It’s time to summon your inner knitter and make comfort toys to comfort kids
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Well it’s official: parents can finally book in their 5-11 year olds to receive the Pfizer COVID vaccine.
With appointments available from Monday January 10, our little Canberrans may be feeling a little nervous getting a needle (who can blame them?), so one local charity is making comfort toys to comfort kids.
Good Omen Goodeze (affectionately known as GOG) is a Canberra based community needle-craft group that provides personalised hand crafted comfort ‘goodies’, for patients and their loved ones in need of comfort or warmth in the Canberra Hospital.
Founded by Mary Liondi-Barlow in 2017, GOG focuses on the mental health benefits linked to knitting, not only donating much needed items but also running Knitting for Mindfulness workshops.
Now, they’re calling for volunteers to pick up their knitting needles for a good cause and craft cute comfort toys for kids that may be anxious or upset about getting the jab.
The idea behind their smallest fiddle toys (which include ‘Worry Worms’, ‘Calming Caterpillars’, ‘Stress-less Sharks’ to ‘Relaxing Red Robins’ or ‘Mini Monsters’) is to use them as a tool for distraction, comfort and positivity, lessening distress and bringing a smile to little faces.
“In the past year our small comfort toys were given to distressed children undergoing Covid Testing at the testing centers,” says Mary.
“This time, we are trying to provide enough comfort toys to be given out by the nurses at the vax clinics, only to those children they feel are particularly distressed or anxious when they are receiving their immunisation. We will also be supporting the ‘Access and Sensory Covid-19 Vaccination Clinic’ at Weston Creek.”
Let’s get to the knitty-gritty, if you’re interested in giving a helping hand all you have to do is check out the patterns available on the Good Omen Goodeze Facebook group or on the website. If you’re feeling creative you can even make your own!
It’s no sticker and lollipop like the big kids got, but it’s a great way to get involved and give comfort to our little worry worms.
For more information visit goodomengoodeze.org.au/gog-covid-vax-toy-challenge/
