Have you been to a Build-A-Bear Workshop? We took our boys for their first visit and we all had a ball! This holiday season is the perfect time to visit a Build-A-Bear Workshop near you and create some fun-filled family memories.
On a recent Sunday afternoon, we popped into the Build-A-Bear workshop at SouthPark Mall in Strongsville, Ohio. I was delighted to see the excitement in my kids eyes as they looked around and took everything in! Right away we were greeted by a friendly staff member who explained the process and what we could expect. Throughout our time there, many employees were on hand to answer questions and help in any way. I could tell that they loved working at Build-A-Bear as much as we loved visiting.
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If you’ve never visited before, be sure to give yourself about an hour, as The Build-A-Bear Workshop is definitely an experience and you won’t want to rush. With 6 areas to visit, such as “choose me”, “fluff me” and “dress me” you’ll find that each stop is a special memory to be made.
One of the hardest decisions your kiddos will have to make is which furry little animal they are going to take home. Bring your patience, because with so many cute choices this may be a tough decision which will need extra time. In fact, if your children are anything like mine, they may even want to change their mind a few times before moving on to the next step. I noticed that the prices started at only $10 which I thought was an excellent price for the size and quality of the animal.
Once they had chosen their furry, unstuffed animal we were directed to an area were they could choose to customize it with music, sounds, sayings, and/or smell for a small additional charge. My kiddos listened to just about all the sounds but surprisingly none of them choose to add anything at the stage. They did however choose to customize their bear with a unique smell. While there were several to choose from, they all picked bubblegum.
Next up is stuffing! During this step, Build-A-Bear allows your child to participate by having them step on the pedal, which blasts the stuffing into the bear…how fun is that? Staff members even allow the kids to decide how ‘huggable’ to make the animal, by adding more or less stuffing. Once your animal is stuffed, you can give your bear a heart to put inside before it’s sealed up. Each of my boys loved participating in this step as the staff member made it a personal experience for each of them.
Before heading over to the clothes, the boys brushed their bears and gave them a little “wash” and fluff in the tub. With having three boys, I didn’t think they would be nearly as interested in the clothing area but boy was I wrong! Build-A-Bear offers so many adorable outfits that even my boys had a hard time deciding which one to choose. From play clothes, costumes, hats, holiday outfits, pajamas and more, there are hundreds of different options!
I even found some clothes by my favorite guilty pleasure…One Direction!
Next up, we headed over to the computer stations to make our adoptions official! Here, you’ll be able to give your little animal a name and create a birth certificate. You’ll also be able to sign up for Build A Bear’s mailing list which will alert you of upcoming sales and email you special coupons throughout the year. I really appreciated how easy to use the computer stations were which allowed my oldest to complete it on his own.
Even though our new buddies have been home with us for almost two weeks, my boys are still in love and take their bear EVERYWHERE! In fact my oldest brought his polar bear to his first ballet just last night. If you are looking for something FUN to do during Christmas break, I’d definitely recommend the Build-A-Bear Workshop! We had a fantastic time and we can’t wait to go back!
Be sure to keep up-to-date on all the Build-A-Bear happenings and follow them on Facebook! Also, if you visited McDonald’s recently you may have a $10 off $30 coupon from the cute little Build-A-Bear toys that were inside the Happy Meals!
FLASH GIVEAWAY: While at Build-A-Bear I picked up a $10 gift card for YOU! This giveaway is only open until noon today (12/20/13) so enter quickly! To enter, simply leave a comment below! Good luck!
WOULD LOVE TO WIN..:) GOOD LUCK TO ALL AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS…:)
Such a cute store and a neat concept! I made myself a Rudolph there the other day… His nose lights up and everything! Glad your boys had a fun time! 🙂
I would love to take my girls to Build A Bear. My 4 year old wants one of the My Little Pony toys.
I love build a bear! I have one from when they were at the baseball stadium. They make a good quality peoduct. I love that if something happens toyour bear they fix it. Mines stitching came undone and they repaired it on site. And if your hear gets lost and someone takes him to build a bear they get him back home to you!
My daughter wanted a stuffed bunny for christmas and i heard that they have cute ones for her to make. my husband is the only one working right now so the gift card would help out with getting her one.
would love to take my daughter there for the first time it looks like so much fun!
My son would love this 🙂
I would love to take my daughter! She has never been there!
I love taking my nieces to build a bear:)
I would love to take my daughter there! My son had been in there to make one and my daughter has a bear but she’s never got to make it herself. It’s such a cool store!!
WOW I have heard of Build a Bear but never realized how detailed you could get. Thank you for the mini tour. Sounds wonderful.
I would love to win one for my grandson!
