70. Soft toys

The perennial appeal of the cuddly toy is something we can all relate to. A first soft toy is a friend for your child to care for and look after (in the way they are being looked after themselves). It provides something soft and re-assuring to reach for in new or difficult situations.

Uncomfortable feelings can be projected onto a soft toy, so when a child is scared they can pretend the toy is scared. No surprise then, that soft toys often become so important to children, and that so many of us keep our own favourite childhood soft toys well into adulthood. This sort of life-time service requires a toy that is both soft but well made and strong, in order to stand the test of time.