TOM Greder's novel form of play can help improve relations within the family.
PARENTS are used to trying to juggle their lives around their jobs, homes and children. But with the circus school coming to town, some are taking to juggling for real.
Parents, children and professionals who deal with children can learn juggling, clowning and other circus acts. According to the aficionados it can relieve stress - both among adults and children - improve co-ordination and posture and even promote self-esteem.
Businessman Albert Sum and his 10-year-old son Richard attend a circus skills workshop one evening a week at the Fringe Club. They join an assorted group of performers honing their skills, young people who might normally be seen on a skateboard and professionals, many of whom think this is the ideal way to relieve the pressure of a working day.
As Mr Sum says: ''By learning juggling a child discovers that what at first seems very difficult, can with practice be learnt and mastered. When they grow up they realise that nothing is impossible. This is true of business and it is true of studies: youcan be anything if you concentrate hard enough.'' Not that Richard needed to be persuaded. To be a juggler or walk on stilts for a day fires the imagination. ''It's fun,'' his son says briefly without taking his eyes off the balls overhead.
Later, he says his concentration has improved at school and he has been doing better at exams.