Join Slumberkins on #GiveAFox to young kids
VANCOUVER, Wash., Nov. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – More than 1.6 million young children are made homeless in some form each year in the United States. In metropolitan areas of Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington, nearly seven percent of young children are homeless or unstable. It affects well over 2,100 students in these metropolitan areas, half of them in primary school. But it only takes one person to change these children’s lives, and Slumberkins, a leading Vancouver-based kids brand, empowers anyone to make a difference in November.
November is National Youth Awareness Month. To help raise awareness and resources, every purchase on slumberkins.com will support a Slumberkins Fox Bundle donation to homeless children in the Portland, Vancouver and Evergreen school districts through the end of November. Homelessness not only disrupts normal routines and leads to a feeling of loss of stability and security, but also affects a child’s development and education. Experiences with residential instability in early childhood are associated with delays in language, literacy, and socio-emotional development.
With community support, Slumberkins works with the Family Community Resource Centers in Clark County, Washington and the McKinney-Vento Homeless Program in Portland, OR to provide resources to children and families affected by homelessness.
“Homelessness is a growing crisis in the United States, and the scale of that crisis has been exacerbated by the pandemic, disproportionately affecting many of our children and youth and our color communities,” said Camedra Jefferson, Ed.D. Director of Funded Programs at Portland Public Schools. “Every day I see the direct impact of this crisis on a child’s access to education and overall wellbeing. As a public educator and member of the Portland Community, it is our duty to ensure that ALL families are provided with the resources and support necessary to access quality education. We are so grateful for partnering with Slumberkins in this effort. “
The Slumberkins Fox Creature and accompanying storybook provide a resource for caregivers and children coping with large transitions. The Fox story provides guidance and tools to deal with the great feelings and emotions children experience and help them navigate the toughest parts of change.
“Creating positive bonds with the people in their lives that make them feel safe and loved can help alleviate anxiety, even as other factors change around them, and the Fox creature and the History fosters those positive feelings, ”said Kelly Oriard, family therapist and co-founder of Slumberkins. “By joining us at #GiveAFox, you are helping us to provide elementary school children with these valuable tools and to support their education and socio-emotional development.”
Founded by two mothers and educators, Slumberkins was created to provide parents, caregivers and educators with the tools to raise caring, confident and resilient children. Through the #GiveAFox campaign, Slumberkins is working to ensure those who need it most have access to their story books, cozy creatures, and resources to support emotional wellbeing. To learn more, visit slumberkins.com/giveafox.
ABOUT SLUMBERKINS
Slumberkins® is a leading educational children’s brand designed to encourage early emotional learning. Her collections of cuddly toys and books make the perfect deliberate gift and will resonate with those looking to take an active role in children’s social development. Callie Christensen and Kelly Oriard were founded by two mothers and educators and have set themselves the task of creating a more meaningful product line for children that can be easily integrated into everyday life through the use of affirmations. Each creature and story offers digestible therapy techniques and normalizes conversations about great emotions.
Started in 2015 and powered by a Shark Tank appearance and a dedicated social media presence, Slumberkins has seen tremendous growth. The company was named one of the Fastest Growing Private Companies by Inc. 5000 for two years in a row, ranked 6th of the 100 Fastest Growing Private Companies in the Portland Business Journal 2021, and won the Parents Magazine Best Toy Award and the Good Housekeeping Best Toy Award. Slumberkins has signed a contract with the Jim Henson Company to co-produce a television show to bring the characters to life and provide an even bigger platform to educate children and families about the importance of socio-emotional learning. To find out more, visit www.slumberkins.com and follow them on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.
Media inquiries:
Jennifer McFerron Sloan
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