Plush Toys

A plush toy or a stuffed toy is one that is stuffed with cotton, beans or feathers. The material within could be anything that gives the 'plush' or the luxuriously soft feel to the toy. The earliest forms of plush toys were probably outlines stuffed with straw or leaves. They have come a long way. Parents are more indulgent today and the kids will stop at nothing less. There are a number of manufacturers of plush toys the world over that cater to the industry exclusively. The antique stuffed or plush toys are very old and most of them are cloth dolls. They go as far back as the 1830s and perhaps, much older.

The stuffed, plush, cuddly or soft toys vary from animals like Simba the lion, Yogi the bear and Daisy the cow, to objects like multicolored balls. It cannot be disputed though, that the teddy bear beats every other form hollow! This one has been a favorite with children for ages and is the most popular comfort object. There was a time when the stuffed toy was indeed a small animal stuffed randomly, with the evacuated skins of hunted animals! However, today, modern technology has made it possible to produce the likeness of the animal with colorful, eco-friendly and synthetic material.

The plushy or soft toys are the modern, synthetic-stuffed toys. They are marketed within a special market segment that caters to the demands made by the little ones for replicas of popular cartoon characters, animated movie characters and regular animal, bird forms and human figurines. The level of awareness that parents all over the world share today is amazing and hence, they are manufactured only with researched and tested material. The modern materials used to make them are safe for the little one to hold close, kiss and caress. The comfort toy has well-defined features that scream precision of cut, quality material and a very professional finesse.

The first commercial manufacturer of plush or stuffed toys is on record as the famous Steiff company that was founded way back in 1880, in Germany. The Giengen an der Brenz based company gave the world its first commercial sale of plush toys. Among the most popular are the teddy bears, human figurines and the sock monkeys. Some of the modern-day, popular commercial manufacturers of plush toys include Steiff, Disney, Russ Berrie, Build A Bear Workshop and Ty. They are easy to adopt and very lovable. They make great friends and ensure the little ones a good night's sleep.

They also provide entertainment, even as they are educational. They are known to motivate the little ones to speak their first words, enhance cognitive behavior and encourage the inherent creativity in the child to surface early. Plush toys stimulate and assist in the overall development of the child's physical and mental skills. This early approach helps the child a lot later on in life. These cuddly friends enhance the early years of a child and fill in for friends, especially when the presence of the real counter parts or siblings is missing. They are now part of the 'must-have' lists of preparatory schools.

A number of positive traits and morals can be introduced to the child with the 'show' of the same within the plush toy. For example, the toddler will down the mashed potatoes and carrots if he or she sees Winnie the Pooh enjoying the meal or spinach, if Popeye does! Similarly, fear can be eradicated from the child's mind if Superman is not afraid of the dark or Kaa is cozy enough to sleep with. They have redefined the very concept of play and have added real value to the money spent on them. The formative years of the toddler are cemented with just the right impressions through effective use and play with toys.