One night last week when I tucked Miss K into bed, she was sad. Dad had been out of town for a family funeral for an entire week and she had already told me several times how much she missed him. I talked to her about how he would be home soon and we continued until she would seem to be fine. Technically, we cried together until we both felt better... but don't let her dad know because his head will swell.
Anyway, I hadn't been downstairs for five minutes when she called for me to return to her room. "Mom! I need you!" I went upstairs fully expecting a face full of tears for missing her dad. Her eyes were welling but I was surprised to hear "I miss Traveling Teddy."
No, I didn't confiscate one of her beloved stuffed friends. Traveling Teddy was a project at her prior preschool. He was the class bear - housed in a suitcase with a ton of clothes and a notebook. Each day, Traveling Teddy would venture home with a different student and they would chronicle their visit together. In class the following day, the student would sit on a stool in front of the class with Traveling Teddy on their lap and discuss their adventures. At the same time, the teacher would show the class the notebook, filled with pictures and captions, and read the story that the parents and student had included. It was essentially a scrapbook of Traveling Teddy's life.
Anyway, I hadn't been downstairs for five minutes when she called for me to return to her room. "Mom! I need you!" I went upstairs fully expecting a face full of tears for missing her dad. Her eyes were welling but I was surprised to hear "I miss Traveling Teddy."
No, I didn't confiscate one of her beloved stuffed friends. Traveling Teddy was a project at her prior preschool. He was the class bear - housed in a suitcase with a ton of clothes and a notebook. Each day, Traveling Teddy would venture home with a different student and they would chronicle their visit together. In class the following day, the student would sit on a stool in front of the class with Traveling Teddy on their lap and discuss their adventures. At the same time, the teacher would show the class the notebook, filled with pictures and captions, and read the story that the parents and student had included. It was essentially a scrapbook of Traveling Teddy's life.
Miss K hasn't even seen him since May so I'm not sure why all of a sudden she decided she missed him. I did find it quite ironic that MomSelect (BSM Media) had recently sent one to me to publicize Build-A-Bear. Yes, Traveling Teddy is a Build-A-Bear. So when Miss K woke up the following morning, I presented her with her very own Traveling Teddy, a Lil' Buttercream Cub.
The concept of using a Build-A-Bear to teach preschoolers so many lessons is great. The responsibility of taking care of the bear during its stay and accounting for any of the clothing and accessories that came along. How to create the story to share with their classmates. Public speaking in front of the class at this age gives them a comfort zone they can carry through life. Traveling Teddy wasn't just a toy, it was a life lesson.
And the Build-A-Bear store isn't just a place to pop in with your child. In case you didn't know, Build-A-Bear offers parties for as little as $10 per guest. If you're one of those parents who is tired of the typical pizza parlor birthday party, check out Build-A-Bear for a change of pace. You can even pick theme parties like Hannah Montana or High School Musical!
Alas, the giveaway: Here's your chance to pick up a $10 Build-A-Bear gift card to spend at a store near you or online at Build-A-Bear or Friends 2B Made. Build-A-Bear has a ton of bears priced at only $10 so pick one up and start a life lesson with your child!
The Prize
$10 Build-A-Bear Bear Buck$ gift card.
Rules:Participants -
...must provide an email in the first comment, email me directly with an email address or have email accessible from their profile. Winner has 72 hours from posting/notification to respond. If winner cannot be contacted, I will move on to the second random selection.
Sometime on December 16th, a winner will be chosen at random (using random.org) from all comments left. Winner will be posted PRIZEYWinners.
How to enter:
For the first entry -
(1) Check out Build-A-Bear or Friends 2B Made.
(2) Come back here and comment on one item your child would love.
For additional entries -
(a) Earn an additional entry by adding my button to your sidebar. Come back here and leave a comment stating that you did so.
(b) Link to the Build-A-Bear website. Come back here and leave an additional comment stating that you did so.
(c) Earn three additional entries if you publish a post regarding this contest and link back to it. Come back here and leave a comment providing the link to your post.
(d) Leave an extra comment if you subscribe to my feed.
(e) Follow me using the Blogger feature at the top of the next column. Of course, don't forget to leave a comment.
I want to thank MomSelect for making this giveaway possible and Build-A-Bear for creating a great life experience! Good luck on the giveaway!
I want to thank MomSelect for making this giveaway possible and Build-A-Bear for creating a great life experience! Good luck on the giveaway!
I think he would love so many of them! I think I really like the turtle! Thanks for the chance!
i follow!
I have your button!
Hello Kitty! I just totally love that kitty!!!
I'm a subscriber.
My daughter would love Hello Kitty
jceko77@yahoo.com
I subscribe
jceko77@yahoo.com
It's so hard to decide what he would love there are so many.
My son would love the little T Rex. He is obsessed with dinosaurs.
bacon74(at)1stopmom.com
We would love the elephant!
The mini scruffy puppy is adorable.
Karen
The "Hal moose" would be a hit with my girls. Thanks for the chance to win.
alonglifestrail (at) gmail (dot) com
I'm a subscriber!
alonglifestrail (at) gmail (dot) com
I'm a follower!
alonglifestrail (at) gmail (dot) com
My son recently got a bear - but would love some accessories. Clothes, shoes, sunglasses - it's all so cute!!
