Today is Teddy Bear Picnic Day! It is celebrated each year on July 10th, and it’s the perfect excuse to head outside and create a little magic with your preschooler and their favorite stuffed friend. Whether it’s a full outdoor adventure or a simple backyard snack break, a teddy bear picnic is an easy way to spark our kids’ imaginations and enjoy some special time together. So why not take a few minutes today to host a teddy bear picnic with your preschooler? While this is such a simple activity, it will be such a big deal for your little one!
Of course, we’ll have to think through a few details to host a teddy bear picnic. And at Signing Time, we love to throw some educational fun in as well.
Why Teddy Bear Picnics Matter
This playful lunch isn’t just for cuteness. It’s actually a great chance to help our kids with real developmental skills. During a teddy bear picnic, kids can use their imaginations to pretend with their teddy bears. They can even make up stories with their teddy bears. All of this brain work is good for our kids.
A teddy bear picnic also allows for some social-emotional learning. As our little ones pretend to care for a teddy bear, pass the food, and have polite conversations, it helps them to explore empathy, manners, and nurturing in a totally safe way.
Then there are the practical skills of sharing, sitting together, and cleaning up after ourselves.
Who knew we could learn so much from hosting a teddy bear picnic? And beyond the learning, there’s just good fun, a sense of wonder, and a feeling of connection. These are wonderful things for our kids.
Set Up Your Picnic
We’ll need a cozy spot for our picnic, so let’s start there. This could be your backyard, a quiet corner of the park, or even your living room if the weather isn’t cooperating. Look for a shady area where your child and their teddy bear can comfortably sit, snack, and play.
Add a blanket or a tablecloth, and we’re good to go. But while we’re at this part (we all know how to set up a picnic, right?), don’t forget to learn the ASL sign for blanket. We could also learn the sign for grass!
Then let’s pack some preschooler-friendly food. This can be a meal or just a snack. Our kids won’t really care, so do what works for you. Anything our kids enjoy for food will work. Maybe pack some fresh fruit like strawberries, grapes, or apple slices. Sandwiches are always easy, and maybe some mini sandwiches would be fun with the teddy bear theme. Or we could do some cheese slices or string cheese with some crackers. Maybe add a fun drink.
And don’t forget a plate for your preschooler, for the teddy bear, and for you!
Add Some Bear-Themed Fun
There’s always room for some educational fun. You could tell the story of how the teddy bear came into being. Or you could play “The Teddy Bears’ Picnic” song. How about some bear themed books to read together? You could get books about actual bears too! And, of course, there’s the ASL sign for bear.
There’s no right or wrong way to have a teddy bear picnic. You could even let your preschooler take the lead. They might want to invite extra stuffed friends, set up the picnic, or dress up for the occasion. The fun is in the doing, so let’s let our kids go for it. They can host a teddy bear picnic!
And once you’re finished with your picnic, you can keep going with the bear theme with My Signing Time. We have a show about Goldilocks and the Three Bears, a fun version of the Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear rhyme, and a show about all kinds of Awesome Animals, including bears.
So grab a blanket, a few snacks, and your child’s favorite fuzzy friend. Then head outside or just to the living room and host a teddy bear picnic with your preschooler. You’re all set for a sweet time that they will remember for years to come!