How Teddy Started

Teddy Bear

@Marcyaz (35316)

United States

July 13, 2016 10:48am CST

How many of you had a teddy bear as a child and loved it? Did you know how the name Teddy Bear came into being? In the early 1900's President Theodore Roosevelt was a hunter who refused to shoot a small baby bear. The owners of a toy company contacted The President and asked him if they could call their bears "Teddy Bears". That company later became the Ideal Toy Company one of the largest in the world. Do you know where your teddy bear is today?

23 people like this

26 responses

@Gina145 (3949)

• Johannesburg, South Africa

15 Jul 16

I've still got my first teddy... and lots of others too. Many of them were made for collectors and have never been played with.

1 person likes this

@Marcyaz (35316)

• United States

16 Jul 16

@Gina145 Wow your first Teddy you have today I wonder have much they would be worth in todays market.

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@Marcyaz (35316)

• United States

18 Jul 16

@Gina145 It might be good to just keep your Teddy and that way you have something from your childhood always.

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@Gina145 (3949)

• Johannesburg, South Africa

17 Jul 16

@Marcyaz It would be worth a lot more than it cost when it was new, but the money still wouldn't go far today. There are some really valuable teddies around, but sadly mine isn't one of them. Mind you, that's not such a bad thing because this way I'll never be tempted to sell him.

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@Inlemay (17713)

• South Africa

15 Jul 16

I have what one calls a REAL Teddy - I remember my mom telling me the history behind the bear, so therefore I keep my 52 year old Teddy very safe away from naughty children

1 person likes this

@Marcyaz (35316)

• United States

15 Jul 16

@Inlemay That means you have one of the oldest teddy bears still around. lol That is a real teddy for sure.

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@Marcyaz (35316)

• United States

16 Jul 16

@Inlemay I bet you were all excited to win a teddy bear at five years old, I bet it is still in a place of honor in your home.

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@Inlemay (17713)

• South Africa

16 Jul 16

@Marcyaz I got it winning a drawing competition at age 5 - Its a well played with teddy - from my days

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@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

13 Jul 16

Several newspapers ran the story of his refusal to kill a young bear, one including a cartoon of the incident, which gave the company the idea of marketing them. They could never have imagined the huge success that would follow.

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@Marcyaz (35316)

• United States

13 Jul 16

@Asylum No I don't expect they would know how successful that move of theres would be in the world.

2 people like this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

13 Jul 16

@Marcyaz The concept has reached such a level of popularity that teddy bears have become collector's items and there are even teddy bear museums.

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@Marcyaz (35316)

• United States

13 Jul 16

@Asylum Very true and just thinking of how it all started is unbelievable.

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@infatuatedbby (94914)

• United States

13 Jul 16

I had a lot of stuffed animals and teddy bears growing up. The top shelf of my closet are my teddy bears

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@Marcyaz (35316)

• United States

13 Jul 16

@infatuatedbby You had a good time playing with them didn't you?

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@infatuatedbby (94914)

• United States

13 Jul 16

@Marcyaz Yes I did! I still have them and they're cute to look at.

@Marcyaz (35316)

• United States

13 Jul 16

@infatuatedbby That is great and you have some cute ones you can look at.

1 person likes this

@LovingMyBabies (85288)

• Valdosta, Georgia

13 Jul 16

I did know this because I taught my kids all of the interesting facts about our presidents for history class. =) They loved this one the most I think.

1 person likes this

@Marcyaz (35316)

• United States

13 Jul 16

@LovingMyBabies I think this is a wonderful story that children will remember.

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@Daljinder (23236)

• Bangalore, India

13 Jul 16

Interesting thing to learn. I think I have had two bears when I was little. I vaguely remember them because I didn't have them for long. I mostly remember having dolls, cars, train sets and all sorts of animal stuff toys.

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@Marcyaz (35316)

• United States

13 Jul 16

@Dajinder I thought it would be interesting. To bad you didn't have the bears for long.

