Mommy chimpanzee and her baby chimp were clearly a favorite and essential prop for pretend play at Jane Goodall’s research camp. Little girls and Moms are familiar with the story and love the opportunity to engage in some storytelling around the theme of her journey to Tanzania, Africa to study and live among the Chimpanzees. My little 8 year-old friend and her brother designated an area across the playroom where the chimps lived and hid the mom and her baby under a chair. Her Dr. Goodall was so relieved to finally find the chimpanzees she had studied about only in books. The mommy/baby plush doubles as a backpack so my friend also wore it on her back during play. As she was narrating her story with her designated Jane Goodall doll, she looked at me and said, “When years go by, they’re not treating the chimps well. They’re cutting down the trees and taking the baby chimps away!” After she finished her doll play acting out a story she looked at me and said, “I love it!” What a great coming together of learning facts, exercising creative story telling and empowering young girls to step into the role of an inspiring leader, like Jane Goodall.
Note: 10% of sales will be donated to the Jane Goodall Institute to support Dr. Goodall’s research, chimpanzee conservation and the graduation of a new generation of conservationists.
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