Bears for Humanity

Product Description

Cognitive 4

Skills

• The teddy bears appeal to a wide age range, allowing children of varying ages and cognitive levels to use and learn from Bears for Humanity.
• Bears for Humanity foster imagination and creative play while encouraging social interaction.
• Action concepts in/out, on/off, under/over can be practiced by playing with the teddy bear for example when dressing them.
• Bears for Humanity encourages open-ended play—there is no right or wrong way to play.  

Play Ideas

• Use the teddy bear to teach kids about body parts. Where are Sammie’s eyes, nose and belly?
• Caregiver can use Sammie to teach basic concepts like “teddy bear is under the blanket,” “teddy bear is sitting behind the couch.”
• Kids can research the organizations that Bears for Humanity does “Buy One Give One” to see if there is more they can do to help kids in need. 

Communicative 3

Skills

• When children play pretend with Bears for Humanity they are building expressive language skills which influences overall speech.    
• Bears for Humanity may teach children social awareness to help recognize and understand others’ perspectives and emotions especially with the mission, “Buy One Give One.”
• Bears for Humanity can help a child express her feelings and moods. This can give caregivers insight into how the child is feeling.
• The mission of "Buy One Give One" can be used to start a dialogue about differences between families. 

Play Ideas

• Have the child share a story about what Sammie did while at school or summer camp. Child can verbally share a story or draw out a story.
• Read to Sammie! Have the child read a story to the teddy bear or a collection of plush to create an audience during storytime.
• Caregiver can ask “wh” questions. For example, “Where is Sammie?,” “Why is Sammie crying?,” “What does Sammie want to eat?”  

Social/Emotional 4

Skills

• Independent play with stuffed animals can boost confidence and self-esteem.  
• Bears for Humanity can be used to help a child transition from one activity to the next. Sammie is the constant in novel situations and may help ease anxiety.
• Teddy bears offer kids the opportunity to practice their self-help skills like dressing, feeding and brushing teeth. Kids often find it easier to practice these skills on someone (or something) else before they can apply them to themselves. 

Play Ideas

• Caregiver can use Sammie to help a child learn empathy and share their own feelings freely. Caregiver can give the child a scenario and have them respond for the teddy bear. For example, why is Sammie afraid of the dark?
• Use doll clothes and baby clothes to dress Sammie!