Sometimes, it's all about the smiles.

Naomi Foley, aka Peaches the Clown, lets her young visitors in on a secret: Clowns are people, too.

In the First Teacher classroom last month, Foley let her prekindergarten audience see the woman behind the make-up.

The idea, she says, is not only to have fun but also to help ease the fear and anxiety of children who are scared of clowns' bright hair, silly clothes and over-the-top make-up.

Foley showed off her specially made shoes, taught how face

paint is applied, led a chorus of fun songs including "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star," and passed around fake, bright-red noses.

By the end, even her most leery visitor was putting on a faux nose and silly hat and talking about how fun clowns are.

Mission accomplished.