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Cleaning Your Stuffed Ani-pal

UnicornKids and stuffed animals; they go together like cheese and crackers. Your child’s favorite fluffy friend is a companion, confidante, and playmate. Keeping these treasures clean and cared for is something your child can get into quite easily with a little help from you.

 

Pookie the piglet or Snowflake the rabbit are going to get soiled and collect dust and your child should know that, just as he needs to take care of his body, his ani-pal’s body needs care as well. Showing him how to do this is not only instructive, but creates a deeper bond between child and stuffed animal.

 

A simple hand-held vacuum can be used regularly to remove surface dust, and even a young child can do this. Make sure to get into all of Snowflake’s crevices, to vacuum feet, and give the entire body a good overhaul. It might also be good to explain to your child that dust is bad for his pal as well as himself, and that removing dust is good for Pookie’s health. Children imbue their toys with human emotions and needs, and your child will want a happy and healthy stuffed animal.

 

dragonEvery few months it is a good idea to give your child’s stuffed animal a “bath” by putting it in the washing machine. Use cold water and a gentle cycle and follow the cleaning instructions on the animal. While you are doing this you will be teaching your child how to use the washing machine, as well as helping him understand that his ani-pal needs to be clean just as he does.

 

You can make these tasks fun events for your child, special times for him and his stuffed animal to share together. And they can be instructional as well. This is a time for teaching your child how to care for someone other than himself, and these times of growth are important and precious for everyone, even for you.
 
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Why Do Kids Love Stuffed Animals?

teddy bearStuffed animals have been a classic children’s toy for decades, but why? What makes them so special? Even in this technological age, stuffed animals haven’t lost their appeal to children. Read on to discover some of the reasons why this is.

They come in all different sizes and colors, which make them extremely versatile. They can be in the style of different animals, including whichever is the person’s favorite.

One great reason is that they can encourage a nurturing attitude. Many times you see kids playing house, or school, or acting out their favorite scenes from movies. They do this because they are pretending to be adults! Having a stuffed animal allows them to take care of them. In their eyes, they make the best student, child, or playmate in their eyes. They can take care of them when they are sick and they get to try their hand at responsibilities. This stage of play is crucial to their social and mental development, so encourage them to put them down for a nap!

Stuffed animals are always smiling, which means they are always a source of positive interaction. From a young age, we are taught to associate smiling with positive feelings. Stuffed animals always have a smile on their face, which means they are always available for when they are having a bad day. Even if someone else is disappointed in them, teddy won’t be!

Ever noticed how great stuffed animals are at giving hugs? Squishy hugs are the best at making a day better. Stuffed animals don’t need to breathe either, so they can get a bear hug for a long time! The softness and warmth of a stuffed animal just can’t be beat.

In addition to all of this, they are very easy to clean. When a child has a messy room, stuffed animals are very easy to pick up and put in their designated spot. They quickly find that they can see the floor again, and when their favorite stuffed animals have messy fur, they are easy to clean as well. More often than not, they can have a spa day in the washing machine and come out looking better than ever.

Children will create a special bond with their toys, so it’s important to get one that lasts. Stuffed animals tend to outlive electronic toys, or anything that comes in one hundred pieces that tend to get lost over time. Stuffed animals can be sewn if they rip, whereas plastic toys are harder to put back together. Stuffed animals can last for years without much fuss.

The benefits don’t stop there! It’s been shown time and time again that having a stuffed animal can cause toddlers to start becoming more independent. When your toddler has a task or skill to perform, encourage them to show teddy how it should be done. Having someone to teach will strengthen their confidence and their ability to do tasks on their own.

 
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Outfits: The Ultimate Accessory for Playtime

denim shortsWhen people think of the month of October, one of the things they also think of is Halloween. Of course, this will make us think of candy, but this is also a great time to dress up!

Everyone loves getting to pretend that they are someone else. Whether the costume is a pirate, or an animal, or a superhero, or even a fairy princess, Halloween is a time to play pretend and have loads of fun. But you know who else really loves to dress up? Your stuffable animals!

And this isn’t just during the month of October. The Zoo Factory has outfits that fit both the larger and smaller stuffed animals, and they work for any occasion!

For those casual days when it’s time to down with some playtime fun, we have options like denim shorts, plain colored T-shirts, frilly dressand even some pajamas too! These articles of clothing will allow your best friend to feel comfortable while playing with you!

And for those days where they need to look a little spiffier, we have dressier options as well! From frilly dresses to sequined shirts to tutus, we have everything that you and your stuffable animal could ever need for a fun night out on the town.

