Turtle Beanbags

My sweet turtles

If, like me, you work with young children, you probably know “the bean bag”. Ideal to use with anything and everything. In Sinterklaas time it is presents or such a heavy bean bag plays the food (and later the poop) when swinging on the horse swing. Because such a bean bag can be anything, I love it as a therapist. It stimulates the imagination and play, or so I always thought. En….dat is true.

Turtle Beanbags

So the beanbags in the shape of turtles had a kind of backlog when I got them. Because: less heavy than a bean bag and: it is clearly a turtle. And so no food or poo or whatever. But, okay, if I’m honest, they did feel wonderfully soft and they didn’t make such an annoying crackling sound that some (cheaper) bean bags do. And… They looked super cute. So: I gave them a chance.

I used them, along with heavy monkeys, lizards, and bears in the treatment of children. And the children think they are just as cute as I think they are. They are completely part of the zoo that I have in the practice. They are not beanbags, not bean bags, they are turtles. And you can play with turtles very nicely. They also promote play!

Turtle bean bag as a safe home

I don’t use them that often to throw (like I did with bean bags), because that’s so pathetic. You’re not going to throw animals, are you? But, have you ever played horse with a turtle on your back? Or very carefully let a turtle “jump” to a certain place (and thus steer extra well with your body)?.

Another advantage of the turtles: you can so easily talk about “the house on your back”. And what it would be like to always have your home with you. And what you stand for at home. Very nice, because with all children who come to me, “feeling safe” is a theme. From overstimulation or understimulation on your senses, it is almost impossible to feel safe in your own body. So, for me, the turtles have turned out to be a welcome addition to my materials!