At some time in their lives, most parents or individuals have experienced the sadness, anxiety, and pain of a sick or hurting child. While most children periodically suffer the discomforts of common ailments, others are faced with a more severe and challenging illness where there may be little or no hope for recovery. Receiving such news can be devastating and cause the child to feel extremely fearful and anxious.
Other situations can also trigger distress and sadness in a child. They can suffer emotional anguish when mom has been diagnosed with breast cancer, dad is in the hospital and needs surgery after a car accident, grandpa is struggling with a worsening heart condition, or a sibling broke a leg while playing soccer. Perhaps the child has experienced a devastating situation and is facing placement in a foster home. Young children may react differently to these scenarios, but all need to know that someone cares for them. A great way to calm their unsettled emotions is by providing them with a cuddly stuffed cotton animal to hug and hold.
Many police and fire departments as well as ambulance services carry small stuffed animals to give to children during a traumatic event. Though they may be experiencing the pain of an accident or illness, a cute and huggable stuffed cotton animal of their own to hold, hug and snuggle with, can help calm a fearful child.
There are many fabrics one can use to create a snuggly cuddly stuffed animal, but cotton seems to be the best fabric to use because of its soft texture and availability in a wide variety of colors and patterns. Another benefit to using cotton fabric is that one type or another can be found on sale throughout the year. The scraps of cotton left over from a previously crafted stuffed animal can be used for the eyes and mouth on a bear or rabbit, and the yellow scraps can be used for the next frog’s stomach to really bring him to life! Imagine the joy on a child’s face when they receive a stuffed animal with a real personality when their medical provider informs them that they are in need of a shot or surgery, or a parent has just been sent for chemotherapy treatment.
A simple pattern can be used to make a dog, rabbit, horse, zebra, or any type of animal. Cut two pieces of cotton fabric, sew on the eyes or other details of the animal to give it character, then sew the two pieces of fabric together, leaving a small area unsown to stuff with batting. Once the batting has been inserted, sew around the entire edge with either a matching or contrasting thread. Any pattern or color of cotton fabric can be used and the patterns can be as simple or complex as you’d like, depending on your sewing skills.
There are many individuals who may not be as fortunate as you or those around you and a cuddly stuffed cotton animal may be just what they need. Won’t you be an angel in disguise and help those children who feel alone, scared, and have nowhere to turn? Stuffed cotton animals can bring comfort to sick children around your community. Wouldn’t it be nice to know you have helped a small child in a big way? Consider donating you time and talents and stitch together a mixed menagerie of cuddly cotton critters to be given to children during their time of need. Contact your local emergency rooms, clinics, hospitals, police stations or schools and find out if they could use your creations, or perhaps, if they don’t currently have a program in place, if they’d be willing to start one. Whether you donate your time and talent in a very small way or in a substantial amount, it all adds up and it does make a difference. In the words of Garrison Keillor, “Nothing you do for a child is ever wasted.”
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