Stuffed Animal Fun For Everyone!

Looking for a fun, cost-efficient program that takes very little preparation?

Why not host a Stuffie Adoption?

Inspired by the fab Tricia from Waterford Public Library, I decided to open a Stuffie Adoption Center at the library to help celebrate this year's Summer Reading Program.  To ensure that I had enough critters to go around, I both asked for donations of smaller, clean stuffed animals and also raided my local Goodwill of SO MANY BEANIE BABIES.  (Insider's tip: they wash up quite nicely, though anything with really fluffy--like the lion's mane--might be a bit more...condensed...when they emerge from the dryer.)

The idea was that kids could adopt an animal of their choice, provided they promised to share books with them.  (I changed it from "read to" to "share books/stories with" as I had a few younger patrons who weren't reading independently yet who feared they couldn't take home a stuffie of their own)

Once they'd chosen their critter, they could give it a name and sign the adoption certificate, promising to share books with them.  (The certificates were created on Canva.  Sweet, sweet Canva.)

The adoption center officially opened at our Kick Off to Summer Celebration, where they could not only adopt someone, but make them a collar/leash at our craft center. (Thanks, oodles of donated yarn!)

After the kick off, I moved our Stuffie Adoption Center to the Youth Services Desk, so anyone interested in joining in the fun could do so.  The center will remain open for the entire summer and the kids are so excited!

Additionally, to continue the stuffed animal fun, I decided to hold a Stuffie Vaccination Clinic, in hopes that it would increase children's understanding of the vaccination process and help to eliminate fears. For supplies, I purchased some needle-free syringes and athletic tape in an assortment of colors.  We also created stickers for the stuffies to earn for being so brave--not a tear was shed and the kiddos were so proud!

To help increase awareness and excitement, we created a special badge on Beanstack that could be unlocked only by those who chose to join us at the clinic. (Or made arrangements for a drop-in after the fact.  I've had to vaccinate a few stuffies on the fly, not gonna lie.)

                                      

                                

Lastly, I partnered with our local Department of Public Health who joined me at the library with kid-friendly information and coloring books discussing vaccines and health, as well as a stethoscope and thermometer for an after-shot health check.