Stuffed animals: Hidden treasures!
Sep 23 '01
The Bottom Line Creating playscenes and fun times with stuffed animals is easy, and the proper storage makes clean up a snap!
Stuffed animals are a great toy for kids of all ages. They come in all shapes and sizes and colors and everything imaginable. A problem comes into play when you have SO MANY stuffed animals and the kids have lost interest! I have outlined a few suggestions for keeping them appealing and keeping them out of the way!
Storage: If you’re like me, a sentimental pack rat, you don’t want to toss all those old stuffed animals. You want to keep them around as a reminder of that trip to the zoo, or your favorite Granny, but it isn’t practical to just leave them lying around on the floor, stuffed in closets or crammed under the bed. What we need is STORAGE!
A Toy Net is your first line of defense against the stuffed animal invasion. These cute little nets can be hung just about anywhere (I’m sure you can find information on them here on Epinions!) They come in many colors and sizes to fit your needs. I like to hang them in the corners of the bedrooms and play rooms. It keeps them safe and confined, and easily accessible if your kids want to play with one. One problem with toy nets is the dust. Since you have it hung up and most likely not being played with very often, dust is going to settle on the toys no matter HOW clean you are. A good rule of thumb is to wash the toys (Or simply dust them if small kids won’t be playing with them) every week or two (Depends on how dusty your home is!)
{Safety Note: Toy nets should be kept high out of the reach of young children, the strings are a strangulation hazard!}
A Toy Box is the classic answer to the overcrowding problem. A well-made and sturdy toy box can fit a large number of our fluffy friends easily and quickly. Clean up time is a snap with a well-placed toy box. Kids as young as toddlers can begin helping the cleanup effort! Things to look for in a toy box are strong sturdy build, smooth molded corners, a lightweight top that locks in the open position (To avoid head injuries if the lid comes slamming down!) and some air holes in case your little one decides to climb inside! The beauty of a toy box is the ability to pick it up (Or drag it!) around the house with ease, no worries of the toys falling out and getting lost.
As an alternative to the classic toy box, you can opt instead for plastic or rubber storage boxes. While they come in many sizes, shapes and colors, they aren’t as “Kid Oriented” as a toy box. The storage bins have the added bonus of a sealing top so you can toss it in the garage or basement and not have to worry about spiders, dust and mold!
Games: You can help your child stay interested in the stuffed animals and boost their imagination skills by playing games or creating puzzles.
Pool time is one of my kids favorite stuffed animal games. We bought a cheap blow up wading pool ($5 at the dollar store!) and blew it up. Placed it in the living room and filled it with stuffed animals. My kids then jumped in the pool and stayed in or around it for the better part of the afternoon! I was amazed how long they “Swam” in the animals, or hid beneath them, or simply sat and read books to each of their fluffy pals. I really thought they’d stay in it for just a few minutes, but it has turned out to be a favorite activity!
A variation on this game is filling the pool with pillows and blankets and hiding one or two small stuffed animals somewhere in the pool. Toddlers like this one a lot! {Safety Note: This activity is not suitable for babies or toddlers who cannot crawl or otherwise move about easily. The pillows and stuffed animals are a serious suffocation hazard! Ages 2 to adult!}
Toy Hunts are another big favorite in my house. We all sit down and draw pictures of the toys we are going to use. We cut out the picture clues and paste them on a scavenger hunt list, and then my kids go in their room while I hide the animals around the house or yard. Once I’m done hiding them, the kids are free to roam about and find the animals on their list! To make this a bit more challenging for older kids (But not yet reading) color code the toys, assign a color to each child and they can only pick up the toys on their list with their matching color. You can have prizes or no prizes depending on your mood. I think it’s just fun to see who can find them the fastest then EVERYONE gets a prize at the end!
Puppet shows are always fun. Older kids (4 and over) can have a blast making a “Show” out of their animals. Set up a cardboard stage (just a large box on the floor the kids can hide behind) supply clothes and props and let them go wild.
Role-playing things like feeding the baby, doctor’s office, or going to school are great imagination boosters. Not only is this a fun game, but also gives you a chance to look into your child’s mind and find out things she is afraid of (Bully at school, shot at the doctors office) or just how creative she can be! My own kids are so tender and loving with their animal “Babies” I just can’t help smile when they feed and snuggle them. I love it when I hear them sing the old lullabies I made up for them when they were tiny babies!
A toy doesn’t have to be filled with flashing lights and loud sounds, nor does it have to have batteries or moving parts to be a great toy for your kids. The toys that leave room for your imagination are always the best! Stuffed animals fit the bill nicely. As always, don’t be afraid to get down on the floor and become a child again, play with your kids and have fun!
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Epinions.com ID:
ravynwolfe
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Member: Optycal
Location: Washington
Reviews written: 89
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About Me:
Mother of 3 homeschooled girls, author, dog breeder. http://www.almostnakedpups.com
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