October as we mentioned before is a great time to dress up, there are just so many possibilities! Just like you, your stuffable animals have a personality all their own, and wouldn’t it be nice to have outfits that expressed that for them as well?
 
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Tips for Stuffing Your Stuffable Animals

chihuahua

We all know how fun it can be to assemble our animals and truly make them our own. You can personalize them, dress them up, and they make you feel like a million bucks!

But, your stuffed animal deserves to look and feel just as good. There are many things you can do to make sure that your stuffable animal will look awesome, and a lot of it has to do with how you stuff it. Here are some awesome tips on making sure you stuff your animal in a way that will make it look great!

bengal tiger

    • There are going to be some sections of your animal that are going to be harder to reach with the stuffing. Use the eraser side of a pencil to help you with the hard to reach places like ears and feet. Make sure you get to these crevices first, because it will be much easier. Then you can concentrate on the larger areas, like the tummy!

 

    • Make sure you use the right amount of stuffing for your animal. If you don’t, then it can come out looking either too full or could come out misshaped. If you’re not sure, put in smaller amounts of stuffing at a time, and it will be easier to judge just how much more your future friend will need!

 

    • If you have concerns that the stuffing may look a little lumpy, tear it apart before putting it into your stuffable animal. This will make it smoother and easier to maneuver.

 

    • Once you have stuffed your animal, play around with it a bit to make sure the stuffing is even throughout the toy. Most of us love massages, so why wouldn’t they?

 

Have you discovered any tricks to stuffing your stuffable animals? Share them in the comments below!

If you still have some questions, feel free to contact The Zoo Factory today!
 
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A ‘Teddy Clinic’ Helps to Ease Children’s Fears of Hospital

teddy bear

We found an article from ABC News that we just had to share, it was too cute.

A group of German medical students have helped find a way to ease the fear of young children about being in a hospital- through the use of teddy bears and other stuffed animals. They hosted an event where they could help cure, test, and do surgery on stuffed animals (with imaginary illnesses, of course).

It is said that about 90% of children have fears and anxieties about hospitals and doctors. The students used a mix of real and fake instruments to help diagnose and treat the critters, including the use of x-rays and CT scans.

Some even had make-believe consultations and prescriptions given to them! One stuffed dragon needed to have an operation done, which gave his owner the chance to learn about sterility. So not only were the children involved in the process, they got to learn about what goes on in doctors rooms to make it all seem less scary.

Seeing that their favorite stuffed animals turned out ok, and stepping into the roles of doctors themselves helped them see the importance of the doctor’s jobs and see that it isn’t really all that scary. When you take a look at the original article (link at the bottom of the post) you will see that the children were even dressed up in scrubs and hair nets to get the full effect.

However, we are pleased to say that occasionally all that was needed to get the job done was a simple Band-Aid.

Stuffed animals have always been known to bring comfort in times of need, but it is simply heartwarming to see their affect at work like this.

Tell me, when have stuffed animals come to the rescue for you?

Check out the article from ABC News here.

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What You Want to Be When You Grow Up

Children are known for having their great imaginations and playing pretend. Adults would always ask, what do you want to be when you’re older? What do you want to do when you grow up?

Here are some of the most popular answers:

astronaut

 

Astronaut: many kids of going into space. There is nothing cooler to kids than rocket ships, aliens, and stars. Children are meant to explore and see what’s out there!

 

 
ballerina

 

Dancers: girls especially will dream of being dancers and showing their moves on stage- whether that’s through ballet, tap, hip hop, jazz, or other styles.

 

 

athlete

 

Athletes: Who wouldn’t like to have a job doing something they already like to do? Playing sports is one dream of many children and is a goal to reach for that is actually fun!

 

 

vets

 

Vets: The best way to spend the day is with animals, right? Many children want to help animals that are hurt and make the world a better place for their furry friends.

 

 
pilot

 

Pilot: How cool would it be to be able to fly a plane?! Everyone would look like ants from up there! But seriously, kids love the idea of being able to fly and go somewhere new and exciting.

 

 

doctor

 

Doctor: Some kids have big hearts and want to make others feel better and possibly even give them surgery. We won’t tell them about the medical school they have to go through first.

 

 

military

 

Military: From a young age, children might get the urge to serve their country and fight for freedom.

 

 

 

No matter what they decide they want to be, as parents and family the best thing that we can do for them is encourage them to live their dreams and work toward their goal. Giving them a stuffable animal with a special outfit is a great way to do just that.

Check out the site to learn more!

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Zoo Factory Necklaces: Keep Your Favorite Animal With You!

the zoo factory

Growing up, we all had that that one animal that we loved and adored. We wished that we could take them around with us everywhere we went. Well, with these special necklaces, now you can!

