Tag: Stuffable Animals

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5 Ideas for a Great Stuffed Animal Birthday Party

birthday party with stuffed animals

All children loved stuffed animals, and all adults have had one when they were kids. We can all relate to the comfort and even support these animals gave us. So having a themed birthday party around the idea of stuffed animals is a great way to celebrate.

 Ask Each Child To Bring Their Favorite Stuffed Animal

On your party invitations, invite your guests to choose their favorite stuffed animal to come with them. This gives each child  a sense of participation even before the party.

Make Name Tags

When your guests arrive, sit them all down in a circle and ask each child to introduce his or her stuffed animal. Then get the kids to make name tags to tie around the animal’s neck with a ribbon. You can get tags and different colored ribbons at a craft store, and give the kids crayons or fine-tipped Sharpies to decorate the tags and write their animal’s name.

Animal Coloring Books

Get some animal-themed coloring books and let each child choose an animal to color. This encourages the kids to explore their creativity, and when they are all finished, let each child talk about his coloring project.

Pin The Tail On The…

Make the shape of the birthday child’s favorite stuffed animal on some construction paper, and have the children play Pin the Tail on the Donkey. You can give the winner of the game a tiny stuffed animal as a prize.

Animal Birthday Cake

You can either make a birthday cake in the shape of an animal or buy one and place tiny plastic animals on it. After the cake eating, let each child choose one of the little animals.

The Zoo Factory’s party packs can be a great addition to your stuffed animal party. Contact us today to learn more!

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Trader Joe’s Biggest Secret? Their Stuffed Animals

When you walk into a Trader Joe’s, you can find nearly anything that your heart desires. Chocolate? Check. Cheese? Check. Peanut butter? Check. What they don’t typically have are stuffed animals…most of the year.

Unbeknownst to most of us, from November to December, Trader Joe’s fills its shelves with hidden stuffed animals for kids to find.

This game of hide-and-seek was revealed on a Reddit thread by a former employee. The practice wasn’t confirmed, however, until TheKitchn spoke with Kendra Friend-Daniel, Trader Joe’s public relations director. “It’s a way to engage with kids in our store,” Friend-Daniel said. “If they locate the hidden stuffed toy, they just let a Crew Member know and they’ll receive a treat.”

The stuffed toys and treats may vary from store to store, but you can bet that the Trader Joe’s in your area will have a stuffed friend hidden behind the cans of cranberry.

And this isn’t just a fun activity; it can also be something to help parents survive holiday shopping themselves. We all know the feeling of dragging your kids with you to go food shopping. This is bad on most days, but especially so during the holidays where aisles are crammed with other stressed out parents and kids. But with Trader Joe’s stuffed animal hide-and-seek, food shopping is made fun for both you and your child this holiday season.

While we won’t be hiding our own stuffable animals in the shelves at Trader Joe’s, we at The Zoo Factory do have plenty of stuffable animals for your child to bring home this holiday season. Take a look through our inventory to get started today!

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Tips For Throwing A Successful Stuffed Animal Party

Stuffed Animals with a Cupcake

As your little one is approaching their next birthday, you want to start thinking of a theme and a fun activity that everyone will enjoy. A stuffed animal party would be a wonderful option to choose this year. At The Zoo Factory you can throw a party with 8-inch, 16-inch, or themed stuffed animals. As you prepare for your child’s next birthday, we have a few tips for throwing the party of the year!

Have enough stuffed animals for everyone

If a child RSVP’s that they cannot come and shows up randomly at your door, you want to make sure that they can be included in the day’s activities. Accidents can always happen, especially with young children around. We recommend having a couple extra animals on hand, just in case there is any sort of mishap!

Have a variety of stuffed animals to choose from

When it comes to choosing stuffed animals, having a variety of options on hand is always best! Every child is different, so give them a chance to show off their individuality with plenty of different stuffed animal options to choose from. Remember, all girls don’t like ponies and all boys don’t love frogs. Have some different options for the kids to choose from so no one goes home disappointed.

Play stuffed animal-inspired games

Once each child has their own stuffed animal, then it’s time to have some fun. Put together some games for the children to play, such as hide and seek or an animal fashion show. If you’re short of ideas, then check out one of our most recent blog posts about the different kinds of games kids can play with their stuffed animals.

Have fun!

