Jennifer Ginty lives with complicated post-traumatic stress dysfunction and main depressive dysfunction. She has turned her coping abilities right into a toy designed for youths — My Moody Monster.
My Moody Monster is a MESH-accredited plush doll with physique components related by a Velcro-like hook-and-loop fastener. When youngsters are feeling robust feelings, they’ll pull aside Moody’s physique, venting their frustration, disappointment, or anger on the doll as a substitute of themselves or others. Every plush toy additionally comes with a coloring ebook, providing a unique outlet for youths to discover these feelings.
“I used to be in a therapeutic group, and I mentioned, ‘I want I had a monster that I may simply rip aside, throw throughout the room, and get all of that frustration out with.’ The individuals within the group have been like, ‘Yeah, you need to have that,” Ginty says. “So, I went house, and I put collectively this plush doll. I made its arms, legs, and head of Velcro in order that I may tear it aside. This primary iteration was referred to as PTSD Pete, and I created them solely for myself. As I used to be utilizing Pete and actually getting that frustration out with him, I noticed that that is one thing that I can actually share with the world.”
Jennifer Ginty created My Moody Monster as a means for youths to course of their psychological well being. | Supply: My Moody Monster
My Moody Monster comes with psychological well being sources for each youngsters and oldsters. | Supply: My Moody Monster
My Moody Monster is a luxurious doll that rips aside and might be put again collectively. | Supply: My Moody Monster
Ginty, who can also be a single mom, realized that children specifically may benefit from a product much like PTSD Pete to handle their very own massive emotions.
“Youngsters have all of those feelings inside them that they don’t know what to do on the time,” Ginty says. “I’ve two boys, and I used to name them little cavemen, as a result of they didn’t know what was occurring of their brains. They didn’t know what these feelings have been. That they had no thought how you can cope with them. That was how Moody happened.”
Along with promoting My Moody Monster via her DTC website, Ginty donates Moodys to native fireplace departments, police stations, and different organizations that work with youngsters experiencing trauma. It’s a motion to assist youngsters develop the behavior of managing their feelings, particularly when confronted with a combat for survival.
“A baby in trauma wants one thing to carry onto …one thing that claims, ‘I’m right here for you,’ Ginty explains. “I need Moody to be that buddy for them.”
My Moody Monster is offered in units for households, medical doctors and therapists, in addition to for educators in school rooms.
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A model of this characteristic first appeared within the 2026 International Issue of The Toy Ebook. Read the full issue here!
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