Our necklaces are not only a great value, they are super stylish too. In a variety of animals, these would be great as a gift. There are necklaces with all sorts of animals on them, so no matter what the preference, there is something here for everyone.

Girls love to accessorize and dress up. Why not give them the opportunity to do so with something that they love? This is a great opportunity to have them show off their individuality.

the zoo factory

Another great perk is that they come in adorable carrying cases. Many times, they look just like the object on the necklace! You can never be too coordinated, right? It’s like getting a gift within a gift.
And, for some of us who have a sweet tooth, there are also cupcake necklaces with matching bejeweled cases. They look so good you want to eat them! (Although, for safety reasons, we suggest you don’t actually do this.) Our necklaces are safe for young children and do not have any harmful lead or chemicals.

So for birthdays, holidays, graduation, and any other gift giving holiday that hasn’t been mentioned, consider giving that special girl the gift of these cute necklaces that are easily affordable.  She will be glad you did!

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Make Your Animal Friends Talk!

sound chips

Although we all know that stuffed animals are the best things in the world anyway, there is one thing that could make them even better… don’t you remember being a kid and wishing more than anything that your stuffed animal would come to life? Wishing they could talk?

A great way to make your kids’ dreams come true is to give them the gift of a talking stuffed animal. Though that may sound far-fetched, we can make that happen. We sell sound chips that can be put inside an already existing toy or that can be purchased along with our darling stuffable animals.

Whether your son or daughter wants their buddy to be able to talk like them or like the animal they are, we know that our sound chips will give your child a whole new realm for play. What a great surprise a talking friend will make!

If the selection of sound chips that we have doesn’t suit the voice of your child’s toy, we have 10 and 20 second recordable sound chips that you can customize yourself so you can really make your child’s dream come true.

Another really sweet idea is to record your baby’s heartbeat so that they will have an extra special connection to their stuffed animal as they grow. We hope that you will tell us all about that adventures that your kid and his/her buddy goes on!

Need some inspiration? Check out this video of some talking animals- they are sure to make you laugh!

 

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Stuffed Animals as Healers

 stuffed animals

When you were sick as a kid your mom would keep you home from school and give you chicken noodle soup. She would also make sure you were tucked in tight with your favorite stuffed animal. Not because she wanted you to have him but because you wanted to have him. You felt safe and secure when your friend was around. Some kids feel more comfortable around their stuffed animals than they do around other people.

Why do stuffed animals make us feel so secure? They don’t judge us, and they provide comfort. They are there when we need them and they don’t tell us anything we did was wrong. They are the best of all worlds, especially when you have an imagination and can have a conversation with them while playing with your tea set. These reasons are why stuffed animals are great healers as well. They are not doctors or nurses and they do not actually provide medical healing but they do provide metal healing. If there is a sick child in the hospital, chances are they have a stuffed animal nearby. When they want to cry stuffed animals can wipe their tears dry. When they want to be alone, they don’t actually have to be alone.

Stuffed animals can provide more comfort than you could ever describe. This is why children become so attached to their stuffed animals. Being so young children cannot always convoy their emotions to an adult, but a stuffed animal can listen and they can say anything they want, they don’t have to censor their anger or their sadness.

 
 
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Giving Your Child “The Best Birthday Ever”

 


kids party ideas

Birthdays only come once a year, which feels like a decade to children. Each and every birthday should be celebrated to the full extent and treated like a once in a lifetime day, (except once a year)! When your children are young, their birthdays should be even more exciting. You are not only celebrating the day they were born, you are celebrating the 9 months that lead up to your miracle coming into the world, and because of their bad days you are celebrating not sending them away to military school. Make sure you celebrate the whole day and not just at the party, there are fun and inexpensive ways to make sure your little guy or girl feels special all day long, below are some of our favorite to keep the excitement going all day.

Balloon wall- after your child goes to sleep tape crepe paper to the door frame and fill it in with balloons. When your child wakes up and opens their door they will be greeted with a balloon wall!
Pancake…cake? – it already has cake in the name so why not use it to start the day?! Make a short stack and top it with a birthday candle, who says you only get to sing happy birthday once?
Lunch surprise- pack their favorite lunch with a special birthday note, don’t stop there wrap each part of the lunch like tiny little presents, unwrapping presents is one of the best parts to a birthday.
Decorate your vehicle- use washable window paint to let all the other drivers on the road know you have the birthday kid on board!
Pets can get in on the fun- if you have pet that would cooperate make a birthday hat for them to join on the fun
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