Rubber duckie, you're the one. You make bath time lots of fun. Rubber duckie I'm awfully fond of you.
"Rubber Duckie" sung by Ernie from Sesame Street
When you were a little kid, you probably remember those "bath times" in the tub and splashing and playing with some bath toys.
One of those toys might have been the quintessential rubber duckie (also spelled ducky). They first appeared in the late 1880s, using a process, developed by chemist Charles Goodyear, of heating rubber with sulphur, making the product malleable and waterproof.
However, the rubber duckies we know today did not start off as bath toys. That is because they were solid and weighty which, not surprisingly, did not float very well. They were originally intended to be chew toys.
In the 1940s, Peter Ganine created a sculpture of a duck and reproduced it as a floating toy this time. Eventually, these ducks evolved into the iconic rubber duckie we know today. The signature look consists of the yellow body with the orange beak.
"Rubber Duckie," released in 1970, is a tribute to Ernie's treasured bath buddy. The song reached number 16 on Billboard's "Hot 100 Singles" chart in 1970.
Thanks to the iconic song, rubber duckies have become a staple of bath time for children (and adults) all over the world. Adults appreciate rubber duckies just as much as children, especially for collecting.
In fact, I am a rubber ducky collector myself and have collected rubber duckies since I was a little girl. Currently, I have over 180 rubber duckies!
Rubber duckies and other bath toys are said to have the following benefits:
Improve the toddler's senses from the duck's bright color, smooth texture and quacking noises.
The presence of the rubber duckie in the bathtub can soothe a toddler's fears of the water in the tub.
This can also make learning about cleaning and hygiene fun.
Charlotte Lee was awarded the Guinness World Record for the world's largest rubber duck collection in 2007. In 2019, the third hour of the Today Show spotlighted Lee's vast assortment of over 9,000 rubber ducks differing in sizes, colors and even hard-to-find rubber duckies. Her house has a dedicated room for all of the rubber duckies, which are kept in glass showcases on all four walls.
Rubber duckies have a special day dedicated to them! Jan. 13 is National Rubber Duckie Day. To celebrate this special occasion, you can spend time with your favorite rubber duckie. You can also share pictures of your rubber duckies on your social media pages, using the hashtag #NationalRubberDuckieDay.
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