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Fun Holiday Traditions to Start with Your Child’s Stuffed Animal

little boy dressing up teddy bear putting on Santa hat. Christmas time.

The holiday season is a time for joy, warmth, and creating lasting memories. For children, their stuffable animal companions can play a big role in making the season even more magical. By including these cuddly friends in holiday traditions, you can create heartwarming moments your child will treasure for years to come!

Here are a few fun ideas to try this holiday season.

Holiday Photo Shoots

Dress your child’s stuffed animal in festive outfits and include them in your holiday photos. Whether it’s a tiny Santa hat, matching pajamas, or a holiday-themed T-shirt, these special touches make for adorable pictures. Set up a holiday-themed backdrop or pose the stuffed animal alongside the family for a photo keepsake.

Decorate Together

Make decorating a team effort by involving your child’s stuffable friend. Place them in fun spots around the house—near the Christmas tree, on the mantel, or as part of a festive centerpiece. Your child might even enjoy pretending their stuffed animal is “helping” to hang ornaments or set up lights, making the activity more interactive and fun.

Write a Holiday Letter

Encourage your child to write a holiday letter “from” their stuffed animal. Whether the letter is addressed to Santa, friends, or family, this activity sparks creativity and adds a playful twist to the holiday tradition. Your child could even write about an imaginary holiday adventure the stuffed animal experienced, bringing a whole new layer of fun to storytelling.

Include Them in Gift-Giving

Help your child select a small gift for their stuffed animal, such as an accessory, a scent, or a sound module. Wrap it up and place it under the tree to “gift” to their furry friend. This cherished tradition instills thoughtfulness and enables your child to experience the joy of giving gifts.

Share Holiday Traditions Together

Whatever traditions your family cherishes—whether it’s baking cookies, watching holiday movies, or singing carols—invite your child’s stuffed animal to join in the fun. The stuffed companion can be part of the storytelling during bedtime or even “help” deliver treats or notes as part of a daily holiday countdown. These shared activities deepen the bond between your child and their stuffed friend while creating cherished family moments.

Including your child’s stuffable animal in holiday traditions adds a layer of magic and creates memories that last a lifetime!

If you’re looking for the perfect cuddly companion to join in your family’s celebrations, visit The Zoo Factory online to shop our wide selection of stuffable animals and accessories that will make this holiday season truly unforgettable.

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Holiday Activity Ideas for Kids

child making handcrafted christmas trees

Thanksgiving turkey, Hanukkah candles, Christmas trees…there’s nothing quite like the holiday season. As adults, we remember how much fun we had with our friends and family around this time. So, why not recreate those happy memories with your own children? Here, we discuss some of the best activities you can do with your kids this holiday season.

Thanksgiving

If you have kids who are old enough, consider having them help make something for Thanksgiving dinner. Cookies, potatoes, or anything else that is relatively simple to make can be a great bonding moment between you and your kids. If your kids are too young or uninterested in cooking, opt for crafts instead. Sit down in the days before Thanksgiving and make turkey handprints that you can hang around your home.

Hanukkah

Unlike Thanksgiving or Christmas, Hanukkah is spread across eight days. This means eight days full of fun activities celebrating Jewish history. You can make hand-made dreidels to play with, or decorate the house with the paper Star of Davids and menorahs. You can also teach your children about the story of Hanukkah by hiding candles underneath plastic cups and shuffling them around. Have the kids guess which candle is hidden under which cups, and then have an adult light them to re-enact the story.

Christmas

From baking Christmas cookies to decorating your tree, there is plenty of things to do to celebrate the Christmas season. Make an advent calendar to count the days, and then plan small activities every few days. You can make hand crafts one day, and then bake Christmas treats and cookies the next. You can also decorate your house (both inside and out) with Christmas decorations or send out hand-crafted Christmas cards to friends and family.

Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa is a seven-day holiday starting on December 26, celebrated by Black Americans. To learn about Kwanzaa, the children’s book “The Story of Kwanzaa” by Donna L. Washington is a great place to start. You can then sit down and have your kids create their own crafts, such as necklaces, bracelets, and more. They can even write their own stories about Kwanzaa and bind it into a book!

As you’re searching for gift ideas for your kids this holiday season, consider getting them a stuffable animal from The Zoo Factory. Look through our website today to get started!