Kay has always had a thing for superheroes. She still loves to strap on her red cape and zoom around the house "saving people" (or anything else that crosses her path!). So it didn't take long for a teddy dressed as a superhero to take its spot among her favorites stuffed friends.
But the secret is...this bear is actually a tool disguised as a toy.
Brianna, and her male counterpart, Brian, are part of a play therapy kit from Ready Set Go aimed at children with anxiety, autism, victims of bullying, or any other child who could use a special friend on their side. The kit comes with tips for using the bear to help boost confidence (so even if you have no training in play therapy - and I don't! - you'll still be able to make the most of these bears.
On of the tips in the brochure is to give the bear a safe place to hang out. So we set to work making her a cozy little bed to rest her soft fluffy head.
Supplies:
- Cardboard box
- Decorative masking tape
- Packing tape
We chose a box that was just the right size for the bear to lay down in. (Side note: Kay re-named Brianna "Super Hero Bear". We also have a plush cat named "Kitty" and a toy dog named...wait for it...."Puppy"! I can't wait to see what she names her children when she grows up!) The box that Brianna...er, Super Hero Bear... came in was perfect.
I started off by cutting off the four flaps. I then used the smallest pieces to make a head- and foot-board, simply by using packing tape to attach it to the box (the photos make it much easier to understand than my explanations!) I promise it's not as complicated as I make it sound! Don't worry about the tape looking a bit unsightly - we'll be covering that up later!
Then we picked out some pretty decorative masking tape. I love the pattern - I was less thrilled with how much these things cost. $6 - really? I wouldn't have minded quite as much if I hadn't found a whole selection of fun tapes at the dollar store a few weeks later. Grrr!
But I can't pretend I don't love how it came out. We didn't cover the whole box in the tape (hello - $6 a roll, remember?!) but we used enough to make it look snazzy. After we'd added a soft fleece blanket to the bottom and a little pillow (made by Nana when Kay was younger for her dolls), it looked downright inviting. If it had been a little (okay, a lot!) bigger, I would have been tempted to climb right in myself.
We added in Super Hero Bear - a perfect fit - and covered her with a crocheted blanket, another homemade treasure from my Nana.
Kay loves the new routine of putting her bear to bed each night before she heads to bed herself. Now she wants to make one for Puppy, too. It's going to look like a stuffed animal hotel up in here pretty soon at this rate!
Want to learn more about these "super" bears? Check out how to get your own, donate a bear to a child in need, or even just purchase the fun mask and cape set!
Want to learn more about these "super" bears? Check out how to get your own, donate a bear to a child in need, or even just purchase the fun mask and cape set!
Disclosure: We received Brianna at no cost. I was not obligated to share and all opinions are 100% my own.