My DD would LOVE Hal Moose!! The fact that he lights up makes him even better :) sullivanduo@yahoo .com
I love the hello kitty!
My daughter just told me she would want to build the 12 inch tabby cat. LOL We are using this as a potty training incentive and now she is trying to decide what she wants to build.
hematopoiesis at hotmail dot com
I love the Lil' Buttercream Cub. My grandson has one and I'd love to get one for the new baby coming in March.
My daughter would love any of the dogs. She is a dog lover big time!
i like the hal moose! so cute! thanks!
my daughter would love the Tabby Kitty.
silverhartgirl@gmail.com
My son would love Chilly cheeks, he has a thing for penguins!
Amandatoneyjohnson[at]yahoo[dot]com
I follow your blog!
Kiwi the parrot would be my daughter's favorite. She LOVES birds!
I follow too!
afreemon@triad.rr.com
My son would probably get another dog. Thats what he has gotten both times we have gone. Would love for him to get something new.
My daughter would LOVE the Hannah Montana bear!
tyjenhill(at)msn(dot)com
I subscribe.
tyjenhill(at)msn(dot)com
my daughter would love the Cheetah!
My son would love the moose bear because our last name sounds like "Kachel-moose"!
ckachelmuss@gmail.com
I follow you too!
ckachelmuss@gmail.com
My girls would love to win this! Buils a Bear is such a fun store!
My little girl would love the Bearemy bear!
dug out dog is really cute! my kids would love this!
sky0fhearts@aim.com
i added the button to my blog =)
sky0fhearts@aim.com
i subscribed to your blog =)
i'm a follower too!
sky0fhearts@aim.com
i posted about this giveaway here...
http://lovinthedeals.blogspot.com/2008/12/new-giveaways.html
sky0fhearts@aim.com
My Daughter would love the Chilly Cheeks Penguin! Thanks for the chance to win!
Jen
meddlingkidd [at] aol.com
We love build a bear! Thanks for the giveaway. My daughters would love the Holly and Hal moose that they have out for the holidays. Thanks!
thegood3 at gmail dot com
Hal Moose is pretty cute! This is a great giveaway!
I have a little one here that has been pining away for that little elephant! Thank you for the chance to win!
Angie
sandalsndaisies(at)yahoo(dot)com
We would love the Hello Kitty here!
mommyhoodisthankless{AT}gmail.com
I have your button on my blog: Here
mommyhoodisthankless{AT}gmail.com
I am a subscriber!
mommyhoodisthankless{AT}gmail.com
legacyofbrutalitysa{AT}gmail.com
I blogged about this giveaway: Here
mommyhoodisthankless{AT}gmail.com
I am a follower!
mommyhoodisthankless{AT}gmail.com
My son wants the electric guitar, the camera phone and the sunglasses :)
my son would love the penguin...
I linked to Build-A-Bear: Here
mommyhoodisthankless{AT}gmail.com
My son would love the Chilly Cheeks penguin. Too cute!
elissa at huebert dot org
I follow your blog!
I'm pretty sure she'd love Hal Moose the most. We'll find out this January for sure as I'm planning on a build-a-bear card for a Christmas gift. This would definitely help, so thanks for the opportunity!
My daughter would like the High School Musical bear.
donna444444@yahoo.com
I am a subscriber.
donna444444@yahoo.com
I am a follower.
donna444444@yahoo.com
I put your button on my blog.
donna444444@yahoo.com
My daughter would love the Tabby Kitty - he looks just like our cat Franklin!
we would get the moose or the panda!
My daughter would love the Brown Sugar puppy! How cute!
runinshort@wavecable.com
I am a subscriber.
runinshort@wavecable.com
We love the Chilly Cheeks the Penguin, my son loves Build a Bear and we've just started a collection for our baby girl as well!
We blogged! :)
http://www.lovingheartmommy.com/2008/12/holiday-giveaways-for-thursday.html
We follow!
We also have your button!
I need to go make a present there- this would really help!
The Hello Kitty and Elephant are both awesome.
I don't have a child but my sister would love the penguin!
kodiieeexx@aim.com
The hello Kitty is so cute!
I have your button!
I am a subscriber!
I follow
My daughter has several Build a Bear animals, but she would LOVE the Hannah Montana outfit to put on her bear. :)
The scruffy puppy is super cute!
I'm following you in Blogger!
My son would love the Curly Teddy. We saw one like it at the store the other day and he did not want to leave without that teddy bear!
we have one of these stores in town and have never been....would love1 I'm thinking the scruffy puppy might be a favorite of ours...
thanks!
We just initiated our grandbaby to Build A Bear at the Mall of America with coupons. We can use some clothes for Auntie Becca's and the baby's Dogs.
My daughter is really hoping for the monkey for Christmas.
staceyheneveld (at) mac (dot) com
I love the 16" Holly Moose
I have your button at :
http://canuckiancontests.blogspot.com/
I have a link to build a bear at:
http://canuckiancontests.blogspot.com/2008/12/build-bear-10-gift-card.html
I have blogged about this contest at:
http://canuckiancontests.blogspot.com/2008/12/build-bear-10-gift-card.html