hand. If the answer is "yes", look in a bag you have nearby. "I know it is here somewhere," as you rummage through the bag. "I can't find my hand," you say to the Beaver, "can you help me find it?" If the Beaver points to the right hand say, "Oh, that's the wrong one. I need my left hand," and again go back to look in the bag. Play along until the Beaver finds the hand. If the answer is "no", tell the Beaver that you are disappointed. You were hoping to get some good fibs. "Can you help me get some good vibes?" you ask.

Cow Hand

With a western cowboy drawl, ask the Beaver if he or she would like to be a cowboy/cowgirl and regardless the answer ask them, "Well, now lookee here. Let me shake your old cow hand." You can milk it for what it is worth, literally milking the fingers after the handshake.

I'm Stuck

Shake the Beaver's hand and pretend that you can't let go. The hand is glued or something. Tell the Beaver to, Let go! I can't get my hand away!" When you finally get you hand away, ask the Beaver if they have been eating glue? Tape? Toffee? Whatever you come up with. "Boy, I'm certainly glad I got my hand back."

Strong Hand

A variation on the I'm Stuck is the incredible strength the Beaver has in their handshake. As you are shaking hands wince in pain. Exclaim the super human strength in the grasp of the Beaver. "Oh my goodness. You must be Superhuman!" After the handshake try to get the feeling back into your hand. Shake it about. Ask the Beaver to shake hands with you again but this time they are to go easy on you.

Static Electricity

As you give a Beaver a handshake, quickly draw your hand away and look at it in amazement. "Wow! What was that? I thought I got a shock. Boy, you are one charged up girl/boy."

Parent/Guardian

This is good for registration or opening night. Ask the Beaver if they would like a handshake. Regardless if the answer is "yes" or "no", if the parent or guardian is there, stand up and shake their hand while you are talking to and questioning the Beaver. After a while the Beaver will probably remind you that it is their hand you are to shake.

I'm Confused

Ask the Beaver whether you can shake their hand. Assuming "yes", then ask, "Can you help me out? I'm confused. I'm supposed to shake with my left hand, but I don't know which one it is. Can you help me?" During the ensuing conversation ask the Beaver questions like, "Are you sure?" "Can we get a second opinion?" Play it along and have fun.

The Boxers

With two Beavers in front of you, shake the hands of both. Ask them if they know each other and get the names totally confused. Then, when you have the names sorted out, have the two Beavers shake hands with one another. As they shake hands say something like, "Travis met Carly. Carly meet Travis. Now go to your corners and come out fighting." Don't be surprised if they look confused — or if they are familiar with one another, square off.

Repeat Shake

Shake the Beaver's left hand. Left go of the handshake. As the Beaver starts to drop the left hand back to their side, use your right hand to their elbow to swing the arm back up into a handshake position. Immediately take the hand with your left and shake it again. Repeat as often as you feel necessary. Ask after the last time, "Are you finished?"

One of the main props I use for breaking the ice with Beavers is palm squeaker. This is an almost flat bulb device that fits almost invisibly in the palm of your hand and makes a squeaking sound anytime it is pushed. It really inexpensive and can be bought at many novelty and clown shops. The list below gives you some ideas for ice breaking, but also how to use it other times in your program.

• As you flick an invisible bug off a Beaver's shoulder, comment, "Hmmm! A bug."
• Again as you flick something off a Beaver's shoulder, or if their hat is off touch their hair and comment, "You must have washed today. You're squeaky clean."
• Ask the Beaver if you can check out their elbows. With your hand under the elbow ask them to move it back and forth. Let the first elbow pass. As you do the second elbow, make squeaking noises and comment, "Hmmm! It squeaks. It needs a little elbow grease." You can do the same with your own knees, elbows and shoulders.
• Put the squeaker in a pocket, make an off hand comments and mysteriously make the squeaking sound. Let the Beaver know, "Wow, I was trying to squeak that one by you, but I guess you found me out."
• Make a squeak while you are pretending to wind you watch. "Hmm, I really need to oil this thing."
• Touch a Beaver's nose and it squeaks. "How about that! A pip squeak."
• If you use stuffed toys to tell stories, use the squeaker to help them "talk".