Isn’t the imagination of a child so awesome? I’ve been reading about how the brain of a 6 year old child is just so very alive, with trillions upon trillions of connections (we lose a lot of those connections as we age, just in the interest of efficiency). But even though a young one may not be the most efficient thinker, s/he is often a much more creative thinker, making connections between things that an adult might not ever make! The end results are often hilarious and even inspiring.
Today I’m featuring a company that brings that imaginative spirit of a child to life through plush toys called JUMBIES. JUMBIES are delightful creatures that combine two animals into one! In our house, for example, we now have a Blabbit (blue bird and rabbit) and a Leopird (leopard and bird). I actually remember as a child trying to imagine new creatures that were combinations of existing ones, but of course, I can’t remember any of them now! In any case, they probably weren’t quite as creative as JUMBIES! Check out our new additions (note the toe rings that Darah gave to the Leopird!).
One thing I like about JUMBIES is that they have created a really fun website so that for a child, getting one is a true experience. You can log on to the site to read the story of how JUMBIES came to be (it is very cute, and involves some busy storks crashing into each other). There are also JUMBIES cartoons on the site, which are short and fun to watch. Finally, the site offers free downloadable coloring pages featuring their animals. All of these elements make for a wonderful way to introduce a child to the JUMBIES and encourage them to come up with their own jumbled animals! This also serves as the perfect way to get a child familiar with the animals before you do something extra fun, like hide one in the house and go on an expedition to find a JUMBIE! 🙂
JUMBIES can be found all over the U.S., though their market is a little bit limited. They have a list of stores where JUMBIES are sold, but there aren’t any retailers in my entire state, so buying JUMBIES online is really the only option for me. Fortunately, there is a store online (but I do think they need to work on making it a little bit easier to find…I missed it when originally looking for it!). Each plush is available for $7.95, which is a great buy!
Win it!: If you don’t have a JUMBIES retailer near you, then this contest is not to miss! One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win two JUMBIES! Woo hoo! The contest will run until April 7th at 11:59pm EST when a winner will be selected via Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning notification before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States. Limit one entrant per household, please.
Mandatory entry: Like JUMBIES on Facebook and post your favorite JUMBIE on their wall! Then come back here to tell me you did! (This will clue you in to other giveaways they have, too!)
My answer: Zelephant is my very favorite! What a cutie he is!
Additional entries:
1. Sponsor love: Follow JUMBIES on Twitter
2. Blogger love: Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter
Be sure to enter the other current giveaways on my site, found on the sidebar of my homepage.
Disclosure: I received complimentary products for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.
