Category: Child Caring Tips

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How Playtime Can Ease Anxiety in Our Children

How Playtime Can Ease Anxiety in Our Children

We are living in stressful times, and our children are well aware of this. As parents, we want to make sure that our children understand what is happening in the world, but aren’t so consumed by it that they become overly anxious or depressed. Recent research, however, has proven that playtime can be extremely effective in relieving anxiety in children.  

So, if your child is overly anxious, here’s how you can use playtime to calm them down: 

Make ‘em laugh 

As the great Donald O’Connor used to say: “Make ‘em laugh!” Laughter truly is the best medicine as it can release stress hormones and boost your mood. Whether it’s a funny movie or a game that the two of you play, do something during the day that will get your child laughing. 

Let them win every now and then 

There is a lot of debate on whether or not we should let our children win. While understanding the value of defeat is important for kids, letting them win a few times can help boost their self-confidence and their mood. Just don’t make this become a regular thing, as it could lead to ego problems later on. 

Special time 

“Special time” is a part of the day, usually lasting 10-15 minutes, where you let your child do whatever they want (within reason of course). This could include watching TV, eating a snack, or doing pretend play. Performed regularly, special time can offer a safe space for your kids where they can freely express themselves. 

Here at The Zoo Factory, we have plenty of adorable, stuffable animals that can help get your child through these tough times. Look through our website to get started! 

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How to Make the Most Out of Hand-Me-Downs

How to Make the Most Out of Hand-Me-Downs

As a parent now yourself, you understand the value of hand-me-downs and how much they can save your wallet. However, they can also be controversial with your children, as older children might not want to give away their old toys and younger children might feel like they’re getting the short end of the stick.  

Here’s how you can make the most out of hand-me-downs while keeping all of your children happy: 

Let your oldest child decide what they’re willing to give away 

Don’t just walk into your eldest’s closet and decide what to pass down to their younger sibling. Instead, involve them in the process by letting them choose what items they’re willing to give to their baby brother or sister. As you’re doing so, inspect each piece to make sure that they’re in good shape. If they’re not, you can either throw them away or donate them. 

Then let your youngest pick out what they want 

Once your eldest has picked out a collection of old toys or clothes that they’re willing to give away, let your youngest come in and decide what they want from the pile. If they start groaning at the idea of wearing old clothing or playing with old toys, try to personalize the older items. For instance, you can get new pins to put onto an old backpack, or a new outfit to put onto an old doll. If there is anything that your child doesn’t want, don’t force it on them. It will simply stay tucked away in their closet, never to be used. Instead, donate the unwanted items to families in need. 

Still get new items once in a while 

Most children won’t complain too much about receiving hand-me-downs, but they will start complaining if that’s all that they receive. A child still needs toys and clothing that are their own, and no matter what you do, a hand-me-down will always be seen as their older sibling’s property. So, be sure to give your youngest some new toys or clothing that is just their own every now and then to remind them that they’re just as special to you as their older siblings. 

One new thing that you can give your youngest child (or your eldest!) is a stuffable animal from The Zoo Factory. Look through our inventory to get started! 

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How to Work From Home With Kids

How to Work From Home With Kids

As much as we love our kids, they’re not great for productivity. Working from home can be hard on its own, but working from home while also caring for your kids is a whole other ballgame. Many parents are struggling to meet the expectations put upon them, and while this time in our lives will not be easy, there are ways to ease the burden. 

Create a schedule 

With so much going on in our lives, it really is important to structure our day so that we can at least try to get everything done that we planned for. Set “office” hours for when you can work (mostly) undisturbed. It doesn’t have to be one big block of time, instead you can break it up throughout the day (for instance, if your child has just gone down for a nap, you can run off to do some work before they wake up). If there are two parents in the household, alternate your work hours so that one parent is keeping an eye on the kids while the other is working. 

Talk with your boss 

Even if you create the most efficient schedule in the world, there will be times when you just can’t stick to it. Maybe your child is sick, or maybe they’re having a temper tantrum. These things need to be dealt with first, and your work dealt with second. This can cause you to work fewer hours or be less productive during work hours. Instead of scrambling, hoping that your boss doesn’t notice, be upfront with them about your current situation. Most will likely be understanding, and they’ll find ways to help you cope. 

Find activities that don’t require supervision 

If you want to get any work done, you will have to let your kids fend for themselves for a few hours in the day. The best way to do this is to find activities that don’t require adult supervision. Here are a few ideas you can try: 

  • Reading 
  • Playing video games 
  • Watching TV shows, movies, or YouTube videos (keeping it educational if you can) 
  • Playing with their dolls or stuffed animals 
  • Naptime 
  • Arts and crafts 

Of course, one way to keep your children occupied throughout the day is letting them play around with their stuffable animals. Here at The Zoo Factory, we have plenty of stuffable animals that we’re sure your child will love. Look through our website or contact us today with any questions or concerns! 

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How to Support Your Kids During the COVID-19 Outbreak

The coronavirus has completely upended our lives, causing stress and anxiety for everyone, no matter their age. As parents, however, you have the extra responsibility of not only keeping your anxiety in check, but also the anxiety of your children as well. You don’t want them to worry, but you also want them to take things seriously. 

If you’re not sure where to begin, then here a few ways you can support your kids during the COVID-19 outbreak: 

Talk to them honestly 

If you keep your kids in the dark, they’ll only grow more anxious. As such, you should speak honestly with them, answering any questions that they have. You don’t want to make them more nervous, and some details they may not be able to understand, so only answer the questions that they have, and try to keep your answers short and simple. The CDC also has guidelines that you can follow on how best to speak with your children about the coronavirus outbreak. 

