The girls favourite shop in the whole of the town centre is Build-A-Bear Workshop. The combination of cuddly teddies and sparkly dresses is perfect for them. They were therefore delighted to spend one of the last days of the Summer holidays testing the new Beach Buddies range. It was a wonderful back to school treat.
The only problem with Build-A-Bear workshop is that there is just so much to choose from. If you’re planning to buy a bear then you need to schedule in a good chunk at time as it really is a whole experience. the first thing to do is to choose your teddy. They are all really cute and loveable. I prefer the traditional coloured bears but the girls particularly love the brighter coloured animals. The bears just on their own start at just £10.
The Beach buddies are a great new range which help to capture fun memories of the Summer. You can choose from Toothy Shark, Sea Splash Dolphin and Octo-Fun Octopus. They are great for children who prefer an animal to a bear. Charlotte was really ill that day so her sisters decided to make her a dolphin as they wanted accessories for their teddies rather than a new animal.
There are lots of options for boys as well as girls. The new Teenage Mutant Ninja looks really fun.
Once you have chosen your bear the next part is to stuff it. This is a lovely idea as children help to make their new friend by adding the fluff. The staff at Build-a-Bear are really wonderful. they are so good with children and manage to draw out the shyest child. After the toy is stuffed they have a little routine to make it come to life.
Just before they sew up the teddy you can choose a heart for your bear. You make a little wish before putting them in. Even here there are fun options to choose from. You can have a plain or patterned heart and it can even beat.
There is a new option to add a scent to the bear. We chose a strawberry scent which really does make the teddy smell of strawberry. To finish off your bear you can add a sound when you squeeze his tummy. there are lots of fun options to choose from including having him sing Happy Birthday.
Once your teddy is brought to life you can start shopping for his accessories. there is everything from dresses to sunglasses and even tiny teddy knickers. I love the fact you can get wheelchairs or plaster casts what a great idea! Of course we spent a long time in the princess dress section. This really was a difficult dilemma for Rose, who finally opted for a lovely Sleeping Beauty dress for her teddy bear.
Then you go on the computers to make a certificate for your teddy. As you can see Molly chose Splash a cuddly Hello Kitty dressing gown for bedtime.
The girls were thrilled with their new toy and accessories and it was a lovely way to finish the holiday.
Since getting him home the girls have really enjoyed playing with Sea Splash Dolphin. He is made from a lovely shiny fabric and has a lovely friendly face. The best thing is he is a puppet. You can put your hand into his mouth to make him talk.
Disclaimer: We were given Splash the Dolphin and some accessories for the purposes of this review.