There is a lot that goes into planning a great birthday party, but the most important thing to remember is to have fun! This is an exciting and special day for your child, one that will stand out in their memory for years to come. Relax and enjoy yourself and the smiles on all of the kids’ faces as they celebrate your little one’s big day.

Start planning your stuffed animal party with The Zoo Factory today! View our party packages online and search our site for animals that your kids will love.

 

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Celebrate National Dog Day with a Stuffed Animal Dog

stuffable dogDogs come with a ton of responsibility for the entire family. And if your young child has been begging you to get a family dog, but you just aren’t quite ready yet, that’s ok! Instead of celebrating National Dog Day with a real dog this year, why not pick out an adorable, stuffable one instead?

Children hold stuffed animals. They hug them and squeeze them tight when they’re scared. They bring them to the park. They take them for car rides. They watch movies and snuggle with them. Children do just about everything with a stuffed animal, as they would with a real pet. With this being said, stuffed animal dogs are excellent ways to help your little one learn the responsibilities of taking care of a real dog.

Real dogs need to eat, go to the bathroom, drink, stay healthy, stay active, be cared for, shown affection, and treated with kindness. These responsibilities might sound easier than your little one thinks, however, caring for a real puppy requires just as much attention as caring for a newborn. Unfortunately, these responsibilities can’t be met by just your little one at such a young age. They need to learn and grow themselves in order to help a dog grow up to be healthy and happy.

If your child is not ready to take on this huge responsibility of caring for another life, or if he or she is allergic to dogs, bring home a stuffed animal to give them the satisfaction of owning a dog in one form or another. You can help your child learn the basics of owning a dog and everything that’s involved including feeding, bathing, walking, and taking the pet outside.

Surprise your little one with a stuffed animal dog, big or small, on National Dog Day August 26th. You can help your son or daughter learn the basics of caring for a real dog through an adorable stuffed animal by using the stuffed animal as an example while you discuss properly feeding, bathing, walking, training and raising a real dog.

We have so many adorable options to choose from, The Zoo Factory is the perfect place to pick up your child’s stuffable pet. Who knows, you might just end up with more than one!

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Storage Solutions for Your Child’s Stuffed Animal Collection

stuffed animalsThere are few things that young children love more than their stuffed animals, and there will come a time in every parent’s life when you start to wonder, “How many stuffed animals is too many?” This question usually comes about when your child no longer has room to sleep in their bed, because the entirety of it is covered in their much loved stuffed friends. And since we at The Zoo Factory are stuffed animal lovers through and through, we know that there is no such thing as too many stuffed animals!

If you are facing an overflow of stuffed animals in your child’s room, but understand that they cannot be parted from any of their fluffy friends, here are a few ideas to help keep your son or daughter’s stuffed animals from taking over the entirety of their bedroom.

Shelving

A great way to keep your child’s stuffed animals organized while adding a touch of style to the walls of his or her bedroom, shelved are an attractive storage solution. The best part of this situation: As your young child grows older then can continue to use these shelves for sports trophies, academic awards, books and trinkets.

Netting

Hung in the corner of the bedroom, netting is an inexpensive storage solution for an overflowing amount of stuffed animals. Just toss your child’s stuffed animal friends into the net when they are done playing to make extra space around their bedroom.

Depending on your child’s age, you may want to put a step stool near the net so they can easily get stuffed animal friends in and out on their own.

Closet Organizer

Available at most general merchandise stores, closet organizers are a handy way to keep stuffed animals out of sight when they are not in use. Hung in your child’s closet or the closet in the playroom, an organizer that reaches to the floor will have more than enough room for all your child’s stuffed animals. We recommend putting their favorite friends neat the bottom so they can grab them on their own when it’s time for their next tea party or adventure.

For more stuffed animal storage solutions, check out this WooHome.com article.

Now that you have plenty of room for your son or daughter’s stuffed animal collection, it’s time to give everyone a bath before putting them in their new home! To ensure your child’s stuffed animals make it through the laundry machine safely, we recommend using the Teddy Needs a Bath Laundry Bag. Currently on sale for just $7.00 here at The Zoo Factory, this bag is made of 100% cotton and is perfect for the washing of all delicate items.

