16″ Snowflake Reindeer – Our 16 inch Snowflake Reindeer 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 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 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.
Little girls know their dolls are real: these are their first friends, who they spill their secrets and desires to and their best playmates through thick and thin.
The newest American Girl Doll is set to hit the scene in late summer this year, according to an article from The Detroit News. Embracing Motown and civil-rights era Detroit, American Girl has named 9-year-old aspiring African-American singer Melody Ellison as the latest American Girl Doll.
The BeForever brand’s third African-American doll, after Addy Walker and Cécile Ray, will retail with a paperback book for $115.
Melody’s story begins in a Detroit church choir, where Melody took to singing with her congregation while simultaneously learning about racial inequality. In the first story of the series of novels featuring Melody, “No Ordinary Sound,” Melody lands a singing solo for Youth Day at her church where she must draw upon the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s words to help her pick what song to sing.
A six-person advisory panel helped to develop every detail of Melody, down to the texture of her hair. When Melody is released this summer, she will have her own bed and a recording studio that plays Motown music.
Melody will also feature multiple outfits, including a blue and yellow houndstooth dress with a blue ribbon headband and blue patent leather shoes. An “Equal Rights in ‘63” lapel pin in red, white and blue completes the outfit.
Before adding Melody to your daughter’s American Girl Doll family this summer, create a supplementary wardrobe for her to come home to. The Zoo Factory offers American Girl Doll clothes including dresses, leggings, socks, pajamas, pants, shoes, skirts and tops.
Categories of clothing that cover careers, costumes, sports and scouts round out the collection. Help your daughter understand that she and Melody can grow up without limits by purchasing a green scrubs and white doctor’s coat set, or let your child teach Melody karate with a karate outfit. Is your daughter a Brownie? Make Melody one too! Or, give your princess the gift of her own little royal with a Snow White costume.
Allow your daughter’s imagination to run wild as she dresses up Melody in a new outfit each day or for special occasions. Remember to watch for the release of American Girl’s latest doll towards the end of the summer, and check out the full line of outfits and accessories for American Girl Dolls from The Zoo Factory today!
In an era dominated by digital devices, managing screen time for children has become a pressing concern for many parents. While technology is an integral part of learning and entertainment, excessive screen time can impact physical health, sleep patterns, and even social skills. Encouraging physical play with toys, especially those that stimulate imagination like those from The Zoo Factory, can provide a healthy balance. Here are practical ways to manage screen time and promote active, imaginative play.
Establish Clear Screen Time Guidelines
Start by setting clear, consistent limits on screen time outside of educational purposes. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests no more than one to two hours of quality screen time per day for children over two years old. Make sure these guidelines are understood and agreed upon, and be firm yet flexible when enforcing them.
Create a Tech-Free Zone
Designate areas in your home as tech-free zones, where digital devices are not allowed. These areas can be filled with alternative forms of entertainment, such as puzzles, building blocks, and stuffed animals from The Zoo Factory. Encouraging play in these zones helps children rediscover the joy of hands-on activities.
Lead by Example
Children often mimic the behavior of adults. Show your kids that you too can enjoy leisure time without screens. Dedicate portions of your day to device-free activities. Whether it’s reading a book, gardening, or engaging in crafts, your example sets a powerful precedent for screen-free enjoyment.
Schedule Daily Playtime
Set aside specific times each day for physical play. This could be anything from a family walk or bike ride to indoor activities like hide-and-seek or creating imaginative worlds with stuffed animals and action figures. Making this playtime a regular part of your child’s routine ensures they get the physical activity they need and helps break the cycle of screen dependency.
Encourage Creative Play
Toys that stimulate creativity and imagination are invaluable for developing minds. Encourage your children to create stories with their toys, build forts, or engage in role-playing games. The Zoo Factory offers a wide array of stuffable animals that can be personalized, providing not just a toy but a companion that fuels imaginative play.
