Patches- Review and Giveaway

Children are just like one of us 'big people'- they have feelings of love, anger, disappointment and worry- the only difference being they're too young to understand why they may feel the way they do or at times are too young to even express exactly what they're feeling to those around. We say "Oh it's so easy being a child" but honestly if you sit back and think how hard it must be to verbalize or express in baby talk or child chatter what exactly is being felt, you will know that a child's life is hard in it's own little way.

Introducing Patches

Kathylee Forrester has worked with children and spent hours as a Children's Advocate. She says "It is my belief that early communication with our children and a continuum of that communication through their childhood helps them to understand their emotions and feelings which are so important to their growth and their journey to becoming an emotionally healthy adult." With a desire to build on this, she developed a cute, cuddly, doe eyed teddy bear named Patches.
Some children don't express themselves to the 'grown ups' around them and it's hard trying to understand what the child is going through especially when you know that little one has just lost a parent or has a parent move out of the house. Perhaps one parent is away in the military or at times sadly the child has been physically or mentally been abused in a bad situation. Whatever the case may be, the child may be hurting but can't express himself or herself in any way. It is Kathylee's prayer that perhaps Patches can be an aid to help open the lines of communication.

Patches, your child's furry new friend, comes with a neon bracelet holding 8 emotion tags: 'happy', 'sad 'hope', 'frustrated', 'afraid', 'angry', 'cool' and 'yucky'. Spend time playing with your child and Patches and show him/her that he/she can choose a tag based on what he/she is feeling at the moment. Over time, the little one may use Patches to express what he/she is feeling.

Situations like these hard and difficult for the child and for those who love the little one. Introducing a little teddy buddy like Patches, sometimes can make things better.

Looking at Patches from Kathylee's eyes

“Patches is more than a lovable bear. He is the Spirit of a child’s innocence. Patches is a gift of love created to empower our children to endure challenges, through life’s journey of happy times and painful moments. Thank you for taking the first step to help a child gain understanding, enabling them to express their emotions.”

Patches goes around

Patches Kids is a non profit organization whose heart is definitely in the right place- building stronger kids from the inside out!

Kathylee sent Bunny girl Patches but he got 'God ordained' delivered to another home. Patches needed to be there- the little girl was very ill and is suffering from cancer. This is just one instance on how God has been guiding this organization one day at a time.

Bunny girl received her own Patches a few days later along with 2 more Patches. I thought this was a mistake but Kathylee's generous heart sent them over for us to share with 2 other children who we thought would be blessed with Patches.

Patches # 1 lives with us and is cuddled and loved by a happy 3 and a half year old who insists "Happy Face' is placed in front of Patches loop throughout the day!

Patches # 2 found a home last night at our friend's home. She lost her husband last year to cancer and their baby girl is 2 and a half now. Patches and the little one bonded instantly!

Patches # 3 is still living in our home till his new owner is found! :)

Do you know a child who would love Patches or one who needs Patches in his/her life? You can buy Patches for 25 US$ (including shipping) or you can donate one to a child who would love to have him in his/her life.


Win it:

Three readers will win a Patches each.


Here's how you can win it:

1. Mandatory entry (without this, all other entries will be disqualified)-

Leave a comment telling me who you would like to win Patches for.

Additional entries:

- 2. Subscribe to my blog (remember you need to activate the subscription if you subscribe via email) or Follow my blog & leave a comment stating that you subscribe or follow.

- 3. Blog about this giveaway (leave a comment with a link to your blog post)

- 4. Tweet about this giveaway and add the hashtag #ebmr at the end.

- 5. Add the link to this giveaway on a Mr Linky on a blog giveaway site, forum, carnival. (leave a comment with the link)

-6. Snag my Blog button and leave a comment with the link


This giveaway is open to US residents, 18 years and above.

3 winners will be chosen with the random.org generator on October 17 2009 at 10 pm Central time, so enter before that. The winners names will be posted thereafter. Please note if any winner does not get back to me 48 hours after his/her name has been posted, I will pick a new winner.