Transition toy's

[LauraM57]

Hi!
We have been linked and have matching panel in August. We have been asked to do a photo box and a build a bear. But our social worker also said about some toys where we can put our photos in. Does anyone have any ideas of what we could use ? X

How old is little one?

Sorry that would help! You can tell this is my first time!! He's just turned 1

You can get jigsaws where its a photo or building blocks, they do them on etsy. Surprised theyve said a build a bear tbh.

Oh really why!

Congratulations!
Jigsaws might be a bit much for a 1yo - honestly just some laminated photos that foster carers can stick around their house at his eye level would be great. Build a bear sounds good to me because he'll get to know your voice. They might suggest having it in bed with you a few nights before you hand it over so it picks up your smell too. You can get photo books with sound recordings as well, so he can see photos and hear you speaking at the same time

Thank you we are so excited.
Yes! That's what they said put the bear in with us and take photos I his Room and places we are looking forward to taking him. Yeah I think I will just try and find someone to laminate some photos.

Oh I didn't know that about the photo books I'll try and find those as well. Thank you

Look up "hand crank" photo books or flip frame photo displays. They are not toys but they are photo displays that are a little more interactive and FC can turn tge handle with LO. They are more interactive. You can also gets photos put onto wooden blocks for stacking and playing :) x

https://www.rosefeels.co.uk/custom-family-wood-stacking-photo-blocks-set-r6062511b.html

Second the wooden blocks which are still played with several years later in our house.

These also went down really well, they are really sturdy so 3 years later no leaks

https://www.maxphoto.co.uk/heart-star-glitter-photo-frame

We got placemats with our faces on which our older son loved for ages!

We did a pillow as well which was very weird but they both slept with it in their beds for ages... Until they'd chewed our faces to bits and we had to get rid of it!

We did build a bear with us recorded lullaby in it and the big laminated photos,your library will lamibate for you if you explain.and little flip photo book fur little hands,we found a soft one designed for babies on Amazon,all the sensory play feel to itwas lovely,one to attach to a pram.early in transitions we took photos of little one with us then got them printed and put them up at home before they came home.congratulations and good luck!

We didn’t have to do this in the end as ours came straight to us but our plan had been to get a Toni box with one of the Toni’s you can record on and record some stories that could be played to little one as another way of hearing your voice. Toni box still well used in our house at 7 so worth the money!

Love the placemats idea too!! We make placemats for each family member each year using his birthday cards !

The toni box is an absolutely great idea. My now 7 year old still uses it and it is so worth it. It is definatly worth the investment. Also if people want to get a gift in welcome or as birthdays etc cone up making a tonis wish list on Amazon will get your LO a great audio library.

Adopter and now foster carer. We regularly transition little ones to their forever home. We have had such a variety of transition toys and objects for the little ones in our care. For a 1 year old the best and most useful items have been large laminated photos of the new family that we can encourage the little one engage with, crawl over, kiss etc. we also have used these blocks that allow photos to be placed in each pocket. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Harayaa-4PCS-Soft-Play-Dice/dp/B0C56RJN15?pd_rd_w=gStfN&content-id=amzn1.sym.2c04d18d-0b1b-4fd8-9939-d40bc99ad264&pf_rd_p=2c04d18d-0b1b-4fd8-9939-d40bc99ad264&pf_rd_r=4ZFC9WXHDXDNY1KCS6RZ&pd_rd_wg=EE6Rh&pd_rd_r=f9dec4b1-c083-4b12-a448-d3d58dab3c71&pd_rd_i=B0C56RJN15&psc=1&ref_=pd_bap_m_grid_dv_rp_0_56_t

A mixture of the new family and our family photos go in it. That way they are surrounded with all their familiar faces alongside the new ones. After the transition they have our photos around for reassurance. The little ones have really engaged with them.

www.google.com/search?q=melissa+and+doug+house+jigsaw&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-gb&client=safari&safe=active#vhid=KQZ3MB4AsuLz1M&vssid=_4suIaPGYLIDBhbIPmoqDGA_39
we have also had this Melissa and Doug house jigsaw with photos of the new family behind each piece. It has also been useful.

simple videos of you reading a story or singing a song recorded on your phone (remember t0 hold the phone landscape) and whatsapped to the carers is really effective. If they have a way of showing them on their TV it can be really effective. Good luck