There are many children – girls and boys – who built up a close relationship to their cuddly toy, as decribed in the last article. Some of them virtually owned an entire zoo of plush animals, whereas others very selectively concentrated on a single favourite one. In many situations this cuddly toy was a comforter and guardian for them. They cared for it and looked after it. And it served as a “transition object“ in situations in which the child could become more independant from its actual caregiver. What happens to this relationship, though, when puberty is reached?

The cuddly toy as link between childhood and adulthood

Puberty is interpreted as the time of radical change and disengagement from the close, childlike connection with one's parents. Teenagers want to be treated like adults and therefore quickly banish the toys that are clearly related to childhood from their room. In this context it is striking that the favourite cuddly toy mostly gets to stay. It continues to find a home in the newly arranged room, either on the bed, a shelf, a bedside table or the new sofa. Possibly it once more functions as a “transition object“ accompanying puberty, also sometimes denoted as the “second phase of defiance“.