Reward System
Implement a reward system for following screen time rules. Rewards can include a new toy, extra playtime, or a special activity. This not only motivates compliance but also makes the effort feel recognized and valued.
Looking for high-quality toys that encourage imaginative play? Visit The Zoo Factory to discover a world of stuffable animals that can inspire stories, adventures, and a lifetime of memories.
As infants, we almost immediately form bonds with our parents and family members. However, as we explore the world, we also start to form bonds with other people and other things. Our stuffed animals, for instance, can become life-long companions and sources of comfort. The bonds we form with our stuffed animals is why they are some of the greatest gifts we can give to newborn babies or toddlers. However, that isn’t the only reason you should gift your newborn baby with their own stuffed animal. Read on to learn more:
Why should you get your baby a stuffed animal?
When you gift an infant a stuffed animal, you may not know it, but you are teaching them about the world. Stuffed animals can be used to classify different animals, such as reptiles and aquatic creatures. Not only do these toys introduce your baby or toddler to the animal kingdom, but they can also help them process and understand human emotion and sensory details such as texture and color.
What to look for in your baby’s first stuffed animal
When choosing your baby’s first stuffed animal, you will want to keep a few things in mind. Try to avoid animals with long fur or removable parts, as babies can easily choke on these. Also. if the act of gifting a stuffed animal is sentimental to you, you may want to opt for a stuffed animal that your toddler can hold onto once they are of preschool age. At this age, your child is beginning to develop more of an active imagination, and will most likely want to interact with their stuffed animal more, even simulating real-life scenarios and mimicking emotions.
At the Zoo Factory, we encourage everyone to get a lovable stuffed animal of their own, whether you’re 3, 15, or 67! We’re never too young or too old to connect with our inner child. Look through our online inventory today to get started.
The Perfect option for the last minute party or event.
Add the number of animals you want and checkout. Your order will be shipped the next day, excluding Sunday.
Choose this party package when you want an assortment and an easy way to order – add the quantity your want, click add to cart – it is that easy! Your order will consist of multiples of different animals – at $14.00 per animal – all adorable! If you have a theme, add that to the comment section at checkout and we will do our best to accommodate.
These Party Package 16 inch do it yourself stuffable animal kit requires NO SEWING! The closure on the back of each animal is either Velcro, a zipper or both, either way, it is easy to do and hidden once closed. A great activity for a birthday party, a special family time activity or school fundraisers.
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 6-7 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 Animals.
The Perfect option for the last minute party or event.
Add the number of animals you want and checkout. Your order will be shipped the next day, excluding Sunday.
Choose this party package when you want an assortment and an easy way to order – add the quantity your want, click add to cart – it is that easy! Your order will consist of multiples of different animals – at $10.00 per animal – all adorable! If you have a theme, add that to the comment section at checkout and we will do our best to accommodate.
These Party Package 8 inch do it yourself stuffable animal kit requires NO SEWING! The closure on the back of each animal is either Velcro, a zipper or both, either way, it is easy to do and hidden once closed. A great activity for a birthday party, a special family time activity or school fundraisers.
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 Animals.
We all want our kids to do well in school. While some kids are intrinsically motivated, others not so much. They may need an extra nudge or two to truly put their best foot forward when it comes to schoolwork. If your child needs that extra encouragement, here are a few ideas to get you started:
Provide help with homework
Everyone needs a helping hand at least once in a while. Our kids are no different. When our children struggle in school, their motivation to do well takes a hit. They may believe that they will never understand a subject, thus believing that there’s no point in studying. If your child is in this position, consider providing them with some extra help either from yourself or from a tutor.
Set realistic expectations
Some kids will never be straight-A students. And that’s ok! Grades don’t always correlate with intelligence. Your child may struggle in math and science, but they may excel in art or music. Nevertheless, we still want our kids to do their best. So, instead of pushing your kids to get straight-As, encourage them to get grades just above what they are currently receiving. For example, if your kid has a C in Math, encourage them to bump it up to a B-.
