From anxiety to belonging at Plushies in the Park

About 35 young people gathered in a park in Adelaide on Saturday for a meet-up that, for many families, filled a gap that’s hard to explain until you need it.

The event, Plushies in the Park, was organised by Little Paws Plushies and brought together members of the ESSA community — short for Emotional Support Stuffed Animals.

For those who haven’t come across it before, ESSA refers to the use of plush toys as a way to manage anxiety, regulate emotions and feel more secure, particularly in situations that might otherwise feel overwhelming.

And for a lot of neurodivergent young people, social settings can fall squarely into that category.

At the start of the morning, some attendees stayed close to their parents or kept to the edges of the group, taking time to adjust. There was no formal structure or pressure to join in, just space to arrive and settle in at their own pace.

Gradually, things shifted.

Conversations started, often over something small; a shared interest in a particular plushie, or a simple question. From there, connections began to form more naturally.

By the end of the event, small groups had gathered across the park, and some were already asking when the next meet-up would be.

Organiser Lisa McArthur-Collins said creating a space like this was important, not just for connection, but for understanding.

“As an autistic mum raising two autistic children, I know how hard these moments can be,” she said. “You could see the anxiety when some of them arrived. But you could also see the change. They found their people.”

She said the ESSA community is often misunderstood, with emotional support plushies dismissed as something children should outgrow, rather than recognised for the role they can play in everyday life.

For parents, the impact was clear. Samantha, who attended with her daughter, said it was “really special” to see her connect with others who shared her interests.

“It was a beautiful community, and I even made some new mum friends too,” she said.

Lisa created the event through her business, Little Paws Plushies, after recognising a gap in safe, inclusive social opportunities for neurodivergent young people.

“These are kids who often feel like they don’t fit anywhere,” she said. “Today, they did.”

For families, it’s a reminder that sometimes the smallest things; a familiar object, a shared understanding, a space without pressure – can make it possible to take part in ways that might not otherwise feel accessible.