Things do not cease to exist when we do not see them: as adults, we accept it as a fact, tending to forget how much effort it cost us to learn it as children. Some basic games can be useful for peacefully managing the process of separation from the mother. Hape® Flowerini combine the attractiveness of a coloured rattle with an exciting transformation that supports the child in developing their independence.
One of the most critical passages in the child's development is what psychologists call the separation-individuation stage. In fact, around 4-5 months of age, babies begin to feel a growing interest in the environment around them, overcoming the state of symbiosis with the mother.
We parents have the delicate task of accompanying our children towards future independence. We can lay the foundations for the development of a self-sufficient personality and a healthy relationship with the family, starting from weaning, the first steps, and the first words. With sensitivity and attention, we can help the child to understand that if something disappears from sight (or if the mother goes out to go to work), it does not cease to exist.
Maybe you never thought about it, but simple games like Peekaboo actually convey this crucial concept, supporting a peaceful transition towards self-identification. Hape® Flowerini help your children understand that if something is no longer in sight, it does not mean that it will not return. A colourful rattle for the little ones, which transforms to reveal a special surprise...
When separation from mom causes fear and anxiety
What is easy for pedagogues to say can be a real struggle for mothers: how can you let a newborn cry alone in the cradle without feeling your heart crack in a thousand pieces? Textbook separation anxiety: every time mom leaves, the kid cries and gets a tantrum - as if returning to work after maternity leave was not hard enough! However, we know this step is necessary for the healthy growth of our child and the resumption of our regular and productive adult life. So, we can recur to different strategies to reassure our children and help them overcome the fear of separation.
As we have seen, the peekaboo is not only a pastime to entertain babies but has a deeper meaning. When you reappear after hiding, the child has a chance to internalise the concept of temporary disappearance. Besides, you may recur to the tool of dialogue to explain what is about to happen: verbalisation supports awareness, just as the repetition of the same greeting rituals promotes serenity.
Gradual detachment is another proven method to manage separation: you can start leaving for short times, and then progressively lengthen the separation. Finally, we can give the child an object that smells like us, encouraging the use of what is called a transitional object, a coping technique often naturally adopted by the child.
The Transitional Object: a support in the transition from symbiosis to individuality
We have seen it many times: suddenly, our kids become particularly attached to a puppet, a blanket, a doll, or another object that take with them everywhere, as if they could no longer do without it. You cannot put it in the washing machine without triggering unstoppable tantrums: this is what happens when you try to separate a child from their transitional object.
The transitional object is something on which the children project the internalised maternal affection and to which they attribute a personality and a series of positive characteristics. In addition to having a deep emotional value, the transitional object is invested with a fundamental symbolic meaning: it represents the space of separation between the inner world and the external reality.
This beloved object communicates positive feelings of protection, comfort, and trust, just like the contact with the mother. The surrogate supports the child in the transition from the symbiotic state to a new stage of development, where their distinct individuality begins to manifest itself.
Hape® Flowerini: a rattle that holds a secret
Hape® Flowerini are toys based on a simple concept, which can support the child in the acquisition of progressive independence.
These fabric flowers contain a little bell. Through a velcro closure on the stem, they can be hung on the baby gym, the stroller, or any tubular structure, offering the babies inexhaustible entertainment and happiness.
The little ones are attracted to the bright colours, the soft consistency, and the sound of the rattle. In fact, the Flowerini are designed to produce intense sensory stimulation:
• The combination of different fabrics offer many tactile sensations;
• Shaking or rubbing the toy, the kid hears a chiming or rustling sound that engages the hearing;
• The bright colours and the funny looks appeal to the sight.
But there’s more: when the flower uncloses, it magically reveals a doll. What was a simple rattle for babies becomes a reassuring little friend for toddlers to play with. The child can repeat the magic of Flowerini whenever they want, turning the flower into a doll to play with, to keep close and hug during sleep time as they grow up.
The colourful world of the Flowerini is populated with 3 different characters: the funny Kiwi, the sweet Strawberry, and the bold Pineapple, fun by themselves and even more fun together.
Hape® Flowerini: toys to grow happy
The most outstanding feature of Hape® Flowerini is their ability to transform from flower to doll. With a simple gesture, we can surprise and amuse our children while also conveying a valuable lesson with a profound symbolic meaning. As with the Peekaboo game, by covering and discovering the doll's face, we are teaching the little ones that everything comes back.
Even if we do not see someone, it does not mean that they have disappeared, but only that they are momentary elsewhere, and they will soon return to us. These simple transformations can reassure the little ones during stages of development that will be essential for their future independence and emotional stability. In addition to comforting our children thanks to the important lesson they teach, the Flowerini amuse and amaze them every time!
And you, do you have any experience with transitional objects? What is the toy or the thing that your child carries anywhere? Tell us in the comments below!
