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The Healthy Aspects of Attachments to Stuffed Animals

girl reading book teddy bear

As a parent, it can become overwhelming to feel the judgements of other parents.  People will likely lecture you, specifically as your children grow, on what types of items your children should be growing out of.

The Zoo Factory has highlighted how a child’s attachment to a stuffed animal is not as alarming as many parents believe.

Children are Less Shy with Attachments to Objects

When a child has an attachment to an object such as a teddy bear or blanket, they generally feel more brave and comfortable in uncomfortable situations.

As children develop attachments to comforting objects, they will learn to interact in a comfortable manner. A child doesn’t receive any judgments from a teddy bear which is why children often view them as “friends” and gain a sense of security from them, regardless of their age.

Increased Empathy in Social Situations

As children establish bonds with comforting objects such as teddy bears, they learn how to handle transitions along with unfamiliar environments. When a child has the comfort of a stuffed animal, it usually increases their overall empathy and helps them to understand other people’s desire to feel comfort. Children care deeply about their stuffed animals which helps them develop a sense of empathy for people as well.

As children grow into adolescence and adulthood, they will eventually let go of their beloved friend, but every child has their own schedule.

Do you recall a stuffed animal or blanket that you were really attached to? You might still even have it somewhere! The Zoo Factory has a variety of stuffed animals that might just be your child’s new best friend for life.

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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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