These snuggly toys help little kids handle big feelings

When bedtime rolls around, settling three kids down after a long day of #quarantinelife and turmoil in the news is no easy task. A few bathroom trips and some extra glasses of water later, everyone is tucked under their covers with their favorite Slumberkin snuggler. I’ve found these toys to be a bridge when talking with my kids about current events that are confusing or scary. I am dedicated to raising antiracist children, and the first step is talking with them about racism and having honest conversations.

Sometimes as I leave the room, I can hear my 7-year-old quietly whispering to his Alpaca, and I know it’s him getting his worries out from the day.

More than just a silky soft lovie, Slumberkins are lovable tools that help parents and caregivers build resilient, confident and caring humans. Designed by a therapist and educator, each creature is part of a collection that focuses on helping little ones with their emotions.

Alpaca, a member of the stress relief collection and my son’s favorite, teaches kids to articulate their feelings and share their worries, and TBH he has been working overtime in our home lately. 2020 has come with some big emotions for all of us.

I’ve found myself trying to help my kids navigate their feelings more than ever before while feeling grateful for the emotional toolkit we had already started to build. An integral part of that toolkit has been the Slumberkins books and mantras that come with toys. I’ve been able to reach for the stories to help with real-life situations, and even better, my kids have been able to recognize those moments on their own, too.

I’ve seen them use their words to express anger and frustration. I’ve heard them repeating to themselves, “I am kind. I am strong. I like me,” as they get dressed in the morning. I have seen them team up to solve problems together and believe humanity can team up together to make change too.

When it comes to younger children, storytelling can be a powerful tool to teach any subject. The Bigfoot and Unicorn stories have been a great way to talk about acceptance, self-esteem, and the power that comes from our uniqueness.

If you want to help your child build their social-emotional skills, here are some Slumberkin snugglers that can help:

Slumberkins Alpaca Snuggler

Who isn’t stressed these days? Alpaca teaches kids to share their feelings and that they’re never alone. Alpaca is a friend who can help carry the weight of worries, both big and small, even if only for a short while.

$44

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Slumberkins Hammerhead Snuggler

Conflict resolution skills never felt more timely. This snuggler teaches children to calm down when emotions get too big.

$44

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Slumberkins Bigfoot Snuggler

Teach your children to be strong, know their worth, and love who they are with the Bigfoot snuggler.

$44

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Slumberkins Sloth Snuggler

Nothing is cuter than listening to my 3-year-old son take deep breaths to calm himself before bed. Slumber Sloth’s story teaches breathing and muscle relaxation techniques to help children mentally and physically wind down for the day and sleep well.

$44

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Slumberkins Unicorn Snuggler

For my daughter, there was no going wrong with a pink fuzzy unicorn snuggler, but more importantly, it has taught her she doesn’t need to change who she is to please anyone.

$44

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