

EAR PIERCING FOR CHILDREN
The most important thing to any ethical body piercer worth their salt is the ability to create a safe, welcoming environment for clients of all ages. As such, Berserker Body Art sets high standards for piercings of all ages, and in particular those for children.
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AGE. At Berserker Body Art, we only pierce children ages 5 and up. We have discovered this is the general age in which children can understand the piercing will hurt, that they are willing to accept that pain, that they understand basic aftercare procedures, and most importantly, that they consent to have the piercing done.
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CONSENT. The most important concept during the piercing process is consent. The piercer will walk your child through the steps involved in the process and will encourage your child to speak up along the way. Consent must be given throughout the procedure, and may be withdrawn by the child at any time. Under no circumstances will we restrain a child, nor will we pierce a child that is restrained. We will not pierce a child who is held down by a parent.
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READINESS. Your child may say he or she is ready, and may be excited until the very minute they sit in the chair. We schedule children under 12 for 1 hour, and sometimes it takes the entire hour to complete the procedure. If the child is unwilling to go through with the piercing after the hour has passed, your appointment will be rescheduled for another time. We will no longer allow the appointment to extend more than the allotted hour.
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Signs of readiness include more than just verbal consent. They can be shown by the child sitting still and leaning in, asking questions, understanding that the procedure will hurt, and understanding what basic care requires.
Signs that a child may not be ready for an ear piercing include pulling away, hiding their ears or body, shaking their head "no," squirming, covering the ear, and/or crying. If these signs are present and persistent during the piercing, the piercer will stop service and reschedule for a later date.​​
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WHAT WE WON'T DO:​ If your child does not want to have their ears pierced, we will not pierce their ears. We will not hold your child down, or pierce children while they are being held down. We will not "trick" children into completing the procedure. We will not bully or "convince" a child who insists he or she does not want the procedure.
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WHAT WE WILL DO: Empower your child to make an informed decision. Encourage your child to overcome their fears. Let your child know that he or she is in total control of his or her body and the choices they make.
Ear piercing should be a fun, safe, empowering experience for any person at any age. Piercers have a moral and ethical responsibility to ensure all choices are made by the person being pierced and not by any surrounding influence. Body autonomy is respected and enforced for everyone regardless of age.
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