Stress Free Birthday Parties

The History of the Teddy Bear
 
Teddy bears are one of the most beloved children’s toys of all time. Today, it is rare to walk into the average child’s room and not see a teddy bear - or two - somewhere. But teddy bears were not always as common as they are today. Prior to the 1900’s, teddy bears as we know them were not even in existence.
 
The name “teddy bear” originated with President Theodore Roosevelt. President Roosevelt’s nickname was “Teddy,” and on a hunting trip in 1902, some of Roosevelt’s attendants captured and tied up a black bear to a tree, suggesting that Roosevelt shoot it. He refused, and a cartoonist for the Washington Post picked up the story.
 
A man by the name of Morris Michtom, who was in the business of making stuffed animals, saw the cartoon, and being a shrewd businessman, came up with the idea of making a stuffed bear to go with the cartoon. After obtaining approval from the president, Morris made the bears for sale, calling them “Teddy’s Bear.” People fell in love with the bear and it was an instant success. Morris found it to be so successful that he started his own toy company, the Ideal Novelty and Toy Co.
 
The demand for teddy bears became a craze and other toy manufacturers picked up on the idea and made their own versions of the bears. Even grown ladies bought and carried the popular toy. The original teddy bears were made to look realistic, with longer snouts. Today, most teddy bears have flatter noses and larger eyes, making them cuter and more appealing as a toy.
 
Teddy bears have taken off and are still in mass production today. Many companies have expanded on the original idea and offer make-your-own teddy bears and other animals, such as the popular Build-A-Bear. Recently, some companies now offer the Build-A-Bear concept as in-home party entertainment, bringing the bear stuffing fun to your home, like Noah’s Ark Workshop.
 
Teddy bears are not only still physically available, but they have been the subjects of many beloved children’s books, such as the enduring tales of Winnie-the-Pooh.  In 1984, the first teddy bear museum was built in England, and was open until 2006, when it closed and auctioned off its teddy bears.
 
In the past few years companies have expanded even more on the teddy bear and stuffed animal industry and created teddy bears that you buy and receive a special code, which you use to go online and create a virtual world for your bear. Webkinz was one of the first companies to make this a success, and others, like "My Storytime Friends", have followed.
 
Many teddy bears are now collector’s items, such as antique bears or German Steiff bears, which were also created around the same time as Morris Michtom’s teddy bear.
 
Teddy bears are also a favorite theme for parties, like teddy bear tea parties where children come dressed for tea and bring their favorite teddy bear.