Posted on November 1, 2019May 5, 2020 by The Zoo Factory — Leave a comment

The Story Behind ‘The Teddy Bears’ Picnic’ Song

“If you go down in the woods today, you’re sure of a big surprise
If you go down in the woods today, you’d better go in disguise
For every bear that ever there was will gather there for certain
Because today’s the day the teddy bears have their picnic…”

If you find yourself singing along to these lyrics, then you’re certainly not the only one. “The Teddy Bears’ Picnic” has been a hit with all ages for over 100 years. First written in 1907, this song represents the love each generation has for our stuffed teddy bears.

“The Teddy Bear Two-step”

The very first teddy bear was made in 1902, and they soon took the nation by storm. They were so popular, in fact, that they became inspiration for books and, eventually, songs. In 1907, John W. Bratton, an American composer, wrote “The Teddy Bear Two-step.” This version had no lyrics, but it nevertheless gained traction among the American public. In fact, one of the first recordings of the song occurred in 1907 by the Black Diamond Band.

The Lyrics

It took nearly thirty years until lyrics were added to “The Teddy Bear Two-Step.” Written by Irish songwriter Jimmy Kennedy in 1932, this is the version that we know and love today. It was renamed “The Teddy Bears’ Picnic,” and it was first recorded by Henry Hall and His Orchestra, with the vocals done by Val Rosing. The song went on to be covered by several other famous singers including Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, and Anne Murray.

So, if you plan on going down to the woods today, make sure you bring along your friend teddy bear. Here at The Zoo Factory, we have plenty of teddy bears that are sure to enjoy their teddy bear picnic. Look through our inventory or contact us today for more information.

Posted on December 7, 2020December 3, 2020 by The Zoo Factory — Leave a comment

4 Easy Tips for Keeping Your Playroom Clean and Organized

Let’s face it. A playroom can get really messy. Toys will be strewn about the floor, and all of those shelves and baskets you bought for organization will remain empty. However, there are ways to keep your playroom clean and organized. Here are a few tips to get started:

Donate old toys

The first step in reducing mess is reducing how many items can create a mess. If there are toys that your child doesn’t play with anymore, donate them to local organizations to free up space in your playroom. Just make sure that your child agrees to donate their old toys. If they’re having trouble giving some away, talk it over and emphasize that the toys are going to a good home.

Put sentimental toys in long-term storage

There will be some toys that you and your child simply don’t want to give away, even if they don’t play with them anymore. After all, many of us still have our childhood stuffed animals tucked away somewhere. For these toys, consider placing them in long-term storage to keep them safe but out of the way. You can store them in air-tight bins, or you could display them in a freestanding case.

Encourage your child to clean up

It’s much easier to keep your playroom clean if you’re not the only one cleaning it. Encourage your child to clean up after themselves every time they take out their toys. You can do this by turning cleaning into a game. Set a timer and see if they can clean up the room before the timer goes off. If they do, offer a reward. This can be anything from a piece of candy to their choice of a movie.

Make it easy to clean

If it’s not easy to clean up your playroom, then neither you nor your child will clean it. Instead, you need a quick and simple system that works for both of you. Set up baskets around the room so that all you have to do is pick up the toys and drop them in. We recommend using multiple baskets, one for each type of toy, so that things stay organized.

Do you have your own tricks for cleaning up your child’s playroom? Then leave a comment below or contact us today!

Videos

How to Stuff the Zoo Factory’s Stuffable Animals

The Zoo Factory’s video below is to better instruct our beloved customers on how to stuff their stuffable animals that they purchase from us. Although our stuffable animal kits come with stuffing instructions, our videos do a great job of showing how to bring your animal to life.

Our instructional and informational videos below will help you better understand how to stuff your stuffable animals, making the process as simple and seamless as possible.

Plan a Zoo Factory Birthday Party

If you want to plan a birthday party centered around The Zoo Factory’s stuffable animals, take a look at our videos below for some creative ideas on how to get started. Both videos provide a variety of tips on how to center your next party, birthday or otherwise, around stuffing your stuffable animal from The Zoo Factory. From a “Stuff Your Own Animal Party” to a “Zoo Factory Birthday Party,” these videos provide ideas on how to throw a unique and unforgettable party.

8″ Flash Reindeer

8″ Flash Reindeer – Our Flash Reindeer 8 inch is a do it yourself stuffable animal kit requiring NO SEWING! The closure on the back of each animal is either Velcro, a zipper or both. This is a great activity for birthday parties, a l family fun activity or school fundraiser.

The Zoo Factory kits DO NOT come with stuffing. You may choose to add it to your order OR purchase it on your own from a craft store. Each 8″ animal will need 2-3 ounces of stuffing depending on how soft or firm you want your stuffable animal to be.

Your child will enjoy creating their very own stuffed animal and making a memory that will last forever. Don’t forget to pick out a special outfit, sound chip for your stuffable animal.

16″ Flash Reindeer

Flash Reindeer is a 16 inch do it yourself stuffable animal kit requiring NO SEWING! The closure on the back is Velcro. This is a great activity for birthday parties, a family fun activity or school fundraiser.

