Families are going on ‘bear hunts’ to ease the boredom of social distancing

Chances are, social distancing boredom is starting to set in. You’ve cleaned your home, watched your favorite Netflix movies (several times), cooked several meals from your stockpile and you’ve managed to do this all while homeschooling your little one. Good job, mama!

While we can manage our own boredom, trying to keep our kids entertained has been a real challenge. These days our saving grace has been a host of indoor activities, and now, neighborhoods are creating “bear hunts” to help kids minimize boredom even more.

The idea was inspired by the children’s book We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury and is exactly how it sounds. You walk around your neighborhood in search of stuffed bears in windows. Put simply, it’s the perfect way to get fresh air while practicing social distancing. Even more, it’s the perfect distraction that unites neighborhoods and families.

More than 50 homes in our neighborhood have put bears in their window so parents can drive younger kids around to f… https://t.co/JLNjI80FbC

— Lauren Opett (@LOpett_VA)
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To get in on the action, visit the “Going on a Bear Hunt” website to find out where the bears are near you or how to start the hunt in your town. Once you’ve decided your path, sing “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” song to add some fun to your experience.

Shanna Bonner Groom, who spearheaded the recent bear hunting initiative in the Stewart Springs neighborhood of Murfreesboro, Tennessee told TIME that she got the word out by posting the idea in her neighborhood’s private Facebook group after seeing it floating around on social media.

“Within hours, everybody was responding and wanting to join in,” she said. “Everybody’s trying to enjoy this time at home with each other but do social distancing at the same time. So we’re trying to come up with some fun activities.”

The bear hunt isn’t stopping in the United States, in fact many have spotted bears in cities as far as London and New Zealand.

To the parent (it’s gotta be a parent) who came up w/ this idea, THANK YOU. Explaining to a 4yr-old why playdates a… https://t.co/5vCTCGr96m

— Daniele Hamamdjian (@DHamamdjian)
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“To the parent (it’s gotta be a parent) who came up with this idea, THANK YOU. Explaining to a 4-yr-old why playdates aren’t allowed anymore is heartbreaking, so “Going on a Bear Hunt” during our walks is the distraction we needed,” says London-based mama, Daniele Hamamdjian.

Indeed, the world needs as many furry friends as possible right now.