Please hold nothing back folks in your comments...is this a good idea? Is it a waste of time and yarn? I also plan to chat with our contact person at Homeless Families Foundation to get her take. Is this something a social worker might use to chat with a child who doesn't want to chat vs something a child would actually play with?
I try to make our focus here on Bridge and Beyond warm items, things that will help keep people alive, make them less miserable either out in the elements or in a not so warm shelter...so this isn't that. I don't want to go to far a field; but thought it worth us all discussing it.
Have you ever purchased a puppet for a child? If so is it forgotten or played with?
Did you all notice...yesterday Bridge and Beyond hit 1500 blog posts! What a milestone.
2015 DONATIONS:
Hats: 191
Scarves 73
Mittens/Gloves/Wrist Warmers: 45
Slippers: 63
Rain Poncho's: 53
Cotton Washcloths: 115
Afghans: 8
Socks: 126
Cowls/Hoody Combo's/ 17
Shawls 1
Misc: items like personal care and things don't fit into above categories aren't counted
**edited to say we've heard back from 1 of the two people I wanted to touch base with. We will not be making these for Homeless Families Foundation, please see nice explanation below in the comments. Checking on the other contact person and will update as I know something.
All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated. The Power of One is awesome, and when we work together The Power of One becomes The Power of Many.
Cute Sandy. I know police officers here carry stuffed teddy bears in their cars to bond with children in a fearful situation.I understand they are very helpful and people are happy to donate them to help out. I have personally never bought a puppet for anyone. I think they are used by social workers trying to get children to open up and talk to something they relate to. I think it is a good project if people are wanting to do something for a child although I personally dont know if my children would have played with them for too long.Probably would be a short term fix for a very young childin a new shelter situation. Would be interested to hear what someone had to say.that is dealing with the actual situation. I always think we need to go back to the early days of innocent sweet toys rather then mechanical games and guns. I like the idea of books for kids, but this would kind of fit into that kind of thing for a younger child.GOD BLESS THE HOMELESS.marj in minnesota /65 and rain
ReplyDeleteLike books are always tops on my list, in fact they're really the only thing I purchase for gifts anymore along with money that goes into a college account which is why I just couldn't decide about the puppet. If we did it, I believe I would only ask for a given number and once that was obtained stop the project. It would be probably a sporadic only item. Thanks for your imput about police, I didn't know that. As always, thanks for your support and visit, I truly appreciate you.
ReplyDeleteMaybe a special project would be fun. Would be fun to see how it turned out.Might be surprised at the interest and would help kids in difficult situations.You may have hit on something there.
ReplyDeleteI agree about books and money as gifts. I give gift cards for books to my ganddaughter, she has read since she was tiny, and still would prefer books to most things. Also grandmas are not always the best gift buyers for18 year old college girls:+)))
Our policemen say there is nothing like a teddy to comfort a crying child. Really quite touching I think. Good luck with whatever you decide.
GOD BLESS THE HOMELESS/marj in minnesota
Will keep you posted Marj. My nieces and nephews have tons of toys and so I always feel like they really don't need anymore, and books are just plain better to my way of thinking. So books and $$ for college.
DeleteI think they are a terrific idea. A family on the street probably doesn't have much in the way of storage for toys and this is something tiny that can be tucked into a pocket. Why not do a few and see how they are received.
ReplyDeleteGood thought Delores, hadn't thought about the size and ease of carrying something like this.
DeleteI think this would be good for smaller children. Maybe stuffed with something soft and sewn on the bottom. This gave me an idea. Ravelry has many free patterns and found one. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/teddy-bear-hand-puppet. It seems easy enough and doesn't use much yarn. Not sure how the face will come out though. LOL If you would like me to try and make a couple I would be more than happy to. Like Delores said, this way we'll know how they are received.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the offer Bunny, I know knit fast and this would be a good way to try it. Not sure if I prefer the puppet idea of stuffed, thought the puppet would be quicker because it wasn't stuffed? Let me see what the feedback is from our contacts and I'll sing out for you to try one for us. Thanks again!
Deletesounds good Sandy.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of puppets. You can role model play with them and it might be a good opening for kids struggling with any types of issues, homelessness, etc. My kids had a few puppets growing up and I'm not sure who enjoyed playing more with them, me or them :)
ReplyDeletebetty
Thank you Betty appreciate the insight and your visit.
DeleteSandy~
ReplyDeleteI think they are adorable and I love the idea - however I am not sure this is something our families would use. I say that only because with like items in the past the interest just isn't there. I think the reason may be that our parents are younger and this is not something they played with and they don't seem to relate. When you get the grandparents then they are interested because it is something they can relate to. I am wondering if Children's Hospital might be interested.
Thanks for checking!
Thank you Karie, much appreciate the feedback. Am not looking to add an additional place to donate to. One interest was whether or not they would be useable for your families. We will continue making hats, scarves, mittens, slippers, afghans, and cotton washcloths, and collect and donate personal care items and socks.
DeleteI remember having a puppet when I was young way, way back when. I really didn't like playing with it. It was an elephant, the head was plastic and the part you put over your hand was some type of fabric. I wanted to play with my dolls.
ReplyDeleteThat seems to be the common thing among people our age. I asked hubby when he got home from work and he's answer was pretty the same, he had one, but never played with it. He also remembers reading about police using them as Marj stated above in her comment.
DeletePuppets have been around for centuries as a form of entertainment. Puppet shows bring imagination back. Most kids have so much at home that they may not play with a puppet. I then think of a huge Art/craft show that I go to every year in Toronto called the One Of A Kind Show. The people who sell their wares must pay for the spot which runs approximately $1,600 not including tables, backing or electricity and this is just for the 6 days. Most of them are there for the full 12 days. They come from all across the country which means they must pay for transportation, hotels and food. Every year the same come back! Every year for 10 years I have seen the handmade puppets being sold here. They make their money in the first day! If these puppets are bought here where most children have everything then these cute homemade puppets would work for the children who have nothing or almost next to nothing. If it puts a smile on their face and helps out a mom or dad then it is worth it
ReplyDeleteSounds like an awesome show. Would love to attend it. Kids now days don't have much imagination because all toys do things for them, unlike when we were kids. I'm still waiting to hear from my other source whether they would be a good idea for her group. Will keep you posted, and thanks for taking time to tell us about your experience above.
DeleteOh and I have to "study" what you wrote on my blog to leave my blogname here. I have read it twice and still don't quite get it
ReplyDeleteHappy to help further, send me your email so I can re send it, it's hard to do it a comment because if I type what you should type it turns into a link and you'll not see it, but I can give you the exact thing you need via email...I think.
DeletePuppets that I have had around here have mostly been used by the adult to play with the child. I don't remember the children actually playing with it themselves, not so much that I'd notice it anyway. However, if a child has nothing, this would be easy to carry along, not weigh much and could be easily packed away, not taking up much space, if one had to move to another area. It could be something known and loved to bring forward. I don't know how much value to the Bridge. Your contacts would know best who deal with the people in question.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sandie, appreciate the visit and thoughtful comment. For the time being I believe we'll not add this to our list of items to make. I may re-visit this idea down the road.
Delete