History of the Original Teddy
History of the Original TeddyFar better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, then to rank with those poor spirits who niether suffer much nor enjoy much because they live in the grey twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat. [sic]
The creation of the original teddy bear which is regarded as the perennial toy of the twentieth century complies with this philosophy.
Firstly, though, what denotes a toy? The most common defenition states
a toy as being a child's plaything, which suggests balls, dolls, games, puzzles
and the like. Perhaps a more general defenition which fits the entire age realm
is any object which stimulates the brain. A toy encourages learning through fun
challenges increasing in difficulty as the mind further develops. Most
importantly, toys keep children happy which is an essential emotion for growth
and development. (See illustration 1) Primitive toys served the same purpose;
they taught children the skills necessary to survive the world outside their
parents' protection. In essence, toys exist based on the instinct of self
preservation. Primitive toys and games taught manipulation of weapons and
warfare which instilled invaluable coordination, manual skills and mental agility. A primate's survival depended heavily on his successful use of the three.
Toys have remained an essential cultural icon throughout history. For
example, an ancient doll concocted of organic materials such as clay, bone, and
wood is dated before 3000 B.C. Most ancient dolls beheld religious significance
which certain cultures still worship, such as the Pueblo Kachina doll known as a fetish. Also, ancient African societies produced balls, toy animals, and pull toys while ancient Greece and Rome entertained with boats, carts, hoops, and tops and in additon threw knucklebones similar to modern dice. Furthermore, the Middle Age European societies created clay marbles, rattles, and even puppets as toy teaching devices. The same basic toys have emcompassed one society after another with their evolution dependent upon the technology of the era. Today's toys are merely yesterday's upgraded replicas enhancing with each new discovery.
The toy world is vast but separable. It's four partitions include adaptations for infancy, early chilhood, late childhood, and adolescence/adulthood.
Characteristics of infant toys include soft or plush fabrics and stuffings, movable parts, noisemakers, and even unbreakable mirrors so that the
undeveloped mind can build its five senses. Some examples are stuffed
animals, mobiles and rattles. Toys for ages two to six, early childhood, such as puzzles, large building blocks, dolls and stuffed animals, plastic numbers and letters, and toy telephones develop this genre's basic mental abilities such as critical thinking, creativity and imagination, emotions such as caring, counting, reading and speaking. Sports oriented toys develop physical strength. Late childhood toys require more imagination from the six- to twelve-year-old mind which instills critical thinking skills. Action...
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