One of the cutest things is seeing a little tyke carrying around his favourite stuffed animal in every single place he goes. You’ll not only see him speaking to his small stuffed doggie, but pointing things out & hugging him, as if he were “real” live dog.
If you have a young child with a favorite animal, then you know all too well the trauma that the whole family goes through when it is lost. Until it is found, the child may have a hard falling asleep at night.
You can rest assured that this strong attachment to a child’s stuffed animal is very natural and beneficial to the child. Most likely it is their first toy and can be their best friend, serving protect them from those “big bad monsters in the shadows” at night. Stuffed animals may even be an outlet for emotions & feelings that they may not be able to express in other ways. “Play” is the natural way a child expresses themselves, as “words” are for adults.
The animal becomes even more special as the child grows older. It not only brings back fun memories of what they’ve done and where they’ve gone, but also of special friends and family who may have given the animal to them.
Stuffed animals have also been used in therapy by psychologists to help with plenty of issues children may have, such as: hyperactivity, aggressive behaviors, temper tantrums, staying quiet and relaxed, and nightmares. The animals are also used in play therapy where the kid’s natural means of expression, namely play, is used as a therapeutic method to assist him/her in dealing with emotional stress or trauma.
Some hospitals let children bring their stuffed animals with them to the hospital. The animal not only gives them a sense of security & familiarity, but is also great for a doctor to help report an upcoming surgical procedure on them (or a loved one). Some doctors even go as far as to do a “mock” operation and place bandages over their animal’s “boo-boo’s”.
When a child is brought to a hospital after a traumatic event, stuffed animals may be used as a way to talk to the child about the events that had happened. They are sometimes more comfortable talking to the animal than they may be to a police officer.
Did you know that stuffed animals can be therapeutic later in life? Stuffed animals are not just for kids… they make great companions for the elderly at convalescent homes. They offer a wonderful sense of comfort and security and a soft, sweet thing to hold. The Jellycat truffle stuffed animal not only makes a great friend, but can even be used as a huggable pillow, too!
Should you come across some “unused” stuffed animals that you no longer need, you may want to think about donating them to a children’s center, or a convalescent home where they are sure to find a loving new friend.