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@Marcyaz (35316)

• United States

13 Jul 16

@Daljinder That is what a lot of children do. lol

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@Daljinder (23236)

• Bangalore, India

13 Jul 16

@Marcyaz I think I "unstuffed" them

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@Bhebelen14 (5194)

• Philippines

20 Jul 16

My niece and nephews inherited all my teddy bears, they love it and even kept them on their bed.

@Marcyaz (35316)

• United States

20 Jul 16

@Bhebelen14 My nieces 4 of them inherited the teddy bear and dolls I had as a child since I had all boys.

1 person likes this

@Marcyaz (35316)

• United States

20 Jul 16

@Bhebelen14 Yes it was nice for them to have those toys to play with.

@Bhebelen14 (5194)

• Philippines

20 Jul 16

@Marcyaz wow that's nice.

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@Jackalyn (7558)

• Oxford, England

13 Jul 16

I still have a few of my kids bears. Mine was a wonderful character called "Ted." I have no memory of him being anything other than eyeless and threadbear although my Mum tried to give him eyes from time to time. I suppose he was thrown away sometime long ago.

@Marcyaz (35316)

• United States

13 Jul 16

@Jackalyn I have no teddy bears anymore either some of my boys teddies had no eyes and were threadbare also.

@cmoneyspinner (9219)

• Austin, Texas

19 Jul 16

Yes. I was doing some research on American presidents and came across the story about the Teddy bear. I don't remember ever having a teddy bear when I was growing up. Dolls. But no teddy. Never even thought about it until you asked the question.

@Marcyaz (35316)

• United States

19 Jul 16

@cmoneyspinner Isn't it interesting how it came about. I had a teddy and a doll from what I can remember.

1 person likes this

@cpefley (1926)

• San Jose, California

13 Jul 16

I named a Ralph Lauren teddy bear that I got when I was a teenager, "Theo", after Theodore Roosevelt. I kept him forever and even took selfies 20 years apart lol. I still have him and my kids play with him.

@Marcyaz (35316)

• United States

13 Jul 16

@cpefley You took selfies 20 years apart that is amazing and your children play with him now, wonderful.

@Shiva49 (26765)

• Singapore

15 Jul 16

That is interesting. I did not have a teddy bear as I child though it became common later - siva

@Marcyaz (35316)

• United States

15 Jul 16

@Shiva49 I thought it was very interesting to find out. Sorry you did not have a teddy bear as a child.

1 person likes this

@Hannihar (130213)

• Israel

3 Jun 18

@Marcyaz Thank you for telling me how teddy came into being. I do not remember having a teddy bear when I was kid.

@JustBhem (70555)

• Davao, Philippines

13 Jul 16

I still have my teddy bear in our shelf. I have like 6 I think but they are smaller.

@Marcyaz (35316)

• United States

13 Jul 16

@JustBhem Great you have a teddy bear on your shelf and 6 of them is fantastic.

@tzwrites (4835)

• Romania

21 Jul 16

Very interesting I had no idea. Teddy bears are my favourite plush toys.

@Marcyaz (35316)

• United States

21 Jul 16

@rzwrites Glad I was able to inform you of how the Teddy's started. They are very plush.

@simone10 (54187)

• Louisville, Kentucky

14 Jul 16

I don't know if I ever had a Teddy Bear as I don't remember having one. My parents never talked about me having one either. I guess I never had anything to snuggle with as a child

@lilnana1111 (2305)

• United States

14 Jul 16

I had one as a child, loved it, don't know where ot ended up.

Nanette Piotrowski

@nanette64 (20364)

• Fairfield, Texas

14 Jul 16

I do have several Teddy Bears @Marcyaz . One in particular I've had since I was 10 years old (I'm 65). Up until 2 years ago, they were all sitting on my bed. I've packed them up in a safe place.

Diana Abrahamson

@dianadee (1778)

• South Africa

21 Jul 16

Teddies are so cuddly and beautiful to hold. Very comforting toy too. I loved my teddy bears as a child. Seems as if they never go out of fashion!

@JudyEv (341752)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 Jul 16

That's a nice story. I'm glad Roosevelt was kind enough to spare a bear - so to speak.

@RubyHawk (99405)

• Atlanta, Georgia

20 Jul 16

I have no idea, I had never thought about how the teddy bear got his name.