5 teddy bear games & activities
Most children love teddy bears because they are cute, cuddly and adorable. Sarah Holmes, Director of Merrythought Bears has also stated in previous interviews that teddy bears are popular with children and they appeal to boys and girls. Teddy bears have their own persona and when a child is given a teddy bear they bring it to life and for some it's the first best friend they grow up with. Teddy bears can also help stimulate and develop children's imagination and by incorporating teddy bears into games you are encouring imaginative play and not to mention a good way of keeping your children entertained during the school holidays or weekends. Here are 5 teddy bear games and activites for your children. These teddy bear themed games and activities are great for teddy bear themed children's birthday parties too.
1. Pass the bear
Pass the bear is similar to the classic British game pass the parcel but instead you have a teddy bear. Here's how to play pass the bear:
- Sit the children in a circle.
- Put some music on and let the children pass the bear whilst the music is playing.
- When the music stops the child holding the bear gets a small prize and leaves the game.
- Continue with the game until only one child remains.
This game is a geat way for children to develop their concentration skills.
2. Best dressed bear
To play this game ask your children to dress their teddy bear or bears in dolls clothes, clips, hats, scarves, sunglasses or any other props. They could even hold a mini fashion show and have the teddy bears walk down the runway along with music and lights.
3. Teddy bear picnic/tea party
To organise a teddy bear high tea ask your children to gather their favourite teddy bears, bring out the best toy tea set or picnic set. Make some of your children's favourite snacks, set up a picnic table outside or inside and create a beautiful spread for them to enjoy. You could even out on some music.
4. Musical chairs
- Ask each child to bring a tedy bear.
- Set up the chairs (one less than the total number of people) in a row with the backs facing each other or in a circle.
- When the music starts the children need to walk around the chairs with thier teddy bears.
- Once the music stops everyone must find a chair for their bear.
- The child that doesn't find a chair for their bear is out of the game.
- Continue with the game until only one child remains.
Musical chairs is a good way of teaching your not to push or shove and having patience and respect for other children. Like the pass the bear game it helps improve their concentration skills.
5. Hide and seek
This game can be played alone or as a group. Here are the steps to play hide and seek with teddy bears individually:
- Ask your child to close their eyes and count to 10 or more, whilst your child is counting find a spot to hide the teddy bear.
- Once they have finished counting ask them to find the teddy bear.
Here are the steps to play teddy bear hide and seek in a group:
- Nominate one child to hide the teddy bear, while all the other children close their eyes and counts to 10 or more.
- Once the nominated childhas hiden the bear an they other children have finished counting ask them to go find the bear.
- The child that finds the teddy bear first is the winner and is in charge for hiding the bear in the next round.
- Continue with this until each child has had a chance to hide the bear.
The good thing about this game is that it can be played indoors or outdoors.
Other games & activities
Other things your children could do with their teddy bears is to hold a teddy bear book club, to set this up ask your children to pick their favourite bears and book and gather together for story time. You could even ask you children to draw their favourite bear and write a few things about them like their name, what their teddy bear likes or dislikes, where they came from, what their favourite colour is. For older children you could ask them to write a short story about their favourite teddy bear.