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Party Planning Tips for Your Child’s Next Birthday

birthday partyFrom decorations to food and games, there is much to take into consideration when planning a birthday party for your child. A day that only comes around once a year, this is one that you want your little one to remember for years to come. But how do you make sure that you have everything covered before all your young guests arrive?

For parents looking to plan a bear-y memorable birthday party for their child, The Zoo Factory has put together a detailed checklist of what you need to get ready before party time!

Food

The first thing to decide – even before sending out invitations – is if you are planning to feed your young guests a full meal or if you will just be serving up snacks. Although you may be inclined to serve up some fancy foods, we recommend sticking with kid-friendly staples. Talk to your child about what foods they would like to eat – chances are the other children will have similar food tastes.

Decorations

Regardless of if you are hosting your big birthday bash indoors or out, there decorations are a wonderful way to get everyone excited. Work with your child to pick out balloons and streamers in their favorite colors. You can also pick up birthday-themed plastic tablecloths and paper plates for easy clean up.

Games & Activities

The most exciting part of any child’s birthday party: The games! Work with your child to decide what games, activities and crafts they would like to with their friends, coming up with plenty of ideas to keep them busy throughout the celebration.

One activity that every child will enjoy is making their own stuffed animal! The Zoo Factory offers plenty of different stuffable animal kits for your child and their friends to make. Both 8” and 16” animals are available in sets of three or four; or you can choose each stuffable animal by hand.

Once you place your order, all you will need to get the festivities started is plenty of stuffing!

Stuffable Animal Accessories

Along with offering stuffable animal kits, The Zoo Factory also has accessories for you to customize your furry friends will. Have each child make a wish on a Wishing Star before placing it inside their animal, and send everyone home with a Take Me Home Carry Box for their new best friend.

You can even order a special birthday outfit for the birthday child’s bear to wear. Happy Birthday t-shirts are available in red and blue, and this birthday dress is perfect for a princess-themed party.

Place your Zoo Factory order online or give us a call at 866-993-3325 for assistance choosing the right items for your birthday celebration!

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Activities for a Rainy Summer Day

camp stove

A time for barbecues and pool parties, the month of July is finally here. And for parents of young children, this also means that school vacation has just started! Your children are probably filled with excitement for the weeks of fun ahead of them, as there are endless activities you can do when it’s warm and sunny outside.

But what do you do on a rainy afternoon indoors?

To ensure those rainy summer days don’t drag on too long, we at The Zoo Factory recommend stocking up on board games, craft supplies and stuffable animal kits.

If your little ones love to play with stuffed animals, what activity would they love better than creating their own? Choose from a wide variety of eight inch and 16 inch animals, or pick a party package for your children and all their friends to enjoy making together. Whether they love jungle animals, sea animals or dinosaurs, there is a package they will love!

Once your new stuffed animal friends have been put together (no sewing required!), you can pick out outfits for your animals to wear and take them on their first adventure. Even though you can’t go outside, you can always host an indoor “camping” excursion with your stuffed animals! Just set up a tent in the living room and your children will have hours of fun ahead of them.

The Zoo Factory even offers an awesome set of Coleman supplies, including a camp stove, lantern and cooler with lemonade. Shop with us online or contact us by phone at 866-993-3325 to place your order.

We hope you and your children have a great summer vacation together!

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Celebrate National Zoo and Aquarium Month with a Wild Stuffed Animal!

stuffable giraffe

The start of summer and the end of another busy school year, June is also National Zoo and Aquarium Month, the perfect time to learn more about the wild animals your children love most, instilling within them a compassion for wildlife and the environment.

Read a Book

Whether you take a trip to the library or a nearby bookstore, encourage your children to pick out books about their favorite animals this month, reading them together to learn more about these incredible creatures. We recommend choosing books with plenty of pictures so your little ones can visualize how these magnificent creatures live in the wild.

Take a Trip to the Zoo

There are few things as exciting for young children as a trip to a zoo or aquarium, and seeing the awe on their faces when they see their favorite animals just a few feet away is sure to make you smile too. Instead of running from exhibit to exhibit, take some time to read the plaques and signs, learning about each of the animals to make this fun activity an educational one as well.

Regardless of how you celebrate National Zoo and Aquarium Month, your child will enjoy bringing their favorite stuffed animal friend along to participate in the fun.

