If stuffed animals could talk, what secrets would they tell?

Do you recall your favorite stuffed animal? Consider the stuffed animal you snuggled with at bedtime, the one that went along on all your adventures, and the companion you confided in whenever you were sad or, really, super-duper happy. Have you ever thought about how it would be if that stuffed animal could talk back to you? What kind of secrets or stories do you think it would tell you if it could talk?

Today we will pretend that stuffed animals can speak and I will discuss some things that are interesting about what they might tell you about their feelings and experiences. But first, let’s get some words that will help us understand the stories.

So in our case of Custom stuffed animals we are refering to a flexible fabric doll. These toys are stuffed with materials like cotton, foam, or beans to stay soft and huggable. They can resemble actual animals, such as dogs and cats, or they can be fantastical creatures, like unicorns. Yes, some stuffed animals even look just like everyday objects like food or cars. They are all different sizes, colors and textures, which means some are quite soft, and some might be slightly gritty. They can be huggable and adorable, funny and goofy or even a tad spooky, if that’s your thing.

With the word "secret", we mean something that is hidden, something others might not know about. Secrets can be good — like a surprise for a friend — or bad: Something that makes us feel sad. Secrets can also be unsettling, embarrassing, even a bit dangerous. There are some secrets that can make us feel closer to someone else, or make us feel like there is something special or unique between the two of us — a pact of sorts.

Now with the essential words learned let’s leap ahead into the incredible world of plushies.

What Your Stuffed Animal Really Thinks of You

Did you imagine your stuffed animal as having feelings or thoughts? Perhaps it seems to hear you or see you when you’re troubled or frightened. If your stuffed animal could talk, it’d likely have plenty to say about you and your adventures together.

Your stuffed animal might say that you are special to it. It might tell you that it loves you just as you are — for all your wonderful quirks. Your stuffed animal could also say you are brave for trying things that you’ve never done before, that you are kind for helping others, and that you are creative for using your imagination, or funny for making somebody laugh. It knows all of the games you played and how much fun you’ve had touching together.

On the flip side, your Realistic stuffed toys is worried about some of the same things you are — when you feel messy or that girl you just met was mean or your friends at school make you feel shy. It would do this in the gentlest, prompting you to work on these things, because everybody has things to work on. Your stuffed animal would want you to have comfort when things don’t go according to plans, their hugs and support always available at the exact moment you need it.

But most of all, your stuffed animal would want you to know that it would always be there for you. It wants to make you feel safe and loved and happy whenever you want. Even if you don’t play with it all that much anymore, or at least not the same way you did when you were younger, it still cares about you just the same.

The Stories Stuffed Animals Tell

Now, think about what your stuff animal may have stories inside. What thrilling escapades has it witnessed or joined you on?

Your stuffed animal may tell you about the day you received it for the very first time. It might explain how thrilling it was to be selected at the store or how joyful it was when you embraced it for the very first time. It could remember the feeling of your warmth, the feeling of being loved.

Your stuffed animal might also tell you everything it knows about all the adventures it’s taken with you, both in real life and in your imagination. It might tell about all the fun places you “toured,” friends you connected with and cool things you did. It might even act out some of those adventures for you, in its best voices and funny gestures.

But your stuffed toy may also remember all the sad or scary moments it’s seen, like the times you wept after a hard day or faced down a bully at school. It could tell you what they were like for it: feeling your sorrow or your fear, and how it tried to offer you warmth and hope when you needed it most.

Things Your Pet Is Trying to Teach You

Now that we know what your Stuffed animal toys plush has to say about you and what stories it holds, let’s see if we can glean some wisdom from it. By lessons I mean knowing you better, feeling better, and dreaming about your future.

For example, if your stuffed animal is all about urging you to be brave, that might mean you have a superpower for giving something new a shot. It shows that you are brave enough to face challenges and learn from your failures. You become stronger and more confident every time you take a risk.

A good listener and supporter of your dreams (it might mean you have an active imagination and are going through the motions to find your place in life). It proves that you care about trust and loyalty in your friendships, ensuring that everyone feels amongst friends and understood.

Or if your stuffed animal all the time plays a protector, it might represent that you have a huge heart and love to help others. It indicates an intense desire to improve the world, whether through righteousness or service.

Why Stuffed Animals Matter

Last but not least, think about why stuffed animals are so important in a child’s life. Why are they so important to us, and why do we feel so strongly about them?

According to some experts, stuffed companions soothe children who are in a new place without their parents or in new situations without their friends. Whether by hugging or playing with their stuffed animals, they can feel secure and brave, even at a time when everything around them is changing. It is like carrying a small part of home with you wherever you go.

Others think stuffed animals teach kids important skills, including empathy, self-awareness and communication. Kids learn to express themselves and understand how others feel as well through what they share about their thoughts and feelings with their stuffed animals. It helps to cope with conflicts or particular stressful situations.

For whatever reason it is, we all accept that a stuffed animal is more than a toy. They are friends, they are listeners, they are storytellers. They contain secrets and memories that bind us to our childhoods — and remind us that love and trust coexist even as we mature.

So next time you see your stuffed animal, give it a big hug and be sure to thank it for being an unwavering friend. And keep in mind that if it could talk, it would say, “I love you, and I always will.”