Ideas For A Teddy Bear Picnic

Get ready to grab your favourite soft toys for Teddy Bears Picnic Day on 10th July! Inspired by the famous teddy bear picnic song by composer John Walter Bratton, this fun annual event inspires kiddies to get outside in nature and enjoy some delicious grub with their teddy bear pals.  

How To Plan A Teddy Bears Picnic

Read our 7 simple steps to planning an unforgettable teddy bears picnic for your little cub:

1. Pick a time that suits children’s schedules (avoiding nap times!)
2. Opt for a spacious outdoor spot, but have an indoor backup
3. Send out cute invites with a note reminding kids to bring their favourite teddy along
4. Plan a fun menu of treats bears love (think honey, marmalade sandwiches, and porridge!)
5. Pack a picnic basket with napkins, a blanket, and a bin bag for an easy clean-up
6. Set up themed decorations, such as bear bunting, balloons, and tableware
7. Organise a couple of activities (garden games, story times, and crafts work well)

What do you need for a teddy bear picnic? 

Things you might need for your teddy bear picnic include (most importantly!) a bunch of cuddly toys, a simple spread of snacks and drinks, a picnic blanket, themed decorations, a picnic playlist and portable speaker, supplies for craft activities, storybooks, and small prizes for games. And don’t forget the sun cream! 

What are some teddy bear picnic food ideas?

Food to pack for your teddy bears’ picnic could include…

• Marmalade sandwiches
• Gummy bears
• Honeycomb treats
• Sausage rolls
• Porridge (make sure it’s the right temperature for Goldilocks!)
• Chocolate chip cookies
• Fresh fruit
• Juice and water

If you want to pack some food especially for Teddy (that won’t leave any mess!), play food is a great idea. It looks just like the real thing and is easy for little hands to hold. 

What age can you do a teddy bear picnic?

A teddy bear’s picnic can be adapted for any age! But it’s typically most fun for children between the ages of 1 to 7 years. Here are some ideas for a teddy bears picnic by age:

• For toddlers (ages 1-3): Choose simple activities, like singing, listening to stories, and imaginative play
• For preschoolers (ages 3-5): Involve interactive games, bear-inspired crafts, and outdoor exploration
• For early school years (ages 5-7): Host more structured activities, such as teddy treasure hunts and teddy bear races

What to do on a teddy bear picnic?

You could start your teddy bear picnic with a welcome session where each child introduces their teddy bear; you could read bear-themed storybooks; host party games with a teddy bear twist; make teddy bear masks; decorate bear-shaped biscuits; or set up a corner with props for a teddy bear photo shoot. Read on for more teddy bear picnic ideas! 

1. Make Some Honeycomb

Everyone knows that honey is a bear’s favourite treat, so little bakers can whip up their own easy-peasy honeycomb to snack on at home or during their teddy bears picnic. This Hokey Pokey honeycomb recipe is a goodie!

2. Draw Your Bear

Have your bear sit very still as you perfect their ‘paw-trait’! Use an A4 piece of paper and start drawing the outline of your bear with colouring pens. Add a sweet smell with some Scented Markers or bright pops of colour with some Magic Highlighters! Start by sketching the head, then add the ears, arms, body and legs, before drawing the bear’s facial features and any final details at the end.

3. Get Singing

The Teddy Bears Picnic song is a childhood classic! So, why not have a sing-along to some of the different versions? You can find lots of options on YouTube with varied paces and melodies for singers of all ages and abilities.

4. Bear Hide & Seek

With two or more seekers, hide teddies around the house (or garden if it’s sunny and dry) and see who can find the most bears. For super adventurous teddies that may end up in high places, make sure you have some binoculars handy!

5. Read A Book

Set up a cosy reading space, snuggle up with your teddies, and open your favourite teddy bear book. You may like some ‘beary’ fun reads, such as We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, Peace at Last, and The Teddy Bears’ Picnic. For a super cool reading spot, we recommend this kids teepee!

Teddy Bear Fun Facts

Did you know, the name ‘teddy bear’ was inspired by former US President, Theodore Roosevelt, whose nickname was Teddy? Here are some more fun facts about teddy bears your littlens might enjoy.

What are some interesting facts about teddy bears?

• The first teddy bear was made in 1902 by Morris Michtom, a Brooklyn sweet shop owner
• The legendary Winnie the Pooh is based on a real-life bear named Winnipeg who lived at the London Zoological Garden - Winnie the Pooh author A.A. Milne and his son would often visit here and Winnipeg became their favourite attraction
• The world’s biggest teddy bear was made in 2008 in the USA and was a 55ft creation called C.T. Dreams
• The term ‘bear hug’ was first used in 1846, around 60 years before the name ‘teddy bear’ was born!