Musical Teddy Bears

Since the first teddy bears were introduced, they have been the best friends of children everywhere. They are cuddly, fuzzy, fluffy and sweet. Sometimes they even become the child’s best friend. At the start of the 19th century, many children spent lots of time with their nannies rather than going to play groups and pre-schools, like they do today. Because they didn’t have lots of other children around to play with, the teddy bear brought great comfort. Even when children had several siblings, the teddy bear was still a best friend and the perfect toy to cuddle up to before going to sleep.


Music has been associated with teddy bears since their inception. Undoubtedly the song which everyone remembers most from childhood is the teddy bears picnic, the music which was written by an American composer named John Bratton in 1907. It was originally called the Teddy Bear Two Step. The lyrics were not written until 1933 by the Irishman Jimmy Kennedy, and they have delighted children ever since.

Fast forwarding to more modern times, some of the music the teddy bears played were lullabies and baby songs. To play the music, the child or adult had to turn a switch until the teddy started to play its sweet music. Small children probably would ask for the music over and over again. Even though the children never got tired of the same song, most parents heard the music until they were ready to scream. They probably had visions of tossing the bear in the bin, but never could because it would break their hearts. They simply put up with the repetitive music until the switch wore out and played no more.

Small babies really adore musical teddy bears. The soft music the teddy bears play lulls the baby to sleep and comforts them when they cry. The music is just the right sound to help a baby learn to first play on their own. A Teddy Bear becomes a best friend and his music is the first song the child can sing.

With the advent of batteries, musical teddy bears became much simpler to play. All the child or parent had to do is squeeze in some part of the teddy bear’s anatomy and the music started playing. Parents were very happy that they no longer were required to wind the switch over and over again by hand.

Musical teddy bears are fun, playful, and comforting. Children all over the world play with these teddy bears and love their beautiful melodies.

Teddy Bears News:

Teddy bear maker hit with harassment suit - CNN

Straits Times
Teddy bear maker hit with harassment suit
CNN
Both the company, known as the makers of the original Teddy bears, and another executive named in the lawsuit also deny the allegations in the lawsuit. The plaintiff, Jane Collins, now 32, joined Steiff as a temporary receptionist in 2000. .
Teddy bear maker Margarete Steiff GmbH, executive, in harassment suit New York Daily News
LAWSUIT: CEO OF TEDDY BEAR COMPANY HARASSED, RAPED ME New York Post
Steiff worker files $80M sex harassment suit Boston Herald
Boston Globe - Sky News
all 130 news articles
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CRIME Blog | The Dallas Morning News
Senior Cpl. Chad Jefferson, Officer Daniel Camacho and police community outreach representative Kim Peters, all of whom who work at the city's Central patrol substation, dropped off more than 40 teddy bears to children ages three to 14 ...


Harper-Collins India has a feast for toddlers (Hindustan Times)
COMMENT ON THIS ! Your Views! Teddy bears, move over. The booming book bazaar in India is enticing children who are barely out of their nappies...


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