Going to school is tough, especially in middle school in Amarillo.   It has been deemed some of the worst years of a kid's life.  Many kids do whatever they can to get by and just get through it.

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One of those things seems to be having a fluffy friend, and no we are not talking about Fido.  We are talking about stuffed animals.  It seems that stuffed animals have become the new trend and they are invading schools in Amarillo, but not only Amarillo, all over the country.  It's also not a gender-specific thing, all genders are bringing their stuffed animals into the classroom.

According to The Science Survey, the biggest purchaser of stuffed animals is teenagers.

Why are Teens and Pre-Teens so Attached to Stuffed Animals

The main reason is comfort.  These stuffed animals are used for stress relief and calming down nerves, anxiety, etc.  They help with the issues that teens are going through.  Although these stuffed animals can help keep these kids calm and stress levels down, they are beginning to cause issues in the classroom.

Stuffed Animals are Causing Problems in the Classroom

It's become such a problem, that Randall Junior High has banned stuffed animals from the campus.  The ban went into effect on Wednesday, January 29, 2025.

We have reached a point where bringing toys to school is no longer acceptable.

The students were informed of the decision earlier this week and the information was also shared on the school's Facebook page.

It wouldn't be surprising if other schools started to follow suit.   Having stuffed animals in the classroom isn't a new thing. Many teachers keep stuffed animals in certain classes for comfort and stress reduction.  Many colleges and universities across the country understand the effect of stuffed animals and host events where students get free stuffed animals.  Plus, it's a time to interact with other students bonding over these cute plushies.  However, when these toys become a distraction it takes away from learning.  Just imagine how distracting it is when 20+ kids in one classroom all have a stuffed animal.

This trend of bringing stuffed animals or plushies doesn't seem to be going away, however, they won't be allowed at Randall Junior High anymore

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