The Zoo Factory kits DO NOT come with stuffing. You may choose to add it to your order OR purchase it on your own from a craft store. Each 16″ animal will need 7-8 ounces of stuffing depending on how soft or firm you want your stuffable animal to be.

Your child will enjoy creating their very own stuffed animal and making a memory that will last forever. Don’t forget to pick out a special outfit, sound chip for your stuffable animal.

Posted on July 2, 2020June 15, 2020 by The Zoo Factory — Leave a comment

How to Stop Your Kids from Roughhousing

Young children aren’t the gentlest of creatures. They are often loud, energetic, and rambunctious, creating a lot more chaos than there is calm. Roughhousing can be a particularly difficult problem to handle, as you want your children to have fun. Still, you don’t want them to hurt themselves or others.

It’s important to teach your kids how to play gently and stop roughhousing before someone gets hurt. Here’s how:

Demonstrate gentleness with a doll or stuffed animal

Dolls, stuffed animals, and other toys can be excellent tools for teaching your children how to be gentle. For example, you can use dolls or stuffed animals to show your children how to hold a new pet or baby sibling properly. This hands-on approach is more effective than simply telling your children to be careful. It actually demonstrates how they can be careful.

Model good behavior yourself

Children learn behavior by watching their parents. If their parents are calm and kind, their kids will copy their mild behavior. Conversely, if parents are loud and irritable, their kids will replicate it and start showing signs of aggressive behavior. If you want children to be gentler, then you need to model that behavior yourself.

Praise good behavior

When it comes to our children, positive reinforcement is more effective than harsh punishments. If your child starts roughhousing, don’t scream at them to stop. Instead, you can offer other ways to play with their toys, siblings, or pets. Then, when they do start modeling gentle behavior, praise them for their efforts to further encourage them.

Here at The Zoo Factory, we have plenty of stuffable animals that can help teach your children to stop roughhousing. Look through our website to get started!

16″ Zoo Animal Four Pack
* Includes Stuffing *

These Zoo Animals 16 inch do it yourself stuffable animal kit requires NO SEWING! The closure on the back of each animal is Velcro, and hidden once closed. A great activity for a birthday party, a special family time activity or school fundraisers.

Our Kit comes with the following:

~ 4 Zoo Animals
~ 4 Bags of Stuffing
~ 4 Wishing Stars
~ 4 Birth Certificates

Your child will enjoy creating their very own stuffed animal and making a memory that will last forever. Don’t forget to pick out a special outfit, sound chip for your stuffable Zoo Animals.

8″ Sparkles Reindeer

Sparkles Reindeer – Our Sparkles Reindeer 8 inch is a do it yourself stuffable animal kit requiring NO SEWING! The closure on the back of each animal is either Velcro, a zipper or both. This is a great activity for birthday parties, a l family fun activity or school fundraiser.

Your child will enjoy creating their very own stuffed animal and making a memory that will last forever. Don’t forget to pick out a special outfit, sound chip for your stuffable animal.

16″ Sparkles Reindeer

Sparkles Reindeer is a 16 inch is a do it yourself stuffable animal kit requiring NO SEWING! The closure on the back is Velcro. This is a great activity for birthday parties, a family fun activity or school fundraiser.

Your child will enjoy creating their very own stuffed animal and making a memory that will last forever. Don’t forget to pick out a special outfit, sound chip for your stuffable animal.

Posted on October 12, 2021October 4, 2021 by The Zoo Factory — Leave a comment

How to Parent a Highly Sensitive Child

Every child is different, even if they come from the same parents. One child may have no problem with loud noises or large crowds, while the other can’t stand it. If your child is in the latter category, they could be highly sensitive. But what does this mean? Read on to learn more.

What is a highly sensitive child?

Psychiatrist Elaine Aron was the first person to coin the term HSP, or highly sensitive person. But what exactly does that mean? An adult or child who is considered an HSP has a highly reactive nervous system. In other words, they’re more sensitive to physical, emotional, and social stimuli, and thus quick to react.

How does this affect their day-to-day life?

For most of us, our brains filter out certain information, but HSPs take in everything. As a result, they are very perceptive. This can be a major advantage, but it can also work against them. When there is too much stimuli—such as in large crowds—an HSP can become overstimulated and overwhelmed. Adults can have the self-knowledge to handle overstimulation accordingly. But children do not. As a result, highly sensitive children may have emotional outbursts or shutdown all together.

Parenting a highly sensitive child

Parenting a highly sensitive child may require different techniques. Here’s what you can do:

See it as an advantage: Being highly sensitive should not be considered a negative personality trait. Your child is not “too sensitive,” they just see the world different. Plus, a HSP has qualities that others don’t, such as having a greater level of emotional awareness, empathy, innovativeness, attention to detail, and more.
Understand their triggers: Your child will be more sensitive to external stimuli. Understanding what triggers them can help you avoid or manage these situations.
Be accommodating: Some parents try to expose their child to their triggers to force them to “get over” it. However, this actually worsens the problem. High sensitivity is an inborn trait, so it’s better to cope with it than try to “fix” it. For instance, you can give them a pair of headphones to block out loud noises, or a stuffed animal to keep them calm.

A stuffable animal from The Zoo Factory can help keep your highly sensitive child calm in tough situations. Look through our website today to get started!