It is inevitable. Mostly every household that contains kids (and some that don’t contain kids) winds up with an overabundance of stuffed animals. The little things seem to multiple like, well, bunnies–stuffed bunnies of course.
Stuffed animals are awfully cute, and it is hard to get rid of them, even when the kids have outgrown them. Another dilemma, at least for me, was the fact that because of allergies, most thrift stores will not take stuffed animals as donations. Here then, are some of my solutions to reusing stuffed animals.
The first idea is by far the most clever. I spotted it in the March 2010 issue of Parents magazine. Simply take a couple of stuffed animals, pull out the filling and replace that filling with sand, and then stitch the animals back up. Since they ware weighted now, you can use them for bookends!
Stuffed animals can also be turned into puppets once the filling is removed and a slit is left in the back. Older children can use the former stuffed animals to put on shows. Simply create a theater by temporarily attaching a kitchen curtain to doorway for and impromptu stage, or turn an appliance box into a more permanent venue.
Now, here is an idea for those who have no emotional attachments to the stuffed animals but still don’t want to see them end up in the landfills before their time. Find a nice doggie or two and gift the stuffed animals. They can make wonderful chew toys. Just make sure any hazards, such as plastic eyes that can be swallowed, are removed before you give one to a dog. If you don’t know any deserving doggies personally, contact your local shelter and see if they would be interested in your gift.
Do you have any additional ideas for reusing stuffed animals?