Slumberkins Yak Kin - Self Acceptance

Slumberkins is an emotional learning brand on a mission to empower children to be caring, confident, and resilient. Founded by a special education teacher and a family therapist, Slumberkins was created to bring effective early emotional learning tools into as many homes and schools as possible.

Yak Promotes: Self-acceptance

Trying new things can be scary. Slumberkins' Yak teaches children that it’s ok to take risks and help them understand that it's ok to not be perfect at something the first time they try it.

Learning to accept themselves as they are, gives little ones the freedom to love themselves and the courage to keep trying even when things are hard. Yak will walk paw-in-hand with them as they learn to trust themselves, develop a sense of self and start to explore the world around them.

What's Included:

The Kin - Perfect for play and hugs, with stuffed arms and legs that 3+ little ones can grab onto.

The Board Book - Yak Kin comes with the lesson book “Yak Struggles with Mistakes”.

The Affirmation Card - A daily affirmation for your child to practice and carry with them wherever they go.

• Machine washable, air dry
• Intentionally designed without detachable plastic pieces to give caretakers peace of mind
• Kins measure 6" W x 14" L
• Soft and silky fur, perfect for smooshy hugs
• Stuffed with hypoallergenic fiberfill
• 100% Polyester material
• Board Book (measures 
5" W x 7" L) & Affirmation Card (Affirmation Card style may vary).
• Suitable from birth
  
• CE Safety certified

Yak Struggles with Mistakes Board Book

The fear of making mistakes can stop us from even trying and fill us with self-doubt. How can we feel confident when we are less than perfect? Come along with Slumberkins' Yak in her own special story 'Yak, You are Good Enough'. In this interactive board book, she learns that she is good enough just as she is and reminds children that they don't need to be perfect to love themselves.

Yak helps your child overcome feelings of self-doubt

• Perfectionist tendencies
• Failing forward
• Perseverance

The Slumberkins Yak bundle comes with a Yak plush, an affirmation card, and book on self-acceptance (starring Yak, of course).

Yak Struggles with Mistakes, comes as a board book. In this captivating story, Yak learns that it’s okay not to be perfect—mistakes are a natural, necessary part of growth. Featuring sweet illustrations and engaging, affirmative language, learning important lessons has never been more fun.

All of Slumberkins' books and plush toys are specially designed to teach social-emotional learning skills and build secure connections between children and their caregivers.

When you and your child cuddle up together to read a Slumberkins story, you create a safe space to process emotions and connect. With Yak as your guide, you can tackle big feelings together and instill children with a deep sense of self-worth that will stay with them as they learn and grow.

Whether you’re rounding out your child’s bookshelf with Slumberkins self-acceptance books or gifting them a soon-to-be-cherished Yak stuffed animal, our Yak collection has everything you need to celebrate perseverance and self-respect.

Our Approach

Connect-to-Grow: We employ a “Connect-to-Grow” approach that can be summed up as “connect, reflect, practice, grow.” While learning will always start with connection, our approach is intended to be dynamic, rather than a step-by-step process.

Connect: Our creatures are relatable for a reason. They help parents facilitate meaningful moments of connection that allow children to feel seen, valued, and loved at the deepest level. Allowing all feelings to be expressed in these moments of connection helps solidify the bonds that are essential for an emotionally healthy childhood.

Reflect: Here we apply two definitions of “reflect,” the first meaning to mirror. Young children develop a sense of self when their parents and primary caregivers mirror and reflect back the child’s feelings, responses, and actions.

“You look like you are about to cry. Your eyes are watering, you’re holding your breath, and you’re looking down at your shoes.”

As we help our children build a sense of self and understand what it means to be human, mirroring is a way we can show our children that we accept them and that we promote the full and healthy expression of emotions.

This brings us to the other meaning of reflect. When children feel seen, heard, and understood by their parents, they can feel safe to engage in self-reflection. Parents can model self-talk, approach difficult feelings with curiosity rather than judgment, and use deep breathing or body regulation techniques to help their children internalize behavior that encourages self-reflection.

Practice: To reinforce the connection we have with our children, we must actively participate in their emotional growth journey, repeating these processes of “connect” and “reflect.” When children see a parent identify their emotions, acknowledge their mistakes, and practice self-awareness, they are actively gaining tools and coping mechanisms for emotional wellness.

Slumberkins affirmations proactively support building emotional health and resiliency for more meaningful moments throughout the day.

“I am loved as I am. When things get tough. I go back to my heart. I know I am enough” —Yak’s Affirmation.

Grow: Growth isn’t a “final step” or linear progression. Emotional growth can be messy and uncomfortable and can start at any age. When we engage in our children’s emotional development early, we can empower them to be more caring, confident, and resilient, where they see every experience—pleasant or difficult—as an opportunity for growth.

Our Product

We want you to feel confident supporting your child’s early emotional development. We invite you to meet our creatures and apply our Connect-to-Grow approach through storytelling, affirmation practice and play.