Stick to your normal schedule as much as possible 

Children take comfort in routine, especially during times of crisis. While you won’t be able to stick to the exact schedule you had before the pandemic (after all, most children are not going to school at this time), you should still have them getting up and going to bed at the same time. Other daily traditions such as family dinners should also take place to give a sense of normalcy. 

Don’t let them get bored 

Without school or sports, our kids will likely run out of things to do pretty quickly. With so much time to themselves, they will likely get bored, which will only stress them out even further. So, try to keep them distracted with board games, video games, arts and crafts, books, or pretend play activities with their dolls and stuffed animals. 

Here at The Zoo Factory, our selection of stuffable animals can be a great source of comfort to children during these stressful times. Take a look through our inventory or contact us with any questions or concerns. 

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4 Things to Do for When Your Kids Are Stuck Inside

Many parts of the United States have recently been impacted by the coronavirus. In order to protect us, government officials are shutting down large gatherings and closing schools. Unable to go to class or attend games, our kids will likely get bored being stuck at home all day. Here are some things you can do to keep them busy:

Cook up something good

Who doesn’t love the taste of home-made cookies in the afternoon? If you’re spending a lot of time at home, then that means more time for you and your children to cook up some great meals and desserts. It’ll also act as a great way to teach your children some cooking skills that will help them later in life. Just be sure to follow these safety rules when cooking in the kitchen with kids.

Play some games

Playing games with your kids is a great way to spend some quality time with them and keep them busy at the same time. You can get out some board games such as Monopoly or Twister, or you can play games on their PlayStation or Nintendo Switch. You can even do pretend play with stuffed animal for something more out-of-the-box.

Arts and crafts

Tap into your child’s creative side by doing some arts and crafts. You can draw some scenes from nature, paint your favorite animals, or create a scrapbook of all of your favorite family moments. And don’t be afraid to let them get messy—you can always lay down a tarp or a canvas to keep the mess contained.

Read some books

If you’re stuck in the house, one of the best things you and your children can do is to read all of those books that have been gathering dust on your shelf. Even if your child isn’t much of a bookworm, now can be an excellent opportunity to get them into reading. Try to find some books that focus on their favorite subjects, making sure that the reading level isn’t too high or low.

If you’re still looking for things to do in the following weeks, then consider buying a stuffable animal kit from The Zoo Factory. With these kits, you can create your own stuffable animal from the comfort of your own home. Look through our website today to get started.

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4 Screen-free, Rainy Day Activities

When you get up on Saturday morning and see rain pattering down on your windows, you’ll realize that a trip to the park is no longer possible. However, you don’t want your child to just stare at the TV screen all day. That’s why we’ve compiled some fun activities you and your child can do when you’re rained in on the weekend.

Indoor camping trip

You may not be able to enjoy the great outdoors, but you can have just as much fun inside with a pretend camping trip. Set up a tent and spread out some pillows and blankets to transform your living room into a comfy camping space. Then, bring down some books, snacks, crayons, and other toys for you to spend your time with. And don’t forget to bring your child’s favorite stuffed animal along for the trip!

Bake some sweets

A great way to warm up the house and fill your stomachs is to bake some delicious sweets. You can do something simple like chocolate chip cookies, or you can spend the entire day working on a cake for the family. Just be sure to keep your children safe while they’re in the kitchen.

Teddy bear picnic

Similar to having an indoor camping trip, you can also bring the outdoor fun inside with a teddy bear picnic. Get some snacks and drinks together and then gather all of your child’s stuffed animals (teddy bears or otherwise) around the picnic blanket. You can even plan additional activities such as hide and seek or an animal fashion show to keep things interesting!

Get creative

If your child loves arts and crafts, then break out some of the crayons and paints you have around your house. You want your child to have fun, so don’t be afraid to get a little messy. Just lay down a tarp or a plastic cover to protect your belongings from accidental paint spills.

As fun as all of these activities can be, they can’t be done without a trusty stuffed animal sidekick. So, if your child is in need of a stuffed animal of their own, then check out the stuffable animals here The Zoo Factory today!

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Babysitting Tips for Beginners

Did you just land your first job as a babysitter? Congratulations! While the idea of getting a job (and a paycheck) can be exciting, there are some things that you should be aware of before you walk through the door.

Ask plenty of questions

When it comes to babysitting, the old adage rings true: there’s no such thing as a stupid question. Kids can be a little quirky and understanding their habits will leave you better prepared once you’re home alone with them. Even if you don’t think of everything you want to ask on the spot, you should have the parents’ phone numbers on hand so that you can text them when the need arises.

Reinforce the house rules

It’s tempting to be the “cool” babysitter who lets the kids stay up past their bedtime, but this is also a surefire way for something to go wrong. There are house rules for a reason, so be sure to stick to them as much as possible. The parents will be grateful, and the kids will soon respect you.

Have an open line of communication with the parents

If something bad happens, don’t try to hide it from the parents. It’s best to speak with them frequently and honestly about any issues that pop up. After all, parents know their children better than you do, so they’ll know the right ways to tackle a certain situation.

Stay organized with a planner

Whether it’s for one night or several days, you should keep track of everything you have to do and when. Kids perform better under structured environments, and as the babysitter, it’s your job to take care of everything as planned. To do this, keep a planner with you containing such things as nap times, school schedules, food preferences, and more.

Bring along some entertainment

While kids will have their own games to play with, it’s not a bad idea to bring some of your own to add to the fun. Board games, video games, movies, and even your own stuffed animals are all great things to spend the time with. Plus, it’ll be fun for you too!

Looking for some stuffed animals to bring to your next babysitting job? Then look through our inventory here at The Zoo Factory to get started!