Visit TeddyBears.org
May 31, 2009 on 12:15 pm | In Stuffed Animals, Teddy Bears | No CommentsWe are proud to announce the arrival of our newest website upgrades at TeddyBears.org. Take a look and you will find information about teddy bears and stuffed animals. There are also coloring sheets that you can download, games to play, teddy bear recipes, teddy bear songs, and learning activities for your little ones.
We have also gathered several zoo cams so you can watch your favorite animal live.
Looking for teddy bear museums, or clubs? The site has an extensive list of each for you.
We want TeddyBears.org to be the best resource for people looking for information about stuffed animals and teddy bears. If you have any ideas that we can implement to improve the site, let us know.
Dolls and Stuffed Animals Age Determination Guidelines for 9 through 12 year olds, Part 11
September 28, 2008 on 7:46 am | In Age Determination for Stuffed Animals | No Comments
The following is an excerpt from the CPSC document referenced in Part 1. This excerpt discusses recommended dolls and stuffed animals for children 9 through 12 years old.
9 Through 12 Years
Older school agers mostly prefer to collect dolls and stuffed toys that are highly detailed, highly functional, authentic, and unique. Such toys include fashion or miniature dolls that are also used as decorative pieces, especially dolls with ornate costumes. Realistic toys, however, are not necessary. They are often licensed and come with numerous licensed accessories.
Part 11 is the end our discussion on Dolls and Stuffed Animal Age Determination Guidelines. We hope these excerpts from CPSC have been helpful. Visit us at www.freebears.com.
Dolls and Stuffed Animals Age Determination Guidelines for 6 through 8 year olds, Part 10
September 26, 2008 on 7:45 am | In Age Determination for Stuffed Animals | No Comments
The following is an excerpt from the CPSC document referenced in Part 1. This excerpt discusses recommended dolls and stuffed animals for children 6 through 8 years old.
6 Through 8 Years
Young school-aged children engage in fewer pretend episodes than pre-schoolers, so structured activities become more attractive. Their pretend play becomes more drama-oriented with longer, more complex scenes and plays. Because they can readily transform symbolic meanings and have moderate to high problem-solving abilities as they mature through this period, 6- through 8- year-olds enjoy using dolls and stuffed animals in their diverse, often extended stories. These children enjoy life-sized or oversized dolls and stuffed animals that have many accessories. They also enjoy miniature dolls (for example, 1:6 scale) that are more fashion oriented. Children of this age have a keen awareness of and interest in licensed characters and collectibles that are popularized mostly by mass media. They enjoy diverse opportunities to engage with the accessories that typically go with many dolls and stuffed toys. In addition, their dexterity, finemotor control, and gross-motor skills allow these children to manipulate most small parts, such as fingers that move and small levers or buttons that activate features.
Next time we will see what stuffed animals and dolls that CPSC suggests for children 9 through 12 years old.
Dolls and Stuffed Animals Age Determination Guidelines for 4 through 5 year olds, Part 9
September 24, 2008 on 7:40 am | In Age Determination for Stuffed Animals | No CommentsThe following is an excerpt from the CPSC document referenced in Part 1. This excerpt discusses recommended dolls and stuffed animals for children 4 through 5 years old.
4 Through 5 Years
These children enjoy moderately to highly detailed, familiar, realistic dolls and stuffed toys to incorporate into their moderately to highly complex pretend play. Dolls and stuffed animals designed for moderately to highly complex cause-and-effect appear to promote more complex and longer periods of pretend play. Since they have moderate problem-solving abilities and have developed richer symbolic meanings in their toys, 4- and 5-year-olds prefer fashion, military, and other thematic dolls (for example, 1:6 scale dolls with various outfits or accessories), action figures about 4 to 8 inches in length, and stuffed toys that become the major characters for enacting diverse, often extended, stories during pretend or role play.
The dolls and stuffed toys that offer the greatest degree of interest to these children are often based on licensed characters and on themes from various experiences at home, school, and through the media (television, videos, computer games, movies, and books). They are attracted more to dolls and stuffed animals that are collectible, as well as larger or oversized ones. They enjoy well-defined facial features, dressing dolls and stuffed toys with simple outfits, and choosing among many loose parts like grooming supplies. Such toys may also have moderately to highly complex cause-and-effect, such as multi-directional rotation of body parts, multiple functions, or multiple voice, light, sound, movement responses to buttons pushed, or smart-chip accessories that are plugged-in. They also are attracted to smart, robotic dolls and stuffed toys that feature various reactions to different stimuli or a lack of stimuli, and begin to master these toys.
