I would like to personally welcome you to our website. My name is Kathylee Forrester and I have been a children's advocate for over 15 years. It is my belief that early communication with our children and helping them to understand their emotions and feelings is so important to their growth in their journey to becoming an emotionally healthy adult.

In developing Patches the Bear I wanted to make it as easy and basic as possible for children to name, understand and appropriately express their feelings and emotions. I also wanted to make it as easy for the adult guiding the child in this learning process. There also had to be a 'play value' for the bear so the child would bond with Patches and feel comfortable. I believe we have done just that, as Patches is a soft, plush toy with a major
'cuddle factor.' A child may initially treat the exercise of choosing a different face to place in the front pocket as a game, so you will communicate with him/her and this is OK.

Children begin to communicate from the time they are born with that first big cry in the delivery room. As children grow and their communication skills begin to develop, it is imperative that the adults in a child's life encourage healthy communication. This enables the child to learn, form relationships, build their sense of worth, develop coping skills and express feelings instead
of holding them in.

My hope for Patches Kids, ™ will be for children to develop a healthy sense
of value in who they are and who feel safe in expressing their emotions. Encouraging good habits through communication and expression will empower a child and ultimately help to ensure their safety and well being. As children experience different issues, peer pressure and crisis in their lives, they begin to develop coping skills. Therefore, it is important for a child to name, understand and appropriately express their feelings. This opportunity will help guide the child towards healthy, emotional development.

Please follow this Link to read Kathylee Forrester's Complete Bio and Advocacy Work