I would love to win the gift card. My daughters love going there and tomorrow my oldest turns 8:)
This would be great! My daughter would love to pick out a special bear!
We would love to win!!
My kiddos love build a bear!!
My kids love build a bear!!!
How fun! Would love to make one soon!
We love build a bear! Would love to win!
My daughter has been begging to go back to build a bear! Would love to win this!!
Would love to win. My daughter really want to get Clarice.
I would love to win for my boys. we have been there once and they have been wanting to go back so bad
My son will be 9 on Jan 6 and this is exactly what he wants.
I would love to win!!!!! Please n Thank you!
My grand kids love build a bear! We have gotten them all one for there first birthdays!
Would love love this. Kids have been begging
Love build a bear! They have the cutest little animals!
Love that they offer coupons! Everything in that store is so cute!
Would love to take the kids there.
I’d love to win..my daughter would LOVE THIS..thanks for doing thid Rachel..Hope I won
Oh I hope I win .
BuildABear is such a sweet place for kids to make their own new, stuffed friend:-)
My 16 month old daughter would love this
My daughter loves Build a Bear and can’t sleep without her Bear!
Oh my goodness! It has been a long, long time since I’ve been to build-a-bear. I would LOVE to take my little girl!! Merry Christmas!!
would love to win the build a bear gift card thanks ! 🙂
My daughter is planning a trip with my two grandsons after Christmas. Would love to contribute. Merry Christmas!
I would love to take my boys for the first time! I think they would love it:)
I would love to win this gift card so that I could donate it to a child who is less fortunate than my own children during the holiday season!
Love that the boys made theirs smell like bubblegum! How neat! My son has never been! Sounds like lots of fun!!
We were just there making a my little pony. So fun!
Bears are really cool!
Build a bear! Build a bear!
My grandaughter just said yesterday “Mom, I want to go to build a bear.” $10 gift card would make it fun 🙂
My 4 year old would love to go to Build-a-Bear. This means he could get a bed for his new his Snowman.
We just had our first forever friend since my dd begged me since she was weee little! My daughter picked out the same bear-polar bear as your son! It was a great visit-picked out matching outfits. She went back with friend to get free ribbons too, just make sure you bring your friend! LOVE THE STORE!!
I have two coupons, one for each of my kiddos from Happy Meals at McD’s…I plan to go soon to check this out myself for the first time to! Looks so fun!
I would love to take my girls! 🙂
Would love to win! Merry Christmas Rachel!
Both my girls have been asking to go! They would love their pet and be so excited to show everyone something that they got to make all by themselves!
I hope I win this… love taking my god daughter there… I have a sports puppy dog… wish I had kids to take… build of bear is great!
My nice would love this..
You’re right! You need to plan for an hour at Build-a-Bear. It’s not just picking out the character, it’s the whole experience kids love. All the choices! Thanks for hosting the giveaway and Merry Christmas!
Looks like your kiddos had fun…mine always enjoy a trip once in a while!!!
Never done this before, but now I have a 4 year old son who really wants to. Would be a great stocking stuffer and trip after!
Love build a bear! My niece has been asking about going the past week this would be perfect 🙂
Also the new smell station sounds awesome didn’t have it last time I went 🙂
Thanks for the chance to win. I’ll be taking my 10month old there on her birthday…
This sounds like so much fun!
We haven’t taken our son to build a bear yet, it sounds like your kids had a blast! It would be great if we won and got to take our 5 year old! Thanks for all your great posts and happy holidays!!
I saw your post on facebook and wandered over here to see this great article! I enjoyed reading. My daughter is 3 and would LOVE this experience!
My 6 yr old has been wanting to go there. Hope I win so I can use it to take her. Thanks for the chance!
Merry Christmas! 🙂
I would love this to take my nephew to build one for the first time! Love your site! Have a great holiday season!
We built my daughter a Build-a-Bear when she was born four years ago. I’m expecting my second daughter in two days…this would be a great welcome gift!
I would love to take my daughter!!
My daughter is 2 and has never experienced Build-A-Bear! She is in love with stuffed animals so I think she would absolutely LOVE a trip to make a new forever friend <3
Your boys are adorable!
Our boys would love to go
Really need to make a trip to build a bear, someone gave my son a dog but he has no clothes yet.
You made it sound like an awesome time! I can’t wait until my little makes her first one! Happy holidays!
We love Build a bear! I’m glad your boys are enjoying theirs. Hope I win. My girls have been asking to go.
I have three little girls ages 3, 6 and 9 and this is something they all can do without complaints! We love Build-a-bear!
We just went this week also, I think I love it more than my kids! !!
We would love to make our first trip there!
Aww looks fun… I wanna win!