Melbourne parents join bear hunt game to keep children entertained amid COVID-19 outbreak
Parents around are taking their fun teddy-spotting trek around neighbourhoods Melbourne parents are taking children on a fun teddy-spotting trek through their neighbourhoods to cheer up little ones feeling overwhelmed by the coronavirus crisis.
South East
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Melbourne parents are taking part in a bear hunt game to keep their children entertained amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
Dozens of parents from southern and southeastern suburbs, including Pakenham, Cheltenham (Pennydale), Mont Albert and Mordialloc, have been posting photos of the teddies on their windows on popular Facebook pages, encouraging families to keep their children active by walking around and spotting the furry toys.
They say the bear hunt was a much needed distraction during a time of such uncertainty.
Lauren Kennedy, from Lang Lang, said the initiative was a “brilliant idea”.
“Someone posted it yesterday on our town noticeboard and so many people loved the idea and vowed to place bears in their windows today," Ms Kennedy said.
“We will go for a walk this afternoon to see if we can hunt some down.”
She said it was important to bring the community together during these tough times.
“I was right on board because our little town is filled with children and they are all so scared at the moment so it’s good they can get out and have some fun.”
Paulette Nicholls, mother of Teddy, 3, loves going on a bear hunt around her Mont Albert home and the surrounding suburbs.
“I love the simplicity of it – it says a lot about the neighbourhood,” she said. “More and more bears are popping up all the time.”
Ms Nicholls said Teddy loves waving at the bears from the car or when on walks in the pram, especially when they’re at friends’ houses.
Teddy bears started popping up in windows in Bayside homes on Sunday as parents tried to beat kids’ boredom during the restrictions.
Sharon Tapner, from Pennydale, a small pocket of Cheltenham, said 60 residents had already signed up.
“We will take over the windows of Cheltenham, the neighbours have all jumped on it,” Ms Tapner said.
“We’ve got bears in trees, bears hiding in garden, bears in windows.”
She said it was a great way to keep kids occupied as they went for walks with their family.
“One neighbour has put up disco lights in the window with teddy bears and a gremlin, it’s a little bit of fun in these uncertain times,” she said.
Steve Vella, of Pakenham, said he hoped the bear hunt would grow into a global initiative.
“It gives kiddies something to look out for when walking with parents,” Mr Vella said.
“This should grow to a worldwide thing in this current climate, may put smiles on faces.”
Peter Woolsey said he had noticed the bears at windows throughout the Arena Estate in Officer.
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“A lot of families are out walking in the evenings and are on the lookout,” Mr Woolsey said.
“I have teddy bears at my windows because I have young children and it’s so great to see neighbours getting involved at this time,” he said.
The fun neighbourhood trek has gone national, with a public Facebook group, We’re Going On A Bear Hunt Australia , attracting almost 7000 members — and photos from across the country.