By Brittany Caffet
Before my son Henry was diagnosed with Down syndrome, toys were just toys. Things to keep children entertained and happy throughout the day. Since his diagnosis, I’ve come to realize that they can be incredibly useful sensory learning tools, especially for a child with special needs! Love To Hug Elmo is a fantastic option for sensory play!
Sensory play is any activity that stimulates the senses. There are five main senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. Henry is only 2 months old (quite a bit younger than the recommended age of 18 months + for this toy), but he is already using so many of his senses every time I set Love To Hug Elmo beside him!
Elmo’s soft fur is so great for Henry’s sense of touch! He reaches out for Elmo whenever I set him within his line of sight and runs his little hands over the plush surface. He also really seems to enjoy grabbing on to the smooth, hard surface of Elmo’s eyes!
Love To Hug Elmo’s bright red colour is so eye catching! While experts aren’t exactly sure how much color newborns can see, they believe that babies are able to begin noticing different hues at about the 2 month mark. Placing Elmo near Henry gives him something to focus on and reach out to, utilizing his sense of sight and strengthening his motor skills!
Sound is another extremely important sense that Love To Hug Elmo stimulates! Elmo talks to your child, sings songs, giggles… You can even switch the language from English to Spanish!
Sesame Street has been helping children learn and develop for over 50 years, and Elmo has been beloved by kids across the world for many of those! Love To Hug Elmo is already a favourite toy of Henry’s (and mine!), and I know that we will continue to reap the sensory benefits of this toy for years to come!
Look for Love To Hug Elmo at Amazon.ca ($28.94), Walmart ($28.94), and Toys R Us ($29.97) this holiday season.
We’ve got Love To Hug Elmo set aside for a lucky blog reader! To enter to win, just fill in your name and email address in the form and click BEGIN! Then, just leave a comment on this post sharing who you’d love to gift Elmo to this holiday season and you’ll be in to win!
I’d love to give this to my youngest granddaughter, Stella!
I would give it to my grandchild. I always loved Elmo.
Love to Hug Elmo would be the perfect gift for my young granddaughter.
Id love to give this to my niece for Christmas!
I would give this to my niece!
I would gift this to my baby niece
Would love this for my nephew. And I’m in love with Henry. SOOOO cute 🙂 <3
I would gift to my 2 year old son.
I would gift Elmo to my youngest grandson.
I’d give to my toddler for Christmas
My niece would love this!
would love to gift to youngest granddaughter! Elmo is such a classic!
I would gift this to one of my niece’s kids
Although I would love to keep this for me, I would give it to my granddaughter.
I’d gift this to the neighbour’s baby!
I would gift this to one of my little cousins if I were to win.
I would gift this to my granddaughter.
I’d gift this to my newest nephew 🙂
This would be for my granddaughter in Germany who I’ll be seeing soon.
oh my gosh my baby girl would LOVE this!!! she has an elmo obsessing and actually watching sesame street as i type. she gets SO excited when she sees him
I would love to gift this to my nephew this holiday season!
I would love to gift this to a close friends little girl who LOVES Elmo!
I would give this to my nephew!
Aria would love Love to Hug Elmo! So cute!
My niece has a baby in her belly right now. That little bundle of joy will be gifted for sure.
I would gift this to my niece. She loves Elmo!
I would gift this adorable Love to Hug Elmo to my niece.
I would gift this to my nieces!
my nephew is elmo crazy this would be awsome
I would gift this to my two daughters (ages 3 years and 9 months) to share
I would love to gift this to my cousins daughter
I would gift this to my two year old niece!
I would gift this to my great-nephew.
I would gift this to my nephew
To my besties little one
I would gift this to my niece!
I’d gift this to my baby son
Not going to lie, if I won I would keep this for myself he would fit in perfect with my other Elmos
I would love this for my nephew this holiday season!
I would gift it to my granddaughter.
I’d give this to my youngest, he would love it
I would gift this to our Granddaughter this holiday season!
My grandson loves Elmo. I would give this to him.
I would gift this to my sweet little nephew!
id love to give this to my neice Abby
My oldest son is 25 and he was 2 when the very first Tickle Me Elmo was released. I have such fond memories of all the special Elmo’s over the years. We had a HUGE collection of Elmo’s but when we lost our house 2 years ago, we also lost a lot of our belongings including our Elmo’s. My youngest son (who is 9) was very upset to lose our Elmo’s so I would give this to him. Thanks for the chance.
I’d love to give this to my newborn daughter!
I would love this for my little guy. He loves Elmo. Thanks!
I would give this to my friends lil one. She loves Elmo.
I would love to win this for my grandson who turns 2 in January!
It would be a fun gift for Kayden
I would give this to my littlest child.
I would give this Elmo to my youngest granddaughter. She is known for her hugs so Elmo would be well loved.
I would give this to my best friend’s little one who will have a lot of good times with Elmo.
My daughter quite likes Elmo, so she would enjoy this
I’d give this to my little nephew
My daughter would love this for sure!
I’m going to share Elmo with my two children.
I’d gift this to my son
I became a grandma in March so this would go to Eila! P.S. Even though I’m too young to be a grandma, she’s perfect. Lol 😉
Oh my cousin had a baby in January – I would love to give this to him!
I would gift this to my sweet little surro baby
Awe Blakey would love this!
This would be a gift for my niece
My 13month old is a fan of Elmo.
I would gift it to my grandson. He would be so thrilled as he loves Elmo.
I’d love to win this for my niece! Super cute, we love Elmo!!!
I would give ‘Love to Hug Elmo’ to my 5 year old grandson!
perfect for my grandson
I would love to give this to my grandson.
this would be for my daughter
I would gift this to my friends child
Any of my 4 little ones would love this prize!
My little nephew loves Elmo!
I would gift this to my nephew
to my daughter!
My friend’s daughter would love Elmo.
I would give this to my friend’s son. 🙂
I’d gift this to my co-worker’s son.
I would gift this to my daughter! We just met Elmo last week!
I would gift it to my new great niece.
elmo is alway a wonderful friend for every child! thanks foe the chance
I would give this to my niece
I would give this to the toy drive for a local family in need.
MY niece would love this!
My niece would love this little cutie!
It would be for my baby girl!
I would gift to my son
I would give it to my new little nephew
Young family member 2 years
If I win Love To Hug Elmo I would gift it to my neighbour’s little girl who just turned two. Would make a lovely Christmas gift for her.
My niece would love this.
I would gift it to my little cousin
My 18 month old granddaughter would love this
I would give this to my nieces
My grandson would love this he has cookie monster.
I would gift this to my 4 year old granddaughter. She loves watching Elmo on Sesame Street.
I would gift to my grandson
I would give this to my great-niece.
I’d gift Elmo to my youngest daughter. This will be her first Christmas and I’m finding myself stuck on what to get her. Her older sister has a different elmo doll and they both love him.
My daughter would love this gift; she adores Sesame Street!
I would gift this to my toddler for Christmas since he loves to watch Sesame Street and loves Elmo
I would love to give this to my niece