Noticing Teddy Bears in People's Front Windows? Here's Everything You Need to Know!
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After being cooped up in the house for a few weeks, chances are your kids would welcome a little distraction from the heaviness of the coronavirus pandemic and the social-distancing measures currently in place to keep us all safe. While they may not be able to see their friends and neighbors in person, teddy bear scavenger hunts are giving kids the chance to get out of the house and visit their neighbors from a distance.
If you're interested in joining in on the hunt yourself, we've pulled together information on how teddy bear hunts came to be, how to find out if your town already has a teddy bear hunt going on, and a few tips on how to start one yourself. Read on if you're ready to go on a bear hunt!
How Did Teddy Bear Hunts Get Started?
Nobody is quite sure who started the first teddy bear hunt, but this social distancing scavenger hunt seems to have been inspired by the award-winning children's book, We're Going on a Bear Hunt, by Michael Rosen. In the book, a family sets out on an adventure to catch a bear.
They face many obstacles along the way and in the end are chased straight back home by the menacing bear. Teddy bear hunts, on the other hand, are safer and have a much happier ending.
How Can I Participate in a Teddy Bear Hunt?
If you've noticed an unusual amount of teddy bears around town, your neighborhood may already be participating in a teddy bear hunt! The easiest way to find out is to search on Facebook or NextDoor (or a similar app that your neighborhood may use) for "Teddy Bear Hunt" or "Going on a Bear Hunt" and the name of your city.
If you find there is already one in progress, it's time to put those bears (or other stuffed animals) out in your home's front-facing windows and then head out for a drive or walk around town to look for others.
How Can I Organize a Teddy Bear Hunt?
If you find that your city is not yet participating in a bear hunt, you can get the bear party started yourself. Start by setting bears out in your own home and try getting a few friends or family members to do the same.
If your town uses NextDoor or has a Facebook group, share a post stating what a teddy bear hunt is and encourage others to place bears in their windows so local kids can search for them. If not, you can share via your personal social media and ask friends to spread the word.
Don't forget to snap a few photos so everyone can see what you found.
What If I Don't Have a Car or I'm in an Area That Discourages Leaving the House?
If you are unable to walk or drive around your neighborhood, there are still opportunities to participate in a virtual teddy bear hunt. If you search #goingonabearhunt or #teddybearhunt on Instagram or join one of the Facebook groups that are sharing teddy bear hunt photos from around the world, your kids can see hundreds of photos of stuffed animals. To make it more fun, challenge them to see how many different animals they can find or to track down bear photos from every continent.