Our little ones are like sponges while they grow up, taking in everything from their environment. They learn language, how to walk, and how to problem solve from us. Emotions, though, are one of the toughest parts of growing up.

Why? Well, there's no clear-cut answer when it comes to emotions, especially when our children start thinking about other people's. Our own feelings are messy, so trying to figure out what's going on in someone else's head is even harder!

One way our children learn about the world is through fun, especially imaginative, open-ended play. We can use play to encourage our children to grow and learn about specific topics. When it comes to empathy, storytelling and roleplay are very effective, and stuffed animals are great tools to facilitate this!

How Stuffed Animals Teach Empathy

Truthfully, any imaginative toy can help a child learn empathy. Dolls, wooden toy figures, collaborative games... but there's something so special about a plushie. It could be their adorable faces, the likeliness to a beloved pet, or their soft fur.

We think it's because of how snuggly a stuffed animal is! Unlike other toys, your little one can cuddle and sleep with their plush toy. Your child and their stuffie keep each other safe from nightmares, go everywhere together, and make up crazy imaginative stories! Interested in learning more? We go in depth in our blog post, Why Do Children Get So Attached to Plush Toys?

A plush is the perfect tool to encourage your little one to practice their emotional skills. What works for one kiddo might not work for another, so try a few different strategies to get them thinking about empathy. 

1. Choose a stuffed animal meant to teach emotions

For very young kiddos, some plushies are designed to teach about feelings. Some are accompanied by a book all about emotions, like Slumberkins. We love the Wee Gallery Flippy Friend Bear--it has different facial expressions for different emotions!

Look for a toy that focuses on multiple skills. Put words and visuals to the emotions, and give your kiddo a physical plushie to practice those emotions with.

2. Role Play Prompts

Stuffed animals offer your child the opportunity to step into different roles. Focus on scenarios that would encourage your child to practice empathy. Your child will learn to understand the needs of others when they think through situations in a role play.

Here are some of our favorites:

• Set up a doctor's office with plush patients
• Give your child a topic to teach their stuffed animals all about in a classroom setting
• Have your little one reenact their favorite story with stuffed animal characters

3. Practice Expressing Emotions

Stuffed animals are trusted confidants for children to share their emotions with--like a big cuddly diary! When children express their joys or fears to their plush friends, they practice empathy in a safe and non-judgemental environment. If your little one has experience talking through their own emotions, then they're better equipped to listen to others.

You can also encourage your child to turn to their stuffies for emotional comfort. They can hug and cuddle their plushies to learn that physical affection can help people feel better.

4. Act Out Emotions

To practice recognizing and expressing emotions to others, your child can try to make their stuffed animals display certain emotions. Ask them what sad looks like, and they can have their plushie hang their head and frown. If their stuffed animal is excited, they can jump up and down and wave their arms around!

5. Plushie Playdates

Incorporating stuffies in your child's playdates can help them learn collaborative play, sharing, and boundaries. They'll learn the importance of taking turns, building stories together, and each other's strengths.

On the flip side, they can also learn how to set and respect boundaries. Maybe their friend brought along their absolute favorite plush and they don't want to share, or don't want your child to do certain things with their toy. This is a great learning opportunity for both kiddos!

Plush Pals: The Child Development Superheroes

Stuffed animals are more than just playthings! They're valuable friends and teachers in your child's developmental journey. Your little one feels safe with their steadfast plush pals.

As your child plays with, comforts, and bonds with their stuffie, they lay the groundwork for a lifetime of empathy and thoughtful interactions with others. If we as parents can guide their learning, we set them up for success. 

So, encourage your child's bond with their stuffed animals! These cuddly companions help shape them into empathetic and caring adults. With the help of their plushies, children will learn that kindness is a language everyone can understand, no matter their size or stuffing. Check out our collection of curated, cute stuffed animals to find your little one's plush bestie!