We all long for the past, desperately looking for something that brings us back to our childhood. Something grounding that offers us a glimpse of what it was like to taste freedom and hold on dear innocence. Many individuals, even adults, experience warm yet very melancholic reminiscences of memories of the past, visualizing the days when life’s experiences had not yet dug their claws into all that their purity once meant. It’s funny how we have all said that we cannot wait for the day when we will finally grow up, only to find out later that childhood is the best stage of life. Not in the sense of lingering in the children we were, but romanticizing the moments when our deepest concerns implied thoughts such as “Would my parents still let me go out if it’s raining outside?”.

Many teenagers have recently discovered a yawning love and appreciation for their stuffed animals in the gradual transition from their parental figures. They turn their faces towards their childhood toys or more recent objects every single time they seek comfort and emotional support. Aren’t you the least bit curious about the precise reasons that compel teens to embrace a teddy bear they once insisted their parents throw away? 

Let’s further explore!

Common Comfort Toys Or Objects Teenagers Still Turn To 

Generally, the most common toys teenagers tend to develop an emotional attachment to include:

• Stuffed animals and plush toys come in many forms, with penguins, teddy bears, Miffy, and Hello Kitty remaining the most popular. These animals served as best friends for many children and are now embraced by hordes of teenagers who tightly hug them for warmth and comfort.

• Blankets or Baby Blankets are very common among teenagers, as they provide a shield in moments of sadness or loneliness. 

• Old dolls and action figures serve as a means of expressing emotions for teenagers, having them around as a source of emotional support or pure relaxation. 

• Scented items are linked to positive memories and can easily trigger feelings of safety and warmth. 

The Psychology Of Attachment

Even though it is widely theorized that teenagers could develop an emotional attachment to teddy bears, blankets, or pillows as a parental substitute, this phenomenon is actually a subject with numerous faces that need to be identified and addressed. Comfort objects figure heavily in literature and film, embodying protection, safety, empathy, and tenderness. Furthermore, in 1951, D.W. Winnicott coined the term “transitional object” as an understanding of human behaviors at the moment of shifting from the earliest oral relationships with their mothers to genuine object relationships. Winnicott underlines the significance of self-chosen objects as a child’s first “not-me possession,” – which stands as a testament that they finally have something of their own. This assurance follows children to adolescence, easing the emotional weight of parting with childhood, a feeling that quietly settles in teenager’s minds when they experience their first breakup. And actually, it’s not bad at all. Considering the countless destructive coping mechanisms that are perpetuated in today’s society among teenagers, we should feel relieved that there are still teens who choose to take a short trip at Miffy shop, for example, when things feel off. 

What Do These Toys Really Do? 

Toys Provide Sensory Comfort 

A study from 2023 has found that age is nothing but a number when it comes to owning a teddy bear, as its smell, looks, and touch connect owners to these toys throughout the chaos of everyday life. Unfortunately, it’s very common for teenagers to experience feelings of social exclusion. However, on the bright side of the story, touching a stuffed animal can elicit positive emotions and provide valuable emotional support. 

Toys Alleviate Anxiety, Help With Insomnia, And Block Feelings Of Loneliness

Cuddling a stuffed animal significantly reduces Cortisol, which diminishes anxiety feelings that can usually rapidly increase pre-existing mental struggles. Soft toys can induce calmness and give reassurance to teenagers, creating a safe environment when, even if just for a moment, everything feels quiet. Furthermore, a stuffed animal holds the power to help with better sleep, serving as a subtle alarm for the brain, telling it that it is time to wind down. 

In addition to their importance as transitional objects, toys are a healthy strategy for cooling down feelings of loneliness, helping teenagers cope with the digital and lonely modern world. While they could never fully replace the authenticity of human interactions, comfort toys’ potential to ease feelings of alienation is definitely worth talking about. 

It’s Not Weakness, It’s Emotional Intelligence 

Seeking comfort is far away from being a childish action. It’s a sign of maturity. In a world that gravitates around a culture that promotes being heartless and nonchalant as a trend of becoming a “femme fatale” or a “real man”, finding a way to be in touch with your emotional needs is a real treasure. In adolescence, managing emotions can feel like a difficult task, if not impossible, as teenagers are not that interested in topics that include mindfulness, positive psychology, and cognitive-behavioral strategies, refusing to acknowledge their feelings and needs. If comfort toys can serve as a means of soothing themselves, then let them serve.

As to what parents should feel when they face a meaningful bond between their child and a stuffed animal, there is nothing that requires severe scrutinizing. Teddy bears can help with heartbreak, blanks can replicate the feelings of a hug, dolls and action figures can inspire and instill creativity, and scented items can effortlessly challenge minds to travel to places or moments that feel too good to be true. For who knows what reasons, many overnight experts have developed a passion for altering the significance of tender gestures, such as sleeping with a teddy bear when you grow up. Why can't it be simply beautiful? Let’s not steal that from them, could we?