Next time we will see what stuffed animals and dolls that CPSC suggests for children 6 through 8 years old.
Dolls and Stuffed Animals Age Determination Guidelines for 3-year olds, Part 8
September 22, 2008 on 7:35 am | In Age Determination for Stuffed Animals | No Comments The following is an excerpt from the CPSC document referenced in Part 1. This excerpt discusses recommended dolls and stuffed animals for children 3 years old.
3 Years
Three-year-olds have a moderate degree of dexterity and fine-motor control, and begin to enjoy low to moderately complex cause-and-effect in their pretend play. They like to push buttons and to use devices that produce sound, lights or action, and more specialized, realistic features like crying, sucking, wetting, and walking. They prefer dolls and stuffed toys with about a dozen diverse, easy-to-manipulate loose parts, and moving eyes. They become more adept at identifying and enjoy licensed fantasy characters like robots and superheroes, and they begin to develop an interest in simple collectibles. They also enjoy a moderate level of realistic detail, preferring dolls and stuffed animals that have accurate proportions and anatomy, moderately authentic parts, and body parts that can move in multiple directions. These children can manipulate clothing with large openings that allow easy dressing and undressing, as well as those with large buttons, hooks, and hook-and-loop or touch fasteners. These children are also able to handle slightly heavier (12 to 18 ounces) and larger (16 to 20 inches) dolls and stuffed animals than toddlers can.
Next time we will see what stuffed animals and dolls that CPSC suggests for children 4 through 5 years old.
Dolls and Stuffed Animals Age Determination Guidelines for 2-year olds, Part 7
September 20, 2008 on 7:34 am | In Age Determination for Stuffed Animals | No CommentsThe following is an excerpt from the CPSC document referenced in Part 1. This excerpt discusses recommended dolls and stuffed animals for children 2 years old.
2 Years
Although they still imitate a great deal, children in this age group increasingly recognize the symbolic connections between toys and the real world, and start to pretend more often than younger children. This pretend play also occurs in more complex ways. These children have a low to moderate degree of fine-motor dexterity and control, and can handle slightly larger (12 to 18 inches) and heavier (8 to 16 ounces) dolls and stuffed toys. Soft, rounded, pliable, and cuddly dolls and stuffed toys are most attractive. Pale or pastel colors also begin to attract this age group. These toys may have a small number (about two to four) of familiar accessories such as a bottle, blanket, or bone. Appropriate dolls and stuffed toys are easily carried, non-threatening, and familiar looking with a friendly appearance. Characteristics such as these are important for these children to initiate pretend episodes and to practice being friends or caring partners. As these children approach 3 years of age, dolls become more appealing when they have a low to moderate level of realistic details in their facial features, hair, clothing, and accessories. This is especially true for baby dolls. Children of this age also begin to appreciate eyes that move, like baby dolls that sleep and awake. Dolls and stuffed toys that are stiffly posed or elaborately detailed (for example, those with fine lace or intricate patterns on clothing, or those with facial wrinkles) are not as appealing.
Two-year-olds are attracted to dolls and stuffed toys that have a low to moderate level of cause and effect, such as toys that produce sounds, lights, or other actions when pushed, or ones that permit simple manipulations of the heads or extremities. These children will squeeze dolls and stuffed toys in various places to see if they can cause some kind of effect. Single, predictable interactions with talking dolls and stuffed toys begin to foster a sense of control and mastery, especially if they are associated with familiar characters the child recognizes from various media, books, or family and everyday contexts. Interactive or talking toys that require sequential actions to use them are less appealing. Familiarity and captivating cause-and-effect features can help to balance out less cuddly forms, dull colors, and other less desirable features.
Because they desire independent functioning, children of this age enjoy dolls and stuffed toys that are easy to take care of and dress, so those with simple hats or with vests that have large arm holes would be appropriate. These children also enjoy toys with usable pockets or ones with easy-to-use pull strings and push buttons that initiate various actions. Two-year-olds can remove clothing, but may have difficulty redressing if clothing uses buttons or snaps. Fasteners that are more easily usable by these children include large buttons, hooks, and hook-and-loop or touch fasteners. They like simple dress-me dolls and will pretend to bathe dolls, especially ones that are washable and submersible. Miniature dolls, life-sized dolls, and accessories (for example, baby dolls with grooming supplies) also appeal to this age group, as do wooden or plastic peg dolls. These children will pull on the limbs, head, and fur of the toy, and may brush a doll’s hair. Doll hair and stuffed animal fur are less likely to be pulled out by the brushing or pulling actions of these children if they are firmly rooted and tangle free.
