Teddy Bear Day | EYFS & KS1 Activity Ideas

**Note: This page is for educational inspiration. 'Teddy Bear Day' is a widely celebrated, informal holiday with various proposed dates throughout the year (e.g., September 9th, October 27th, November 14th) and no single official founding body or website. It originated from the story of President Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt and a bear cub, leading to the creation of the toy. For historical information on the teddy bear, you can explore museum websites or historical societies focusing on toys and culture.

Understanding Teddy Bear Day in EYFS & KS1

Hugs for Teddies! Teddy Bear Day is a charming and informal celebration that takes place on September 9th. It's a day to celebrate the beloved teddy bear, a timeless companion for children worldwide. The teddy bear's origin traces back to 1902, when President Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt refused to shoot a bear cub during a hunting trip, inspiring a political cartoonist and, subsequently, toy makers.

For early years settings, nurseries, preschools, childminders, and Year 1 and Year 2 classrooms, Teddy Bear Day provides a wonderfully comforting and relatable theme for exploring comfort, companionship, pretend play, and safety. It's about cherishing a special toy, encouraging imaginative scenarios, and learning about care and responsibility in a gentle way. This day offers fantastic planning ideas and inspiration for engaging activities that truly resonate with young minds, making learning about social-emotional bonds and safety both endearing and practical.

Why Is Teaching About Teddies & Comfort Important for Young Children?

Integrating themes around teddy bears and comfort into your practice with young children (aged 0-7) develops their social-emotional development, imaginative play, and understanding of care. Teddy bears often serve as transitional objects, offering comfort and security as children navigate new experiences and emotions.

• Emotional Security: Teddy bears provide a sense of comfort and familiarity, especially important for young children managing anxieties or transitions.

• Imaginative Play: Teddies are central to imaginative scenarios, promoting creativity, storytelling, and role-playing, which are vital for cognitive development.

• Empathy and Caregiving: Children often mimic caregiving roles with their teddies (feeding, comforting, bandaging), developing empathy and understanding of others' needs.

• Language and Communication: Talking about teddies, their adventures, or their "feelings" (e.g., 'Emotions - 'Why is Teddy sad?' Activity Pack', 'Emotions - 'Why is Teddy happy?' Activity Pack') encourages communication and emotional literacy.

• Safety Awareness: Teddies can be used to model and teach important safety lessons in a non-threatening way.

• Personal Connection: Most children have a favourite soft toy, making this a highly personal and engaging topic.

Engaging Teddy Bear & Comfort Activities for Teddy Bear Day (0-7 Year Olds)

Make Teddy Bear Day a truly warm and fuzzy experience with these planning ideas and activities perfect for EYFS and KS1 children. The focus is on cuddles, creativity, and caring! Many of these early years and year 1 activities can be supported by the extensive range of printable resources we have available.

Here's some inspiration for bringing the joy of teddies into your setting: (Please use your own discretion and knowledge of your children to ensure appropriateness of each activity and safety concerning any materials given and activity undertaken.)

• Teddy Bears' Picnic: Organise a class Teddy Bears' Picnic! Use our 'Teddy Bears' Picnic - Role-Play Pack' and 'Teddy Bears' Picnic' Banner' to set the scene. Children can bring their own teddies. Use 'Teddy Bears' Picnic Basket - Drawing/Art & Craft/Playdough Mat (Free Sample)' and 'Teddy Bears' Picnic Basket - Drawing/Art & Craft/Playdough Mat' to prepare. Discuss 'Who's Coming to the Picnic?' and create an 'Our Favourite/Favorite Sandwiches - Pictogram'. Engage with 'My Tasty Sandwich - Writing/Drawing/Mark Making'.

• Poorly Teddy Hospital: Set up a pretend "Teddy Hospital" or "Veterinary Surgery" to care for poorly teddies. Use our 'Poorly Teddy Posters’ . Encourage children to think 'What Happened to Teddy? - Critical Thinking'.

• Teddy Bear Art & Craft: Provide materials for children to draw, paint, or decorate pictures of their teddies. Use our 'Teddy Bears' Picnic - Colouring Sheets' and 'Teddy Bears' Picnic - Illustration Activity'. Our 'Draw the Rest of Teddy' resource is a fun creative challenge. Make and wear 'Bear Ears ' or 'Teddy Bears' Picnic Masks'.

• Teddy Bear Safety Lessons: Use teddies to model important safety rules. Our 'Teddy Bike Safety Poster’ and 'Teddy Scooter Safety Poster’ are perfect for this.

• Teddy Bear Numeracy: Integrate maths by counting teddies, picnic items, or parts of a teddy. Our 'Teddy Bears' Picnic Playdough Mats - Number Challenge' are great for counting and playdough fun. You can also play 'Teddy Bears' Picnic - Colour Match Game'.

• "My Teddy" Mark Making & Writing: Encourage children to describe or write about their teddy using our 'My Teddy - Writing/Drawing/Mark Making' sheets.

• Traditional Tale Link: Goldilocks and the Three Bears: Connect to the classic story with our 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears - Masks - Colouring (Free Sample)', 'A4 'Today' Weather Calendar - Goldilocks Theme (Free Sample)', and 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears' Banner & Key Phrases (Free Sample)'.

• Teddy Bear Rhymes & Songs: Sing "Round and Round the Garden" using our 'Round and Round the Garden - Words/Lyrics Poster' and 'Round and Round the Garden - Words/Lyrics Small Sheets'. Use 'Round and Round the Garden - Lollipop Puppets Set' for engagement.

• Display: Create a charming display with 'Teddy Bears' Picnic - Bunting' and a 'Teddy Bears' Picnic - C & L Poster' showcasing children's work and photos of their teddies.

• Puppet Play: Use our 'Teddy Bears' Picnic - Lollipop Puppets' for storytelling and role-play.

These activities offer great inspiration for making Teddy Bear Day a memorable and impactful experience in your early years and Key Stage One setting, fostering social-emotional development, imaginative play, and a sense of care.

To explore ideas surrounding additional early years events, please visit our 'Special Dates Calendar' page.

Printable resources to support teaching & learning surrounding: ‘Teddy Bear Day’

Additional Pages you may like to explore which cover relevant &/or Connected themes

More Early Years Event Pages for September

Explore special dates (including awareness dates, festivals, celebrations & events) relevant to your EYFS & KS1 children

Browse our ‘Special Dates Calendar’ page using the link below. You’ll find calendars for every month of the year to aid your planning!

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Disclaimer:
This page is for educational purposes only and is intended to support early years and primary practitioners with ideas and resources related to 'Teddy Bear Day'. 'Teddy Bear Day' is a widely celebrated, informal holiday with various proposed dates throughout the year and no single official founding body or website. It originated from the story of President Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt and a bear cub, leading to the creation of the toy. We do not claim any rights to specific trademarks or official materials associated with this day. For historical information on the teddy bear, you can explore museum websites or historical societies focusing on toys and culture.