BY ASPEN LODERMEIER AND KATE YANG
STAFF WRITERS
Everyone knows about the classic toy the rubber duck. They come in many different colors, sizes, and shapes. These ducks are also known around the world and are very fun to collect. But where did this fun toy come from? Many claimed to have made the first rubber duck, but there is some mystery around the matter.
The rubber duck was created in the late 1800s. It started as a sculptured duck which was advertised as a floating toy. At first, they didn’t float at all, and they were meant for babies and dogs to chew, but people soon lost interest in this concept. But then, in 1931, Eleanor Shanahan of Maryland, USA, designed an aquatic toy that could sit on the surface or below the water in a tub. The toy would be able to spray water in small jets through various holes. In the 1930s, they started to be advertised as floating toys for bath time as a way to help young children become more comfortable in the tub. When the tub came out, many were afraid of the never-ending drain, and most wanted nothing to do with it, fearing this new invention. These ducks started to make many people more comfortable with bath time. Soon, the rubber duckie started to popularize.
When the song “Rubber Duckie” came out on Sesame Street, rubber ducks really took off. The bright yellow color, the sound of the squeak, and spray of the water helps with kids’ fear. The ducks make getting clean fun, while also learning. Many people loved these bath toys including royalty. In the 1940s, in Queen Elizabeth’s bathroom, a duck wearing a crown was spotted. The rubber duck was inducted into the toy hall of fame in 2013. Rubber ducks help young children play in water, which develops muscle strength and mental stimulation. Did you know that rubber ducks are made of plastic, not rubber despite their name? The rubber duck has been around for a long, long time and will continue to entertain children and adults alike around the world.
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