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Cute, soft, and waiting to be snuggled, stuffed animals and other plushies have been a part of childhood, helping kids when they feel stressed or alone especially at bedtime. But stuffed animals don’t have to be put away and forgotten during adolescence or adulthood.
A growing trend that really took hold during the pandemic shows that stuffed animals can bring comfort to adults too, reported CNN. In fact, plush sales grew during the lockdowns and 21 percent of them were sold to adults over the age of 18.
Collecting stuffed animals was a way to entertain and bring comfort to people during those stressful times. Having stuffed animals as an adult and sleeping with one can add a lot of benefits to your life.
Holding Onto Childhood Favorites
A surprising number of adults have held onto favorite stuffed animals from childhood, according to a press release from The Build-A-Bear company. A recent survey from the company with 3,500 respondents shared they believed that Teddy Bears are for everyone of all ages.
“What stands out in these responses is how universal and lasting the love for a teddy bear truly is. Across generations and life experiences, childhood furry friends continue to hold deep meaning well into adulthood,” Kim Utlaut, chief brand officer, Build-A-Bear said in the press release.
While hanging onto childhood plushies is comforting and nostalgic, there is much more to the trend and Build-A-Bear has a category of Teddy Bears just for adults.
Social Media Driven
While some people think it is strange or juvenile for adults to collect stuffed animals, this attitude is changing with Gen Z and millennials leading the way, reported The Atlantic.
“This isn’t just a matter of childhood keepsakes tagging along into adulthood for sentimental reasons — adults are also buying plushies for themselves, simply because they like them,” Erica Kanesaka, a professor at Emory University who studies cuteness, told The Atlantic in an email.
Two of the most popular plushies being collected are Squishmallows and Jellycat which are very unconventional. In fact, 65 percent of Squishmallows buyers are between the ages of 18 and 24. This rise in popularity has been attributed to social media where the combo of cute and nostalgia is growing in popularity.
But the Japanese kawaii characters like Pikachu and Hello Kitty have also played a role in promoting cuteness. “Embracing cuteness can also be a way of challenging traditional adult roles that have come to feel incorrect, outdated, and damaging,” Kanesaka wrote.
Stuffed animals can help people embrace a softer and gentler type of adulthood. And cuddling something soft and warm could also give you a good night’s rest, and what can be better than that?
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