I recently ordered a package of a dozen poorly-made "Jumping Jellybean" wind-up toys from the Oriental Trading Company to use for DIY toy-building. Inspired by the TOMY Bumbling Boxing set we found at a garage sale a few weeks ago, Z and I cut the upper portions off a couple of the jellybeans (old scissors work fine), acquired the heads of some small discarded stuffed animals, and taped them up for painting, with adding arms to allow these two creatures to rush into each others' arms. We call them Hugging Robots.


This particular behavior is a favorite way for Z to greet a loved one who has been absent for some time. She doesn't just make a point of dropping what she is holding and racing into the arms of her beloved, who is expected to behave in a similar manner - she actively coaches them in advance over the phone that this is what they should do when they meet.