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Post by housesparrow on Jul 26, 2011 8:51:32 GMT
An article on the history of the teddy bear made me wonder why the bear has endured as a children's favourite for so long.
Jack insists he was deprived as a child because he never had a teddy, though his younger brother had Big Red Ted. In vain would his gran (who brought him up) point out that he had other toys; the absence of a teddy bear hit home hard.
Are they still regarded as an essential part of a childhood experience?
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Post by Weyland on Jul 26, 2011 9:48:38 GMT
An article on the history of the teddy bear made me wonder why the bear has endured as a children's favourite for so long. Jack insists he was deprived as a child because he never had a teddy, though his younger brother had Big Red Ted. In vain would his gran (who brought him up) point out that he had other toys; the absence of a teddy bear hit home hard. Are they still regarded as an essential part of a childhood experience? I don't know. Both my kids had teddies. My niece had a chimp. I still have mine. Wouldn't part with him. Historic Note: Label on his foot says Merry Thought Hygienic Toys, Made in England. I just found out that Merry Thought is still in business, in Ironbridge (Coalbrookdale), Shropshire. I was there the other week, at the Blist's Hill Victorian Town Museum — the same one that's on the BBC2 series about Victorian potions and remedies that started yesterday. Funny old world.
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Post by alanseago on Jul 26, 2011 10:23:18 GMT
I had a 'hand-me-down' teddy. I used to hang it from the cord of the clothes rack.
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Post by Weyland on Jul 26, 2011 11:10:52 GMT
I had a 'hand-me-down' teddy. I used to hang it from the cord of the clothes rack. Do kids have teddybears in France? I expect not.
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Post by alanseago on Jul 26, 2011 12:42:26 GMT
I was living in Lancashire at that time. I have not noticed a French child with a bear but they usually have cuddly toys.
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Post by aubrey on Jul 26, 2011 19:15:04 GMT
I don't think I had one. My brother had one though (it a B&W check patch over one ear where it had been chewed by mice), and he had a knitted elephant as well. I don't know why I didn't have anything, if I didn't. I'm going to have to ask my mother).
I thought this thread was going to be about why bears shit in the woods, when it could have been any other animal, and even the Pope.
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Post by Alpha Hooligan on Jul 26, 2011 22:45:51 GMT
Why bears?Because they are awesome. Mine is safely stashed away somewhere, he was a good pal when I was a child and I simply refuse to part with him or chuck him away. AH
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Post by Alpha Hooligan on Jul 26, 2011 22:49:17 GMT
...and unlike Weyland "I'm a bit rough wiv me bears I am" Yutani...mine still has his little peepers. ;D (he is a little scruffy now, obviously, and my dog did chew one of his ears when I was about 5). AH
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Post by Weyland on Jul 27, 2011 8:26:14 GMT
...and unlike Weyland "I'm a bit rough wiv me bears I am" Yutani...mine still has his little peepers. ;D I'll have you know, Alph, that Teddy Yutani fought and died in the trenches for the likes of you! Up to his missing eyes in muck and bullets he was, God bless him.
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Post by trubble on Jul 28, 2011 15:40:14 GMT
An article on the history of the teddy bear made me wonder why the bear has endured as a children's favourite for so long. Jack insists he was deprived as a child because he never had a teddy, though his younger brother had Big Red Ted. In vain would his gran (who brought him up) point out that he had other toys; the absence of a teddy bear hit home hard. Are they still regarded as an essential part of a childhood experience? I don't know. Both my kids had teddies. My niece had a chimp. I still have mine. Wouldn't part with him. Historic Note: Label on his foot says Merry Thought Hygienic Toys, Made in England. I just found out that Merry Thought is still in business, in Ironbridge (Coalbrookdale), Shropshire. I was there the other week, at the Blist's Hill Victorian Town Museum — the same one that's on the BBC2 series about Victorian potions and remedies that started yesterday. Funny old world. (Does he growl?)
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Post by trubble on Jul 28, 2011 15:47:42 GMT
Mine's a really naff teddy - very 1970. Quite unbeautiful.
He was always very good looking in my eyes. It's only when I take him out now and see him in comparison to posh teddies that I realise how ordinaire he is. Of course, he had a wonderful personality and that makes up for a helluv lot in the looks department.
He travelled with me as a kid, between Ireland and England, back in the days when kids could travel alone (if they had a bear escort). Thusly, he has been rigorously searched by 1970s airport staff who were suspicious of his Irish accent which he didn't really have. Racists.
They ripped open his back once and stuck long pins in him. I may have been crying because I remember a nice lady taking over the operation and explaining to me that it didn't hurt him. How could I ever give him up after that trauma?
My daughter had a toy kitten for a while, she didn't take to any Teddy. My nephews and nieces don't seem to have teddies either.
Maybe it's because they have more to choose from?
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Post by trubble on Jul 28, 2011 15:48:54 GMT
His name is Basil, if anyone is wondering.
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Post by trubble on Jul 28, 2011 15:50:10 GMT
...and unlike Weyland "I'm a bit rough wiv me bears I am" Yutani...mine still has his little peepers. ;D Very rude to comment.
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Post by jean on Jul 28, 2011 16:14:35 GMT
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Post by everso on Jul 30, 2011 0:20:50 GMT
This is my bear. He now sits in the cupboard just to the left of where my computer is. His head is a bit wobbly, due to the fact that my parents used to make the bear nod or shake his head to let me know if I was loved by him or not - he also has a bald patch at the back of his head where a human finger and thumb made his head move. He is quite frail at 61 years old. Note the pretty socks I was wearing. Vair vair 1950s. Attachments:
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Post by everso on Jul 30, 2011 0:24:53 GMT
Fab bears, Jean. I loved Jerome, the mahogany brown bear. I have a story book that was mine as a child called "Monster Book for Tinies" and in it is a story about a brown bear in a toyshop. Apparently, brown bears are better behaved than golden bears.
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Post by aubrey on Jul 30, 2011 7:42:39 GMT
Everso - that nodding/shaking story sounds hor-r-r-r-r-r-ible. I imagine you standing there and trembling before you knew which it was - a nod or a shake.
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Post by everso on Jul 30, 2011 12:47:48 GMT
Everso - that nodding/shaking story sounds hor-r-r-r-r-r-ible. I imagine you standing there and trembling before you knew which it was - a nod or a shake. No, not at all. My bear ALWAYS loved me. He often didn't care for my dad and my mum though. And sometimes my nan and grandad. I used to do it with my grandchildren when they were a bit younger. Their bears often detested grandad. They always loved nana though. ;D
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Post by Weyland on Jul 30, 2011 12:53:08 GMT
Everso - that nodding/shaking story sounds hor-r-r-r-r-r-ible. I imagine you standing there and trembling before you knew which it was - a nod or a shake. No, not at all. My bear ALWAYS loved me. He often didn't care for my dad and my mum though. And sometimes my nan and grandad. I used to do it with my grandchildren when they were a bit younger. Their bears often detested grandad. They always loved nana though. ;D I hafta ask. Did he wear white winklepickers and a parka?
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Post by everso on Jul 30, 2011 12:56:00 GMT
No, not at all. My bear ALWAYS loved me. He often didn't care for my dad and my mum though. And sometimes my nan and grandad. I used to do it with my grandchildren when they were a bit younger. Their bears often detested grandad. They always loved nana though. ;D I hafta ask. Did he wear white winklepickers and a parka? What, my teddy bear? Don't be daft! He never wears clothes, but I'm reliably informed that he supports the Mods and likes The Small Faces music. My teddy looks a bit like Teddy in Andy Pandy.
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