Invitations: Make do-it-yourself invitations using brown construction paper. Cut the paper into the shape of a teddy bear. A large bear cookie cutter works well for this task. Use markers to fill out the details of each bear's face. Affix the teddy bear picnic rhyme on the tummy of the bear by using your computer to print out the text on a piece of decorative paper cut to the proper shape. Glue a small bow at the bear's neck to make each one extra special.
The teddy bear picnic rhyme goes like this ...
If you go out in the woods today
You're sure of a big surprise.
If you go out in the woods today
You'd better go in disguise.
For every bear that ever there was
Will gather there for certain, because
Today's the day the teddy bears
are having their picnic.
On the inside of the bear invite, include the party information. Using your computer, print out the information on decorative papers. Cut each to size and paste it on the invitation. Be sure to request that every child bring his or her favorite teddy bear to the party.
If you are not keen on DIY projects, simply print out the important "when and where" details and attach them inside a bear note card before it is mailed.
Even more simple is to go with ready-made invites. Consider the Teddy Bear invites from Polka Dot Designs. Eight invites come combined with eight thank you notes. See the whole Teddy Bear party ware collection here.
Decorations: If you are having your Teddy Bear picnic outdoors, use the natural setting as your decoration. Set up your party under a big tree for shade. Cover party tables with gingham table covers. An inexpensive way to do this is to buy gingham by the yard at your local fabric store. This material can be recycled after the party into clothing or accessories. Spread large picnic blankets on the ground for the kids and their special teddy bear friends to sit on during the festivities.
Indoors or out, add some helium filled balloons to the party scene. Clusters of two or three balloons always look more impressive than single ones. And don't forget to make a giant "Teddy Bears Picnic" party banner to mark your picnic spot.
Make place markers by creating bears using miniature Slinky toys for the animal bodies, construction paper for the heads and feet and bits of pipe cleaners folded over for the tails. Write each child's name on card stock in bold letters and insert it in the Slinky portion of the bear's body. These slinky bears will make nice favors for the guests to take home.
Check party stores to find a selection of teddy bear party plates and tableware to go along with this theme. Polka Dot Design has a very cute collection of bear ware. Click here to see the collection. In addition, Oriental Trading Company has 193 bear-related items and Birthday Direct has 41.
Activities: While waiting for everyone to arrive, take each guest's picture with his or her bear.
Have one of your adult helpers print off the photos during the party. Send each guest home with his or her photo placed in an inexpensive frame. These will make excellent favors to be cherished for years to come.
When all the guests are accounted for, start out the day's activities by sitting on the picnic blanket and have everyone introduce their bear. Be sure to capture the picnic events with plenty of film. Because there is bound to be lots of playful activity, consider using a video camera as well as taking still shots.
Games: Organize a bear parade (have plenty of adult supervision on hand). Line up some jaunty marching music ahead of time. Award prizes to the bears, such as the biggest, smallest, most unusual color, largest bow, biggest ears etc. - making sure each bear gets some recognition.
Play pin the heart on the bear (tailor your game after "pin the tail on the donkey"). Draw a large bear on craft paper and give each child a paper heart with their name on it. Blindfold each child in turn, turn them around a couple of times and see if they can stick their heart on the bear's chest.
Organize a game of pass the bear. This game is rather like hot potato, but instead of a potato the kids pass around a bear. Sit the kids in a circle, put on some music (perhaps the Teddy Bear Picnic Song) and when the music stops, the child left holding the bear is out. Last child remaining at the end is the winner.
Another fun game for this party is toss the bees into the honey pot. Decorate a small flower pot or bucket to look like a honey pot. Give the kids some small plastic bees to throw. Or you can make your own out of yellow circles of felt, which you have sewn up and stuffed with dried beans. Decorate the yellow felt bees with black felt strips. The winner is the child who can throw the most bees into the honey pot.
Play musical bears. This is like traditional musical chairs. Set out a number of large paper dots on the ground - one for each child minus one. Have each child march their bear around to the music. When the music stops, each child will rush to put their bear on a paper dot. The bear that does not have a dot is out. Last bear wins.
A good game to play just before the party winds down is "Is that your bear?" Have the kids sit in a circle with all the bears piled in the middle. The birthday child will go first. He or she will put on a blindfold. Then the birthday child will be presented with three bears, one of which is his or her own bear. Through touch the child is challenged to figure out which bear belongs to him. See how many kids you can challenge before the parents start picking up the kids.
Crafts: An excellent activity for the kids while you are putting the final preparation on the food is to have them color teddy bear printables. Give the kids markers or crayons and let them demonstrate their talents. Family Fun Magazine has an excellent selection of bear printables, including coloring pages, paper crafts, mazes and connect-the-dots.
Food: Serve picnic foods in individual picnic baskets. Purchase inexpensive wicker baskets at your local discount store or craft store. Line the baskets with a sturdy napkin. Include a honey and peanut butter sandwich cut with a teddy bear shaped cookie cutter, a juice box, a fruit cup with spoon and, of course, an individual pouch of goldfish crackers. What bear does not like to eat fish!
Cakes: A great idea for dessert is to make paw print cupcakes. They are as easy to transport to the picnic site as the are delicious. Click here for the directions. If you prefer a cake, make a teddy bear cake. Betty Crocker has an easy how-to video and templates. Click here for details. Another way to go is to decorate cupcakes using paper liners and teddy bear toppers from Polka Dot Design.
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