Teddy Blog

Since Valentine’s Day is just a week away, I thought I would refer to the bears I have seen lately at stores around our area. Teddy bears dressed up or not, these will be gifts for the children and mainly women for the holiday. Cute little bears dressed as Cupid, bears in red or pink, bears with huge bows around their necks, all ready for giving.  You do need to keep in mind who the bear is for and if it’s a child that this bear you have chosen will be a safe one. Read the tag on the bear to see what it’s made of and how to care for it. Most bears can be cleaned easily if they must be.

Choose the bear wisely. Remember this bear will have meaning to the person who will receive it. They will know you put some thought into picking this particular bear for them and love the bear and you for it.

One of the most loved books would, of course, be Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day by A. Milne. The story of Winnie and Christopher Robin has melted hearts and made children smile for ages. Christopher Robin was named after Milne’s son. The adventures of Winnie the Pooh will always be a classic.

There is also The Teddy Bears’ Picnic by Jimmy Kennedy- This books stems from the song, “Teddy
Bears’ Picnic” by John Bratton in 1907. The teddy bear song was the first song
to ever mention a teddy bear in it. A few teddy bears want to have a picnic and find other teddy bear families doing the same.

Famous Bears & Friends: One Hundred Years of Teddy Bear stories and Poems by
Janet Coleman- This is a wonderful collection of stories including how the teddy got his name.  You can learn who really produced the first teddy bear and read about the many new legends about teddy bears will keep you interested.  While the book is short, it’s wonderful for children who can’t sit too long.

The Legend of the Teddy Bear by Frank Murphy. A captivating story that also teaches children a bit about history. A fun story for children of all ages.

If you can’t find these books at local book stores, you might find them at the library. Teaching children to read from books such as these would be fun. You can also teach children to respect books at the same time.

Check your teddy bear carefully. Throwing out a beloved toy may not be easy to do if your little one is very attached to it. Check to see if you can have this teddy dry cleaned or washed. Most teddies will have a tag on them somewhere (if you are lucky and it wasn’t worn off or cut off!).  You don’t want to toss out that security item you child cherishes and won’t go to sleep without.

Sometimes a teddy bear can be repaired if torn. You should be able to either do it yourself or find someone nearby who can repair a well loved bear. Check with your local craft shop to see if they might have a name or two of people who will repair bears. The stuffing might be coming out, he might have lost an eye, or his seams will need to be tightened or re-sewn.  He really needs to be repaired. He was very much loved and has many more loving years to give.

A smelly teddy bear needs to be vacuumed or you can put him in a plastic bag or box with some cat litter or baking soda. Both will soak up the odors from the bear. If you think your child might have gotten food or water on the bear his stuffing might be molding from the inside. I know this sounds gross, but it can happen. You can try cleaning the fur in the washer or just doing a surface wash on the bear. You may need to open the bear, remove all the old stuffing and replacing it with new stuffing. There are various types of stuffing at craft stores, so you may want to check them out first. If you or your child value that bear, you might be better off getting the more expensive stuffing.