One thing we always remember from our childhood is our favourite teddy bear. This soft, ragged toy was our    1    and companion. As we grow up, we normally give up our childish ways, and our furry friend often ends up in    2    or at a jumble sale. But that’s not the case for everyone.

It seems that some grown-ups continue to need their cuddly toy by their sides. One sleep survey suggested a tenth of people in the UK need a teddy bear in bed. And for some adults, soft toys remain a(n)    3    presence—they take them wherever they go. A cuddly toy can come in many forms—animals, strange shapes or just a piece of stuffed material. But it’s the teddy bear in particular that seems to have a(n)    4    appeal—it gives us a nostalgic feeling and a    5    of our younger days. Writing for the BBC, historian David Cannadine says, “Perhaps it’s that bears    6    the happy security of a childhood friend who never changes or lets you down.” For whatever reason, teddies appeal to both children and adults of all ages.

The teddy bear is much celebrated these days, and they’ve become something that we don’t just grow up with—people buy them as adults too. There are shops which sell only teddy bears, there are teddy bear museums in many countries, and teddy bear festivals    7    take place around the world.

While our soft toys offer us a kind of comfort blanket, some experts say it’s nothing to be    8    of. It’s sometimes good to let go of the constraints of    9    life and be a big kid again. And research commissioned by Barclaycard in the UK found 44% of adults have purchased playthings they enjoyed as children because they bring back    10    memories. Colouring books, cuddly toys and board games are top of the list. So, if you’re still keeping your teddy a secret, don’t worry—you’re not alone!