With schools closing and people are forced to stay home during the coronavirus pandemic, parents are working extra hard to keep their children entertained while practicing social distancing. Luckily, it is still safe to go out for a walk, or a drive through your neighborhood. As long as both activities are done responsibly of course.
But…you are going to want to be-careful out there. Because there are bears out there!
To up the level of fun, and keep local community spirit alive, people around the world are putting stuffed toys in their windows for children to spot on “bear hunts.”
No one really knows where the trend started, but it’s certainly gaining momentum around the globe.
The global hunt appears to have been inspired by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury’s 1989 children’s book We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, with many using the hashtag #GoingOnABearHunt. In the popular story, a group of brave children surmount numerous obstacles in a quest to “catch a big one” on a beautiful day.
If your hunting party wants to track down your own local grizzlies, this website marks a few known bear habitats. Just be safe while you’re going through that long, wavy grass.
To the parent (it’s gotta be a parent) who came up w/ this idea, THANK YOU. Explaining to a 4yr-old why playdates aren’t allowed anymore is heartbreaking, so “Going on a Bear Hunt” during our walks is the distraction we needed. Our street right now:#COVID19 pic.twitter.com/aOhSlmJsVJ
— Daniele Hamamdjian (@DHamamdjian) March 22, 2020
Found this one over the weekend in Fairy Lake, Newmarket pic.twitter.com/xu9BmRb9Wz
— Jennifer Jeffries (@Mrs_Jeffries) March 24, 2020
Uni says hello from her window in California pic.twitter.com/9hsQuO1fs3
— Monica Prelle (@monicaprelle) March 22, 2020
The Hamptons/Old Woodlands neighborhood started a family bear hunt (social distancing-compliant). @DarePBailey is our enthusiastic lead bear hunter. Most people put teddy bears in their windows, but this one got free. pic.twitter.com/RCEiRYuTi6
— Rhodes Bailey (@RhodesBailey) March 21, 2020
Getting a walk in as cabin fever is starting to set in for us. All while ‘going on a bear hunt’ while our neighbourhood has fully have gotten into. We’ve got 4 bears saying Hi to the local kids #GoingOnABearHunt #PutYourBearsOut #SocialDistancing #StayAtHomeSaveLives pic.twitter.com/R0STVkTMlo
— Bec ⁷ (@bekkles86) March 24, 2020
More than 50 homes in our neighborhood have put bears in their window so parents can drive younger kids around to find them. The activity pairs with the Bear Hunt book. #NKlearnsathome #goingonabearhunt pic.twitter.com/G6HnyIjgPF
— Lauren (@LOpett_VA) March 24, 2020