By Ashlea Knickel
Key Points:
- Lots of adults sleep with/engage with their childhood toys and mementos
- Childhood toys can help relieve stress and reduce negative emotions
- Keeping your old toys around is perfectly normal and healthy
According to a study conducted by Onepoll and Life Storage in 2018, four out of ten people still engage with their childhood stuffed animals, but why?
It’s been proven that cuddling up to your favourite teddy can help to relieve negative emotions and reduce stress. As long as the toy/memento isn’t interfering with your day-to-day life, it can actually be beneficial to give your old toys a snuggle!
To help understand the relationship between people and toy, we caught up with three young adults (who prefer to stay anonymous) that still show their old toys some love.
Credit: Ashlea Knickel
Blankie, Female, 20
Blankie has been a lifelong companion for this interviewee.
While Blankie’s exterior may be tattered, he’s still able to provide just as much support as he did 15 years ago.
“It’s not that I sleep with him every night or have to take him everywhere I go.”
“He’s familiar and helps me to ground myself.”
Feelings of familiarity is something all our interviewees mentioned.
These soft toys have represented safety and positivity for a long time, so have a familiar and calming effect on us.
Lellowphant, Male, 19
This interviewee has been spending most nights with his stuffed elephant since he was five.
“I don’t bring him when I’m spending the night somewhere or take him out when I have friends over, but I cuddle him most nights.”
“I’m a very nervous sleeper, he helps me relax.”
However, this interviewee has recently entered a relationship where his partner often stays the night.
“Cuddling my girlfriend has the same calming effect as cuddling Lellowphant.”
“There’s something about a hug that makes the world feel so much better.”
Credit: Ashlea Knickel
Scruff, Female, 23
Scruff doesn’t get as many snuggles as the toys of our last two interviewees, but definitely isn’t neglected.
“I don’t sleep with Scruff much anymore.”
“When I first moved out of home, I slept with her every night.”
“Now she sits on my dresser so that whenever I’m super stressed, I can just grab her and give her a quick snuggle.”
Overall, sleeping with a childhood memento is a very healthy and very normal thing to do. As long as the toy isn’t preventing you from travelling/seeing loved ones, it’s all good!
So next time you’re stressed, remember your teddy bear.