Teddy Bear Day

Teddy Bear Day is one of the September Holidays celebrated by both the young and the old(er). So many of us have had a Teddy Bear as a close childhood friend and confidant. Perhaps, some of us still do?

As parents and grandparents, a Teddy Bear is often one of the first gifts we give to our newborns to offer comfort, to cuddle up to in that big spacious crib…or as a friend a gift of celebration to a child, grandchild or loved one for a special occasion…or again, comfort for those in need of cheering. I think Teddy Bears are adorable and irresistible.

How to Celebrate Teddy Bear Day

Teddy Bear Day is held on September 9 every year. Many pre-schools create thematic units around the special day. It’s a lot of fun and gets the kids excited about learning.

To celebrate Teddy Bear Day in school, children are asked to bring in their favorite Teddy Bears to spend the day with them in school. Reading, Math, Art, Music, and Circle Time activities are all planned around the Teddy Bears joining their friends in class.

You can celebrate Teddy Bear Day at home or at a distance with your child or grandchild, too. Here are some suggestions for activities:

At Home

• Teddy Bear Tea Party: Invite friends and their Teddy Bears by designing invitations, planning the menu, and preparing the refreshments together (cooking skills, following directions, creativity, organization and social skills)
• Teddy Bear Nursery Rhyme or Story: Create a nursery rhyme (a rhymed tale for children) or story using familiar objects and places (vocabulary, writing and reading skills, imagination)
• Read, sing, and act out Teddy Bear nursery rhymes and songs found below… (rhythm, reading, creativity, performing arts)
• Write a letter from your Teddy Bear to your child or grandchild’s Teddy Bear asking for a play date. Have the child write back with ideas on what to do on the play date…and your Teddy writes back…and it’s a date!

At a Distance using a WebCam

• Hold a Teddy Bear Tea Party for 4 or more – you and your Teddy and your grandchild(ren) and Teddy(s)
• Create a Teddy Bear story together – type it as you go, then email it to your grandchild(ren)
• Plan to read the same Teddy Bear book together or teach your grandchild the Teddy Bear nursery rhymes found below (email a copy first)
• If don’t have a WebCam on both computers, then send a letter from your Teddy Bear to your grandchild’s telling about his favorite things. Everyone loves receiving surprises in the mail! Be sure to have your Teddy Bear ask your grandchild’s Teddy Bear to write back.

Since most nursery rhymes have simple vocabulary and a catchy beat, children are easily drawn to listening to them. Because they are fun, children want to participate in reciting them, too. Once they learn the words to the nursery rhymes, let them follow the words with you. Do this with beginning story books, too. They will soon want learn to read.

Teddy Bear Nursery Rhymes and Poems

Hug a Bear

Do you have a moment please
To give this bear just one small squeeze?
Cuz teddy bears need hugs to live…
So don’t you have just one to give?

~ Author Unknown ~

Bear Hugs

If you like I can give you
A big bear hug.

It will make you feel snug
As a bug in a rug.

As soon as A bear hug
Comes your way,

Find yourself A good friend,
And give It Away!

~ Author Unknown ~

Five Little Bears

(Counting up)

One little bear
Wondering what to do
Along came another
Then there were two!

Two little bears
Climbing up a tree
Along came another
Then there were three!

Three little bears
Ate an apple core
Along came another
Then there were four!

Four little honey bears
Found honey in a hive
Along came another
Then there were five!

~ Author Unknown ~

Five Little Bears

(Counting down)

Five little bears
Heard a loud roar
One ran away
Then there were four!

Four little bears
Climbing up a tree
One slid down
Then there were three!

Three little bears
Deciding what to do
One fell asleep
Then there were two!

Two little bears
Having lots of fun
One went home
Then there was one!

One little bear
Feeling all alone
Ran to his mother
Then there were none!

~ Author Unknown ~

Round and Round the Garden

Round and round the garden, like a Teddy Bear.
(gently trace finger in a circle around child’s palm)

One step, two step
(walk your fingers up child’s arm)

Tickly you under there!
(tickle under chin, under arm or tummy)

~ Author Unknown ~

Bear Hunt

(children repeat each line)

REPEAT EACH PHRASE… slap thighs throughout.

