Do you remember, as a kid, singing the song in school, “If You’re Happy and You Know It”? I’m well into my 40’s and can still sing this song verbatim today as much as I could as a young child. As new generations of children enter our lives and our family, this is a song that is passed from generation to generation and now, there is a toy that enables children to show how they are feeling, even when they may not be able to tell you themselves – WhatsItsFace.
About WhatItsFace
Let’s face it, parenting is hard! Children have huge emotions, whether it’s feeling overwhelmingly excited by the sight of ice cream to the stress and sadness of being left with a babysitter. Everything feels amplified when you’re young because you may not understand why you’re feeling such emotions, let alone knowing how to control them or successfully express them. This can often lead to frustration, anger and to dreaded tantrums. Fosteringemotional growth and development in your child can help your children build emotional strength and resilience and prepare them for life’s challenges, not to mention the added benefit of a happier and healthier household!
Despite the popularity of tech toys and WiFi-powered gadgets, old fashioned stuffed animals are still a child’s first best friend. Whatsitsface gives teddy a twist with a rotating option to turn a frown into a smile on a whim. The trio of snuggly stuffed animals was created by Colorado mom and businesswoman Joanna Paul to help her own kids enjoy imaginative play while improving their emotional intelligence (also known as EQ).
Feeling happy, sad, surprised, amused, angry or sleepy can all happen with a twist of a knob or a flip of a face. Little ones can change the face of their Puppy Dog, Kitty Cat or Teddy Bear to reveal six emotional expressions – building their empathy skills while extending creative playtime!
That EQ growth is even more important during these stay-at-home days and the expansion of online learning. “Watching your kids engage with a physical toy in the physical world — instead of being plugged-in — is what childhood is all about,” suggests Paul, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Whatsitsface. “Having a plush to cuddle and to actually communicate with really brings our stuffed animals to life, extending playtime and nurturing social and emotional development.”
Early childhood experts agree that interactive play is an important factor in the developmental growth of a child. Being able to express themselves through the facial expressions of their doll is a welcomed gift. Just ask any parent of a toddler!
We can attest to the fact that kids are not always forthcoming with telling mom and dad how they feel. Ava is somewhat of an introvert like her mom and WhatItsFace has been a great way for them to connect, bond and share in how you can express your emotions and how to let her know when she is feeling a certain type of way.
The kitty cat is her favorite and she takes it with her wherever she goes. Now that she is back in school, it’s a great way for her to tell mom how her day was and engage in conversation to share her thoughts, feelings and what is going on in her little world each day.
WhatsItsFace is great for parents to really connect and engage with their kids and help create imaginative play, all while showing them how it is okay and easy to express feelings openly and healthily. 
