| If you ask a child, stuffed animals are more than | | | | black bear which his hunting party had tied to a tree, |
| cuddly little pillows with arms and legs. If you ask a | | | | on grounds that slaying a bound quarry would be |
| child, that's not a stuffed animal, that's Kimbo the lion, | | | | unsportsmanlike. Originally named "Teddy's Bear", the |
| and he's allergic to milk, even though he loves ice | | | | animal has been immortalized as a stuffed animal and |
| cream. To an imaginative child, a stuffed animal is | | | | attributed with a variety of personalities and histories |
| more than something to cuddle, it's something to love | | | | by just as many children (and even several grown up |
| and endear with a unique personality and create a | | | | bear collectors). |
| whole history for, something to go on adventures | | | | After a certain age, most children seem to lose |
| with. | | | | interest in their stuffed animals. The secret we all |
| As we've seen, this is a popular theme for stories | | | | keep is that these creatures are immensely important |
| about children. Of course, there's Calvin and Hobbes, | | | | to us, and even when your kids become too old to |
| about the rambunctious six year old with a pet tiger. | | | | receive stuffed animals as gifts, very few young |
| On first reading, the premise seems to be that | | | | teenagers would be willing to part with the treasured |
| Hobbes is a stuffed tiger, but a real tiger in Calvin's | | | | friends they kept as small children. Even into |
| imagination. To any long time reader, it becomes | | | | adulthood, few people are willing to completely part |
| apparent that this is not the case. Hobbes is a real | | | | with treasured stuffed animals. |
| tiger, except for when grownups are seeing him. This | | | | Perhaps one thing that makes stuffed animals so |
| is a pretty accurate representation. It's not that | | | | special is that, unlike action figures and such, which |
| stuffed animals aren't real, it's that nobody but their | | | | come pre-packaged with their own character and |
| owners can see how real they are. | | | | stories, a new stuffed animal is usually anonymous |
| An earlier example is, of course, Winnie the Pooh. | | | | and without a story upon arrival. It becomes almost |
| Christopher Robin, the only human character we see | | | | an imperative responsibility for a child to give their |
| in A.A. Milne's original Winnie the Pooh books, has | | | | new friend an identity. |
| created not only a personality for each of his | | | | At the right age, a child will develop a real, honest |
| treasured stuffed friends, but an entire world for | | | | bond with a stuffed animal. When we're grown up, |
| them to inhabit, showing how rich a child's imagination | | | | people see this kind of thing as eccentric or crazy, |
| can be when creating a dramatis personae and a | | | | but for children, it's a completely healthy way to |
| story for their stuffed animals. | | | | empower one's imagination, to learn about human |
| It may not have been the original stuffed animal, but | | | | interaction, and to find comfort and friendship where |
| the Teddy Bear is probably the one seen as the | | | | most people see buttons and stuffing. |
| most iconic (as well as being Winnie the Pooh's | | | | au is a leading Australian online toy store. Visit au for |
| particular breed). As most of us know, the Teddy | | | | a wide selection of Kids Toys at discounted prices. |
| Bear was named for Theodore Roosevelt, inspired | | | | To save money on your next purchase, please visit |
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