Here at The Zoo Factory, we have lots of wild animals and sea creatures that can join you on your adventures! Not only are our stuffable animals fun to play with, but stuffing them is a great afternoon activity to do with your kids. Shop with us online or call us at 866-993-3325 to place your order.

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Japanese Company Gives Old Stuffed Animals New Life

child with stuffed animal

When you think back to your childhood and your favorite stuffed animal, what do you see? If it’s a teddy bear with loose stitching or a missing arm, it is obvious that your stuffed friend was well-loved. And while your mom might have replaced a missing eye with a button, or continually re-stitched the same hole, Second Life Toys – a Japanese campaign created by Dentsu Japan – has found a creative and beautiful way to give new life to old stuffed animals.

A country that has the lowest rate of organ transplants in the industrialized world, Japan wanted to spread awareness for the concept of organ donation and let individuals across the country know how it works with the help of stuffed animal transplants.

Participants will take a photograph of their toy for approval, sending the actual animal in for “surgery” through the mail once approved. Animals will be given new life with transplanted limbs, showing individuals that organ donation is an enhancement, not a compensation.

Examples include a deer with new, fuzzy pink back legs and a white bunny with a new, floral printed ear.

This program is especially wonderful for introducing the concept of organ donation to children, and we at The Zoo Factory think it is a beautiful project that combines learning with whimsical fun.

While there isn’t a program like this to bring new life to U.S. stuffed animals, we do have advice to help keep new stuffed critters in the best shape possible.

Especially for the stuffed animals that your children play with the most, pay close attention to their seams, checking them regularly for small rips and tears. A little hole under a bears arm is much easier to repair than a missing limb!

We recommend sewing injuries by hand, keeping stitches close and matching the thread to the fur color.

It is also important to keep your stuffed friend clean, but just throwing it in the washing machine could cause extra wear.

Our Teddy Needs a Bath Laundry Bags are the perfect alternative, preventing your children’s treasured stuffed animals from being damaged in the washing machine while providing them with the deep clean necessary to keep them looking their best for years to come.

For all your stuffable animal needs, visit The Zoo Factory online or contact us by phone at 866-993-3325. Whether you are hosting a birthday party or just looking for a fun activity to do with your kids, stuffing 8” or 16” animals is sure to be a fun time!

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Unplug and Incorporate Imagination into Playtime

child reading to stuffed animal

From the games they play on smart phones and tablets to the shows they watch on Netflix and T.V., children are growing up in a technology centered universe where much of their learning is done in front of a screen. And while laptops and cellphones now play an integral role in our society, we also love the idea of unplugging these devices and just playing! Whether your children decide to put on a play, host a tea party for their stuffed animals or have a family game night, there are so many opportunities to actively learn, building social skills and making memories.

There are so many ways to incorporate more imagination and creativity into your child’s day, so turn off your electronics for a couple of hours and do one of these fun activities together.

Host a Family Game Night

Regardless of what game you play and who the winner is, family game nights are always a ton of fun and offer many different learning opportunities. Board games and card games can teach your children about teamwork, taking turns, thinking ahead and much more. Depending on your child’s age there are even games to help them improve their math, science and reading skills!

Go Outside

There is nothing better than spending a day outside enjoying the fresh air and summer sunshine. Whether you walk to the park, go for a bike ride or host a backyard picnic, there are so many great opportunities for play and learning.

Read a Book

Instead of sitting down in front of the T.V. before bed, pick out a book and spend some time reading with your children. Depending on their age, you can read to them, help them sound out words or let them read to you and a stuffed animal audience. An opportunity to escape into unknown worlds, books are an incredible way to get your child’s imagination flowing.

Spend some time talking about the stories you read, discussing alternate endings, other adventures the characters could go on and acting out your own version of the story with a stuffed animal cast. There are so many ways to expand upon your reading adventures, all of which are wonderful outlets for creativity.

Just Play!

It doesn’t really matter what you and your children do together during your unplugged afternoons, as long as you are having a good time. If your children love playing with stuffed animals when they are away from technology, The Zoo Factory offers a wide array of stuffable creatures that you can make with your children. Dressed up like a superhero, a sports star or a princess, your child’s stuffed animal can accompany them on all of their unplugged adventures, making playtime even more memorable and fun.

Visit us online to find a stuffed friend for your child, and don’t forget to pick up a bath bag while you’re there. Your teddy it after all the adventures they share in this summer!