During the early 1900s, President Theodore Roosevelt was in office as President of the United States. While hunting in Mississippi in 1902, he refused to shoot a small bear. The Washington Post picked up on this story and made a cartoon of the event. Toy store owners, Morris and Rose Michtom, wrote to President Roosevelt for permission to call their stuffed animals “Teddy Bears”. Teddy bears became wildly popular. “The original teddy bear, from 1903, was given to the Smithsonian by Teddy Roosevelt’s grandson, Kermit. Today that bear is in the collections of our National Museum of American History.”
A song about a Teddy Bears Picnic reached peak popularity in 1988 when collectibles dealer Royal Selangor launched Teddy Bears’ Picnic Day. Many people bought the collectibles and starting giving them as birthday gifts. Soon, children’s birthday parties started to have “Teddy Bears’ Picnic” themes. Eventually, this particular theme became so popular among parents, preschools and kindergarten classes, that parents and institutions rallied to have the event named a holiday.
July 10 was officially named National Teddy Bears’ Picnic Day in 1988. Why not celebrate July 10th with your family and have a beary good time! You will find some teddy bear picnic ideas in this article to get you started.
Have a Teddy Bear Picnic
Take your teddy bear (or teddy bears) out for a day in the sun. It’s time for a Teddy Bear Picnic! Make a few PB& J sandwiches, some cookies, and a jug of Kool-Aid. Take a blanket out under a shade tree, and enjoy lunch with your Teddy.
If you have construction paper handy, you and your children can create teddy bear ear headbands to wear while having your picnic
Sing the Song
Before going on your picnic listen to the song “The Teddy Bears Picnic” and then sing it.
Lyrics of Teddy Bear Picnic:
If you go down in the woods today,
You’re sure of a big surprise.
If you go down in the woods today,
You’d better go in disguise.
For every bear that ever there was
Will gather there for certain because
Today’s the day the Teddy Bears have their picnic.
Every Teddy Bear who’s been good
Is sure of a treat today.
There’s lots of marvelous things to eat
And wonderful games to play.
Beneath the trees where nobody sees
They’ll hide and seek as long as they please
‘Cause that’s the way the Teddy Bears have their picnic.
If you go down in the woods today,
You’d better not go alone.
It’s lovely down in the woods today,
But safer to stay at home.
For every bear that ever there was
Will gather there for certain because
Today’s the day the Teddy Bears have their picnic.
Picnic time for Teddy Bears…
The little Teddy Bears are having a lovely time today.
Watch them, catch them unawares,
And see them picnic on their holiday.
See them gaily gad about.
They love to play and shout.
They never have any care.
At six o’clock their Mummies and Daddies
Will take them home to bed,
Because they’re tired little Teddy Bears.
In 1907, John Walter Bratton wrote the song “The Teddy Bears’ Picnic,” the only purely instrumental song in his repertoire. With its bouncy march music, the song became Bratton’s only hit. In 1932, songwriter James Kennedy wrote the memorable lyrics to the song, making it an instant children’s classic. Many singers—Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Jerry Garcia and Anne Murray—have recorded the song, making it a hit that has outlasted many decades.
Teddy Bear Picnic Activities and Games:
• Hold a competition for the best-dressed bear.
• Hold a competition for the smallest and tallest bears.
• Hold a competition for best-named bear.
• Play hide and seek with the bears. The rules are up to you!
• Have the kids play act being a bear.
• Play look out for the bear – Choose one player to be the “bear”. This player hides in some part of the room or garden, while the rest, with their backs turned, are standing at their goal.
Count and seek. As soon as the players have counted 50 or 100, they all scatter and hunt for the “bear.” The player who finds him first calls out, “Look out for the bear,” and all the players run to their goal.
If the bear catches any players while running for the goal, they become “bears.” These “bears” hide together and the game continues until all the players are “bears.”
Act Out the Poem
You can play act this teddy bear poem.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, turn around,
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, touch the ground,
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, reach up high
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, wink one eye,
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, slap your knees,
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, sit down please.
Make a Teddy Bear Snack
Teddy Bear Snack for your picnic: Teddy Bear Snack Mix
2 cups ramen noodles, crushed
5 cups Golden Grahams cereal
3 cups bear shaped graham crackers
1 cup peanuts or 1 cup sliced almonds
1 cup raisins
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/3 cup butter
1/3 cup honey
1 teaspoon orange juice
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Discard seasoning package from ramen noodles.
In a large bowl, mix together noodles, cereal, teddy bear cookies, nuts and raisins.
In a 4 cup glass measure, combine cinnamon, honey, butter and orange juice.
Heat in microwave until melted and well mixed.
Pour this mixture over the cereal mixture.
Toss to coat well.
Spread into a large rimmed baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes, stirring once.
Remove from oven and cool.
Package in individual baggies, about 1/2 cup per baggie and then place in a larger freezer bag and freeze.
Teddy Bear Books to read:
The Legend of the Teddy Bear by Frank Murphy
Teddy Bears’ Picnic by Jimmy Kennedy
The Teddy Bear’s Picnic by Michael Hague
Corduroy by Don Freeman
Hot Foot Teddy: The True Story of Smokey Bear by Sue Houser