Medium-sized stuffed toys (12 to 16 inches in length), like teddy bears and other animals, are more appealing when in tandem, like a mother and baby combination, as this offers the child greater pretend possibilities. They also enjoy larger or life-sized stuffed toys that they can drag around, climb on, and cuddle. They become more aware of dolls and stuffed toys that are licensed, and this begins to influence their preferences and ultimate enjoyment of these toys.
Next time we will see what stuffed animals and dolls that CPSC suggests for a 3 year old.
Dolls and Stuffed Animals Age Determination Guidelines (Ages 19 through 23 months), Part 6
September 6, 2008 on 6:00 pm | In Age Determination for Stuffed Animals | No CommentsThe following is an excerpt from the CPSC document referenced in Part 1. This excerpt discusses babies aged 19 through 23 months.
19 Through 23 Months
Toddlers at this age still imitate a great deal, basing such play mostly on familiar domestic and media themes. They are attracted to dolls and stuffed toys that have a low to moderate level of cause-and-effect functionality. For example, they enjoy pushing buttons or areas on a doll or stuffed toy to produce combinations of sound, lights or action. They like to make simple manipulations of extremities or heads, and create different postures and looks. They can appreciate a low to moderate level of realistic detail and rich vibrant colors. Vinyl or rubber dolls with simple accessories like a baby bottle or blanket are appropriate. As they approach 2 years of age, toddlers have a simple set of basic words and phrases and can engage in simple pretend episodes. Therefore, dolls and stuffed toys that speak simple phrases or sentences are appropriate.
Because these children still mouth toys, appropriate dolls do not have hair and appropriate stuffed animals do not have long fur. Also for this reason, dolls and stuffed toys are washable or easily cleaned. They are easily grasped and supported in the air. They may be slightly heavier than those appropriate for younger children (6 to 12 ounces). These children also enjoy playing with small peg dolls.
Next time we will see what stuffed animals and dolls that CPSC suggests for a 2 year old.
Dolls and Stuffed Animals Age Determination Guidelines (Ages 12 through 18 months), Part 5
September 4, 2008 on 6:55 am | In Age Determination for Stuffed Animals | No CommentsThe following is an excerpt from the CPSC document referenced in Part 1. This excerpt discusses babies aged 12 through 18 months.
12 Through 18 Months
The soft, simple, cuddly dolls and stuffed animals that were appropriate for infants are also appropriate for young toddlers. During this period, children start to engage actively in imitative play with dolls and stuffed toys based on familiar family relationships like mother and baby, or from watching television and other media. They are attracted to mid-size (10 to 16 inches) dolls and stuffed animals that offer simple cause-and-effect functions such as push buttons that produce simple sounds or phrases, lights, and actions. For the same reasons, these children like manipulating extremities or heads to create different postures and looks.
Because young toddlers have a low degree of fine-motor dexterity and control, dolls and stuffed toys are best when they are easy to grip (for example, limbs ½ inch thick) and weigh no more than 4 to 8 ounces. Also, appropriate dolls and stuffed toys generally lack removable, loose, or projecting parts. Hand-sewn eyes with high contrast are commonly used over movable eyes.
Because these children still mouth toys a great deal, appropriate toys are washable or easily cleaned. Suitable dolls tend to have only molded hair, if any, and stuffed animals lack fur.
Dolls and Stuffed Animals Age Determination Guidelines (8 through 11 months), Part 4
September 1, 2008 on 7:32 am | In Age Determination for Stuffed Animals | No CommentsThe following is an excerpt from the CPSC document referenced in Part 1. This excerpt discusses babies aged 8 through 11 months.
8 Through 11 Months
While the same characteristics appeal as with younger children, children in this age group become attracted to small dolls and stuffed animals that have a low degree of realistic detail, especially facial features. They can most easily handle dolls and stuffed toys of up to 3 to 6 ounces and within the 8- to 12-inch range. Because these children are rolling around, crawling more, and learning to walk, musical plush toys and others with a wind-up key or projecting surfaces are inappropriate.
Singing Frog by Gund
August 30, 2008 on 7:33 am | In Stuffed Animals | No CommentsToday we will take a small break from our series on selecting the right stuffed animal for your childs age and take a look at a new video we shot. Gund makes a number of singing animals and this one is named Farley. He is a graduate frog singing “Shout”.
Click on Singing Frog and the link will take you to metacafe.com to watch this video. Feel free to leave any comments you want on the video at metacafe.
We hope you like this frog video. We will be adding more over the next few weeks for more singing stuffed animals from Gund and others, too.
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