Bear hunt goes viral to distract children during pandemic

If you’ve spotted teddy bears popping up in the windows of your neighbours, this is what it’s all about.

Four-year-old Hudson Grunberger with his teddy bear at his Caboolture South home. Picture: AAP/Richard Walker

TEDDY bears are starting to pop up in windows around Brisbane as a fun way to keep children entertained during the coronavirus pandemic.

The idea, inspired by the popular children’s book We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, started overseas and has spread to several countries as they go into lockdown and people are told to stay in their homes.

Posts are starting to appear on Brisbane Facebook groups with residents sharing photos of teddy bears in their windows for children to spot as they walk around their neighbourhoods.

Some people are adding colourful paintings.

Sana Roe, 3 and sister Thea, 1 show off the colourful paintings on one of the windows of their Sandgate home. Picture: AAP/Renae Droop

One Sandgate resident has had to improvise. A huge front hedge blocking the windows at the Bragg residence encouraged the family to hide bears and other soft animals among the branches.

Jess Bragg said they became involved following a Facebook post by Amelia Roe, who lives in her street, asking if anyone else was placing rainbows or teddies in their windows.

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“I thought I’d put something out for her girls to see when they walk past,” Mrs Bragg said.

“I hid some in the trees because you can’t see our front windows.

“I know how excited my two (children) were when they came home and saw it (bears in the trees) themselves and they are excited about how they can get involved as well.

“I think it’s great since we can’t be out and about. It’s nice to go for a walk with the family and still maintain that community feeling and, for us, that connection with other residents in the street.”

Chelsea Bragg, 4, is on the hunt for bears around Sandgate. Picture: AAP/Renae Droop

Teddy bears are hanging from trees, downpipes, hedges and letterboxes in one Caboolture South estate.

Riverbank Estate resident Ally Grunberger came across the idea of a teddy bear hunt on social media and decided to see if others in the neighbourhood were interested.

“I didn’t expect so many people to participate,” Mrs Grunberger said.

“People without kids are even putting teddy bears out for the kids.”

The idea is that it gives children something to do while out for a walk. It also allows for social distancing.

Mrs Grunberger said it had proved a hit with her four-year-old son Hudson.

“He is obsessed,” she said.

Residents have been taking photos of the bears they find and posting them to the community Facebook page.

Tristan Bragg, 7, is on the hunt for teddy bears around Sandgate Picture: AAP/Renae Droop

Mrs Roe at Sandgate said the trend “is a happy thing”.

“My daughter was looking for something to look at while we are on our walks,” she said.

As well as placing teddy bears in her window, Mrs Roe painted a rainbow picture and her daughters painted large colourful butterflies.