Offer incentives
Incentives can be a great way to motivate kids who simply do not care about school. But make it an incentive that they truly care about. For instance, if your child loves soccer, tell them you’ll let them go to a summer soccer camp if they get their grades up. For young kids (such as kindergarteners or first graders), give them a special treat like new books, toys, or their favorite meal.
Here at The Zoo Factory, we offer plenty of stuffed animals for your child to choose from. To get started, look through our inventory today!
Christmas Teddy is an 8 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.
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 bear.
Chores can teach our kids valuable life lessons, making them more independent and more successful later on in life. But when you have multiple kids, dividing chores amongst them can be a chore on its own. After all, you don’t want things to feel unfair, but you also don’t want to give your kids more than they can handle.
Here we discuss how best to divide chores between your kids to keep everyone (mostly) happy in your household:
Make it age-appropriate
The types of chores you assign to your children will depend largely on their age. For instance, a 12-year-old could handle vacuuming their own room, but you can’t expect the same of your 6-year-old. Keep the chores age-appropriate so that everyone can handle their fair share. If you’re not sure what’s appropriate for your child, look through this list here.
Use a buddy system
A buddy system can ease the burden and even make chores a bit more fun for everyone involved. A younger sibling can help an older sibling with their tasks, allowing both to get through their chores quickly. You can also pair similar-aged siblings together to complete the same chores.
Rotate chores
If your kids are close in age, then the fairest way to divide chores is to rotate them. In other words, if Stacey cleaned the toy room last week, then it’s Tom’s turn to clean it this week. This keeps things fair, but it also changes it up and prevents chores from becoming too monotonous.
Have a reward system in place
Frankly put, your kids won’t do their chores just because you tell them to (though we certainly wish that were the case). A reward system will motivate kids to keep up with their tasks and do what is asked of them. This reward system can be a simple allowance, or it can involve presents such as a trip to the ice cream shop or a new toy.
If your kids have been keeping up with their chores, then consider rewarding them with a stuffable animal from The Zoo Factory. Look through our inventory today to get started!
While the traditional Easter candy and other edible treats make great basket stuffers, a stuffed animal will become a lifelong friend to your children beyond the celebration of a once-a-year holiday.
That’s why we want to encourage you to incorporate some stuffed farm animals into your child’s Easter basket this holiday!
Froggy Favorites Basket
Children that love frogs will adore a frog-themed Easter basket full of treats and gifts centric to their favorite animal. Fill colorful plastic Easter eggs with frog trinkets like shiny necklaces with frog charms, soft green socks, and dangly key chains. Tie the basket together with this adorable plush frog that will have your child hopping around with excitement on Easter morning!
Rainy Day Basket
Spring ushers in rainy days, perfect for splashing around in puddles! Create a rainy day Easter basket full of fun activities perfect for a rainy day, such as arts and crafts, treasured movies, new rain boots, and an umbrella with a silly pattern. Your child will love celebrating “duck weather” with this fluffy yellow duck and a new yellow rain hat.
Gardening Basket
April showers eventually bring May flowers, but you have to plant them first! Gift your little gardener with their very own gardening Easter basket, complete with packets of seeds, shovels, a bright watering can, and some fun gardener’s gloves. Make gardening even more fun with a garden buddy. This precious brown rabbit will easily help make gardening a new favorite pastime for your little one.
Soft and Sleepy Basket
Young kids love soft things to help lull them to sleep, so filling an Easter basket with only the softest treasures is sure to please! Pack a basket with soft, fleece blankets and small fluffy slippers. Throw in some fun soft pajamas, a new bedtime book, and the perfect snuggle buddy lamb for the ultimate bedtime basket!
Get a head start on your Easter shopping and head over to The Zoo Factory and select your child’s new best friend. Shipping is on sale for orders over $50 now through March 31st!
