Why babies like plush toys

Little children are particularly fond of plush toys, whether it is a teddy bear, or Kitty Cat, children are always unable to withstand the temptation. Why is the appeal of plush toys so big?

We first look at a “cloth mother monkey” experiment:

In 1958, well-known animal psychologist at the University of Wisconsin Harlow devised unique “rhesus” experiment. Harlow and his colleagues produced two kinds of false mother monkeys instead of real mother monkeys. A monkey is a “metal mother monkey”, it is surrounded by cold wire, the head is painted with two eyes. “Metal Monkey” placed on the chest of the rubber nipple, the young monkey can eat milk from the raised nipple. But in the “metal mother monkey” arms when feeding, can not get warm, soft feeling. Another one is an “cloth mother monkey”. Its body is a cylinder, outside wrapped in a layer of soft flannel, and draw a more refined facial expressions. But "cloth mother monkey" no food provided for monkeys to eat.

The experimenter placed the young monkey and the two "mothers" in a cage. Two “mother monkey” sitting side by side, a young monkey can move freely in a cage and choose which one is "mother".

Which mother the young monkey likes to stay with?

According to common sense, the “cloth mother monkey” have no food provide to the young monkey, but the “metal monkey” who has milk to eat. Most of the time the young monkeys should stay beside “mental monkey” of the metal to relieve the discomfort of hunger.

However, Professor Harlow results observed exactly the contrary:

Most of the time the young monkey is nestled beside the “cloth mother monkey”, only in the time of hungry to go to the metal monkey where to eat. Experiments show that, compared with feeding, the body\'s comfortable contact on the formation of attachment plays a more important role. Forming a secure attachment plays a key role on the child\'s psychological development. Compared with animals, humans have a strong emotional color, but also need emotional contact. Scientists are convinced that the safety of infants is the basis of their mental health.

Infant (0-3 years old) is the baby\'s physical and psychological development of the fastest time. Baby by a small point gradually grow up, learn to crawl, walk, speech, day and day began to grow. During this period the baby is the most likable.

In the baby\'s infancy, some parents will feel that the baby is well behaved, not naughty, not cry, such a baby to take care of very peace of mind. Also some babies are always crying, parents should be on standby at any time. In fact, these are all closely related and infant attachment.

We can see it very clearly in the experiment, little monkeys prefer furry hairy monkeys instead of cold metal monkey that provide milk. Little monkeys always like to stay with the "cloth mother monkey" to carry out physical contact. The texture of the cloth is warm and soft. Like mother holding a child can convey to children a warm, soft, safe feeling, just like the baby in the mother\'s womb. This is the baby\'s attachment to the mother.

After the baby is born, his mother is mainly dependents. When mother giving milk to the baby, embrace the baby, and form a physical contact with the baby. This process usually lasts several months. In this process the mother with child establish a special social emotional connection. Baby like to follow her mother, where the mother, where he would go.

Children like plush toys and micro-monkeys and experiments are like "cloth mother monkey" has the same purpose. Because plush toys convey generally warm, peace of mind information from mother.

This experiment gives us not only experiments, but also how to do a "cloth monkey\' mother. Mothers should spend more time to get along with their children, not just with their babies. Mother and baby should be carried out physical contact, such as breastfeeding, child touch. Give the child a positive concern, talk with baby and smile to baby. As a father, should communication with the children. Because this time, it is crucial to establish a positive affect on the baby. Although there is a period of time the baby does not speak, but it will use crying, smiling, happy, dancing and other expressions and actions to express his needs, as a sensitive mother, should know the baby know what it means.

It probably means “That knows the son mother”.