Goin on a bear hunt (repeat)
I’m not afraid (repeat)
Got a real good friend (children hug each other during this part…repeat)
By my side (repeat)
Oh, Oh (repeat)
What do I see? (repeat)
Oh look! It’s some tall grass! (repeat)
Can’t go over it (repeat)
Can’t go under it (repeat)
Can’t go around it (repeat)
Got to go through it (repeat… make motions with arms like you are clearing a way thru grass)

Goin on a bear hunt (repeat)
I’m not afraid ( repeat)
Got a real good friend (repeat with hugs)
By my side. (repeat)
Oh, Oh! (repeat)
What do I see? (repeat)
Oh look! It’s a tall tree. (repeat)
Can’t go over it (repeat)
Can’t go under it (repeat)
Can’t go through it (repeat)
Got to climb up it (repeat and pretend to climb up the tree)

Goin on a bear hunt (repeat)
I’m not afraid (repeat)
Got a real good friend (repeat with hugs)
By my side. (repeat)
Oh, Oh! (repeat)
What do I see? (repeat)
Oh look! It’s a wide river. (repeat)
Can’t go over it (repeat)
Can’t go under it (repeat)
Can’t go through it (repeat)
Got to swim across it. (Repeat and pretend to swim.)

Goin on a bear hunt (repeat)
I’m not afraid (repeat)
Got a real good friend (repeat with hugs)
By my side. (repeat)
Oh, Oh! (repeat)
What do I see? (repeat)
Oh look! A deep, dark cave. (repeat)
Can’t go over it (repeat)
Can’t go under it (repeat)
Can’t go through it (repeat)
Got to go in it. (repeat, close eyes as you pretend to enter the cave)

Oh,oh! It’s dark in here (repeat)
I feel something (repeat)
It has lots of hair! (repeat)
It has sharp teeth! (repeat)
It’s a bear!! (children love to scream this part)

(At this point, increase the speed of your thigh slapping and

• swim back through the river
• back up and down the tree
• back through the tall grass
• till you get safely home and lock the door.

I’m not afraid! (Repeat)

~ Author Unknown ~

Grin and Bear It

(for two year old)

When I was just a wee little bear,
My owner dragged me everywhere,
Filled me up with cold mud pie,
Bit my nose and lost my tie,
Left me outside in the rain,
Spilled her juice and left this stain.
But I didn’t whine or scold,
Cuz she was only two years old!
And what’s a faithful bear to do
When his little girl is only two?

~ Author Unknown ~

A Bear in Tennis Shoes

The first two lines of each verse, half the group sings, and half the group repeats — the second two lines of each verese, both groups sing together.

The other day (group repeats), I met a bear (group repeats),
With tennis shoes (group repeats), a dandy pair(group repeats).
The other day, I met a bear,
With tennis shoes, a dandy pair.

He looked at me (group repeats), I looked at him (group repeats),
He sized me up (group repeats), I sized up him (group repeats).
He looked at me, I looked at him,
He sized me up, I sized up him.

He said to me (group repeats), “Why don’t you run? (group repeats),
I see you don’t (group repeats), have any gun (group repeats).”
He said to me, “Why don’t you run?,
I see you don’t, have any gun.”

So I did run (group repeats), away from there (group repeats),
and right behind (group repeats), me came that bear (group repeats).
So I did run, away from there,
and right behind, me came that bear.

Ahead of me (group repeats), I saw a tree (group repeats),
A great big tree (group repeats), oh golly-gee (group repeats).
Ahead of me, I saw a tree,
A great big tree, oh golly-gee.

The only branch (group repeats), was 10 feet up (group repeats),
I’d have to jump (group repeats), and trust my luck (group repeats).
The only branch, was 10 feet up,
I’d have to jump, and trust my luck.

And so I jumped (group repeats), into the air (group repeats),
But I missed that branch (group repeats), away up there (group repeats).
And so I jumped, into the air,
But I missed that branch, away up there.

Now don’t you fret (group repeats), now don’t you frown (group repeats),
‘Cause I caught that branch (group repeats), On the way back down (group repeats).
Now don’t you fret, now don’t you frown,
‘Cause I caught that branch, On the way back down.

