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Bear Hugs
Meet the Care Bears!
By Carma Haley Shoemaker
Good Luck Bear is the Care Bears' mascot. He's a happy-go-luck sort of guy, trusting, and believes beyond a shadow of a doubt that luck will turn everybody rosy.
Harmony Bear is the musical bear, an upbeat bee-bopper who is always jiving to the latest beat.
"I would love to have a Tenderheart Bear," says J. Michele Bodkin, a writer/photographer from Madison, Miss. "I love that they are coming back. They were everywhere when I was a teen. I did not personally have one, but babysat for numerous kids that did. I would love to get them for my children, as they would be helpful as far as explaining that emotions and feelings are a part of everyday life."
Bears with feelings and that share emotions? Can a child's toy really do that? If you even have to ask that question, then you've never owned a Care Bear. "The Care Bears message is one of caring, sharing and feeling," says Foreman. "Those are always positive emotions and sentiments. Of course without positive reinforcement from the parent, the toy is only a cute piece of plush. However, each one comes with an explanation of the emotion, which the parent can share with the child."