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National Teddy Bear Day

July 16, 2020 admin No Comments

National Teddy Bear Day

September 9th is known as National Teddy Bear Day.

Teddy Bears have become a normal part of childhood and was part of mine as well. During a business trip my dad had bought me a teddy bear which has travelled with me both in America and England. I was a teenager at the time; although I had other bears this one was special because it represented my dad who would be gone for months at a time on business trips. The bear also had makeup via light red nail polish on the fingers and lips which partly remain from when I painted them on at age 13.

It is quite common to see much younger children carry a teddy bear or blanket as a comfort item. They may hold them tight when visiting new places or if a parent leaves them for a short time perhaps to make dinner or tidy up toys left out by their toddler or child. In psychology a bear or blanket can be called a transitional object which is like a parent/main carer substitute which can also be used at night when a child is on their own. The term ‘transitional object’ was introduced in 1953 by Donald Winnicott and connected to an object like a toy that a child will attached a very strong affection for as a way to bring about ego development or development of one’s self. Do you remember your own cherished toy you carried around often as a child? As adults our transitional objects might be our mobile/cell phone, keys or favourite clothing item.

The term Teddy Bear came about after President Theodore Roosevelt went on a hunting trip in November 1902 where his friends had caught a bear and he refused to kill it as he saw it as unsportsmanlike act. The media at the time made a bit of a joke out of the situation however the bear was drawn by Clifford Berryman much smaller and cuter. Morris Michtom saw the drawing and decided to make a toy bear he called Teddy which was Theodor Roosevelts nickname. At the same time in Germany Richard Steiff designed a teddy bear at around the same time yet was unaware of the bear being produced in America. The teddy bears then started to become a staple part of childhood.

Teddy Bears are still bought often despite newer electronic toys that children enjoy. In psychotherapy a teddy bear might be used to help clients repair damage that may have occurred in childhood as these transitional items are important to a child’s development.

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