The moral is (group repeats), no shocking news (group repeats),
Don’t talk to bears (group repeats), in tennis shoes (group repeats).
The moral is, no shocking news,
Don’t talk to bears, in tennis shoes.

That’s all there is (group repeats), there is no more (group repeats),
Unless I meet (group repeats), that bear once more (group repeats).
That’s all there is, there is no more,
Unless I meet, that bear once more.

The end, The end (group repeats), The end, The end (group repeats),
The end, The end (group repeats), The end, The end echo).
The end, The end, The end, The end,
The end, The end, The end, The end.

~ Author Unknown ~

Teddy Bear

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.

~ Author Unknown ~

Bears, Bears, Bears

Bear, bear, bear, bear
How many kinds of bears are there?
Polar bear and grizzly bear,
Big brown bear with lots of hair!
Spectacled bear, black bear, too,
Sloth bear, sun bear, quite a few!
Bear, bear, bear, bear,
So many bears to compare.

~ Author Unknown ~

Bears Are In

Bears are IN!
Bears are IN!
Bears are OUT!
Grab a bear and give a shout!
Give me a B.
Give me an E.
Give me an A.
Give me an R.
Give me an S.
What have you got?
BEARS!!!

~ Author Unknown ~

The Bear

Here is a cave, (make a fist)
Inside is a bear. (put a thumb inside fist)
Now he comes out
To get some fresh air. (pop out thumb)
He stays out all summer
In sunshine and heat.
He hunts in the forest
For berries to eat. (move thumb in circle)
When snow starts to fall,
He hurries inside
His warm little cave,
And there he will hide. (put thumb back inside fist)
Snow covers the cave
Like a fluffy white rug.
Inside the bear sleeps
All cozy and snug. (cover fist with other hand)

~ Author Unknown ~

Egbert and Me

At night when I lie fast asleep
My teddy, Egbert, wakes,
And sits upon my counterpane
Until the morning breaks:
He likes to see I get my rest,
For everybody’s sakes,
So if the pirates smash the door
To steal away my toys
He fights them off with dirk and sword
But very little noise.

And if the one-eyed bogey-man
Comes breaking down the wall
He scares him off by looking fierce
But makes no sound at all.
And if the wailing ghost flies down
The chimney like a bird
He blows him back with mighty breaths
That simply can’t be heard.

When, after slumbering peacefully,
I open up my eyes,
I see the sun come shining in
And find to my surprise
That Egbert’s lost another ear
Upon some enterprise.
But when I ask him what he’s done
He just looks smug and wise….

~ Author Unknown ~

Lullaby

Go to sleep, my Teddy Bear,
Close your little button eyes,
And let me smooth your hair.
It feels so soft and silky that,
I’d love to cuddle down by you,
So,
Go to sleep, my darling Teddy Bear.

~ Author Unknown ~

One for Old(er) Teddy Bear Friends

Teddy Bear Paws

I placed my memories in teddy bear’s paws,
My fondest dreams, my wishes and all,
I’ll never let go of those tender years,
And you, my friend, through giggles and tears.

I recall the gaze of your black button eyes,
Your comforting look and knowing surprise.
My deepest secrets, I shared with you,
Old bear, my friend, you’ve always been true.

You hold the magic of those wonderful years,
You soothe my heart; you calm my fears.
My childhood stories upon your ears,
You listened with love, forever dear.

I placed my cares into your paws,
With frogs and toads with warts and all.
Old bear, you’ve been my steadfast friend,
from my very first step to each day’s end.

Through ups and downs throughout my life,
You’ve been my pillow; my moonlit night,
The bear who knows just where I’ve been,
Who stood by me through thick and thin.

Whenever I see your adorable face,
I’m back in my childhood, the state of grace,
Recalling the times when life was a game,
When days were sunny; when it never rained.

Now, I’ve grown up in stature and size,
With life quite serious, Im supposed to be wise,
I’ll leave my cares by the door-outside,
And look for the bear with arms opened wide.

A teddy bear holds a young child’s smiles,
And dreams of queens and far away miles,
Of tea cups and parties out on the lawn,
And Golden Books treasured when summers were long,

And I, I shall be forever young……..

~ Author Unknown ~