We’ve all been there…
Trying to find a special children’s gift. Something unique, something useful and something that will be truly loved, not quickly abandoned when they move on to the next new fad.
What if you could find a gift for a young child that ticked all of these boxes? A gift they came back to, day after day, with eager anticipation for what lies ahead? A gift they associate with warmth, security and happy times?
Let’s talk Story Cushions, or Book Pillows as they are sometimes known. How would they fit the bill?
- Giving them a great start and a bright future
Research shows that children who are read to, have a much better start in life than those who aren’t. A Story Cushion doesn’t only house a book, it can literally hold the key to a positive impact on their wellbeing, helping to develop their language and understanding of the world and to develop empathy and kindness, by exploring life through the eyes of others. What better gift could there be!
(Image with text – ‘Willow & Ash Crafts include a free book with all of their Story Cushions.’
- Strengthening relationships
Children are never too young to benefit from sharing books and having stories read to them. Even babies benefit from the bonding experience of watching your face and hearing your voice as you read to them.
Snuggling up together with a Story Cushion creates a lovely warm and cosy environment to share those precious moments. Shared reading has a big impact on children’s wellbeing, encouraging attachment and a feeling of safety, security and trust.
- Encouraging and establishing a good bedtime routine
A Story Cushion can be that magic ingredient that helps to create and maintain a routine around going to bed – often a battleground where even the most determined parent or carer, is ready to wave their white flag and admit defeat!
Perfect for taming toddlers! You might begin each day by allowing a little time for them to choose the book they want to read with you at bedtime. It may well be the same one night after night, as they enjoy the repetition and are able to anticipate and join in with their favourite bits. Or it could be a different adventure every time, as they eagerly discover new and exciting books, (Cue the library!) Get them to place the book in the pocket of their Story Cushion and then they can look forward to enjoying story time later, as an important part of their bedtime routine.
Done regularly, pretty soon they will associate this special time of sharing a book together, as a pleasurable wind down as they snuggle down to sleep.
- Themes for Dreams
With so many different Story Cushions to choose from, there’s bound to be one that perfectly complements their nursery theme or bedroom décor. Enhance their surroundings with a coordinating Story Cushion or perhaps use it as a starting point for decorating their room.
Whether it’s chosen to complement the colours, or it features things they love, it is bound to be an important part of their surroundings. (And if you want some extras, look out for other coordinating, handmade accessories from Willow and Ash).
Image with text ‘Coordinating Accessories from Willow & Ash’
- Going on a Grandma and Grandpa hunt!
Staying over at Granny’s house or sleeping over at a friend’s? Their Story Cushion becomes the perfect, convenient accessory to carry not only a book for bedtime, but their pyjamas, toothbrush, favourite soft toy and any other little treasures they can fit in the pocket! An ideal storage solution for everything they need for their visit.
- Familiarity breeds… contentment.
So, they arrive at Grandma’s house, clutching their Story Cushion. Not only does this encourage them to keep to their usual bedtime routine, it becomes the perfect pillow on which to lay their head and gives them that all-important sense of security that comes with having their familiar things around them.
Of course, Granny and Grandad may have other ideas, and we all know, what happens at Grandma’s, stays at Grandma’s! She may well have decided to spoil them with a ‘Grandma and Me’ Story Cushion of her own, to be enjoyed exclusively at her house. Whilst some rules may well be broken, bedtime stories will always remain!
- To Infinity and Beyond! (Or on any long journey…)
Are we nearly there yet? Their Pocket Cushion can make the perfect travelling companion.
Fill it with boredom-busting books and activities to keep them occupied in the back of the car or other modes of transport! As well as storing their goodies, it can serve as a useful lap tray for enjoying their snacks and activities and when they need a nap, they have somewhere to rest their weary head!
Or take the easy road and let Willow and Ash add an Activity Pack to your Story Cushion purchase and they’ll have a ready-made selection of carefully curated goodies to entertain them on their way.
(Image with text – ‘The perfect travelling companion – a Story Cushion Gift Set’).
- Practically Perfect Keepsakes
As well as their very practical purpose in storing books, the option to personalise the Story Cushions with a child’s name or message, gives them added value and makes them totally personal and unique! Particularly useful if their name is unusual or the personalisation includes the person with whom they enjoy their stories. Imagine their excitement when they spot their own name adorning their cushion!
With a wide range of fabric designs and books to suit all ages, even older children can appreciate a Book Cushion gift – the perfect place to keep their reading book from school.
No more early morning, last-minute, frantic searches to find where they’ve left them!
When it has outlived its practical use, their cherished, personalised cushion will no doubt find a new place in their keepsake box, where it will conjure up lots of happy memories in years to come.
- Party favours
As they get older and start to have friends round, celebrate birthdays with a sleepover party, where personalised Story Cushions could be the ultimate party favours! Imagine their friends delight at having such a personal and amazing gift to take away with them!
(And imagine their very impressed Mummies!)
- Thank you and Goodbye
Leaving nursery? Saying goodbye to a much-loved Childminder or Teacher? Give them the gift of a personalised Story Cushion to use with other children. They will be touched by your thoughtful gift and your child will be remembered every time they use it.
Their new charges will enjoy taking turns in picking the book to place in the pocket, ready for the group story time!
So, there you have it - A personalised Story Cushion ticks lots of boxes! All that remains, is for you to head over to Willow & Ash Crafts to choose which one!
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