Kevin the Calming Koala
Have you met Kevin the Calming Koala?
This little marsupial miracle worker has the power and personality to calm anxious kids and help them sleep.
Kevin is a super cute, soft and cuddly. Perfect for every child who wants a special soft toy. At the same time you will be supporting a fantastic cause, The Code 9 Foundation.
Weighted toys, also often referred to as sensory toys, can come in many shapes and sizes. Usually they are weighted stuffed animals that are heavier than what you can normally buy in a toy store.
Why are they so effective?
Kevin the Calming Koala is 1.2kg making him the perfect companion for your child.
His additional weight and size (33cm tall) provides proprioceptive input that can help soothe an overactive brain and promotes calmness.
He works similarly to weighted blankets but is smaller and more portable – a perfect self-regulating aid that your child can always have with them on the go!
Weighted stuffed animals are the most versatile of weighted therapy products. They can sit in a child’s lap to provide sensory input as well as provide kids with a fidget.
Carrying a weighted animal during transitions provides sensory input and keeps hands occupied. Snuggling a weighted animal at night provides calming input as well.
What’s the science?
Weighted products have been shown to generate proprioceptive input on our bodies. For many people, this input causes the brain to release neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, among others. These neurotransmitters released by the brain have naturally calming effects, which have proven to be beneficial for people experiencing anxiety, stress, or sensory processing issues.
Although they don’t work for everyone, those who benefit from deep pressure find weighted materials such as vests, blankets, lap pillows and stuffed animals to be very helpful in calming in the daytime hours and increasing sleep at night.
Safety instructions:
- Always consult your therapist on the use of weighted products.
- If the Weighted Calming Koala becomes damaged, please stop using it immediately.
- Not suitable for children under 3.