Here are 16 teddy bear songs for preschoolers with full lyrics, plus the familiar tune each borrowed song is sung to. Teachers sent most of these in years ago, and they have stayed in use because each one does a specific job: gets a group moving, settles it down, counts to five, or gives a teddy bear picnic something to sing.
The songs are grouped by how you would use them. Action songs come first, then picnic songs, counting rhymes, quiet songs and the longer camp-style story songs. Six videos sit next to the songs they match so you can hear a tune before you teach it. Each song ends with one line on the age it suits or the motion to pair with it.
Before the lyrics there is a short planning section on the theme itself: collecting bears from home, using Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, Turn Around as a quick skills check, and staging the picnic that pays the week off.
- How to run a teddy bear theme
- Action and movement bear songs
- Teddy bear picnic songs
- Counting and rhythm bear songs
- Quiet and bedtime bear songs
- Camp-style story and echo songs
- Teddy bear songs FAQ
- More song collections
How to Run a Teddy Bear Theme
Send the note home a full week ahead. Ask each family for one teddy bear, labeled with the child’s name, on a set day. A week gives families time to find a bear and gives you time to hear from the ones who do not answer. Keep four or five clean spare bears in the room no matter what. Some children will forget, some do not own one, and a few will bring a bear too precious to share. A child with no bear on picnic day remembers it, so hand spares out quietly at arrival, never in front of the group.
Use Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, Turn Around on the first day of the theme and again on the last. It is a clean gross-motor and follow-directions check. Watch who turns a full circle, who touches the ground without sitting down, who can rise onto their toes, and who is a beat behind because they are copying a neighbor instead of listening. Jot names on a sticky note as you go. Children think it is a game, so you get an honest read.
Plan an actual picnic as the payoff at the end. Spread blankets on the floor or the playground, have each child seat their bear beside them, serve a simple snack, and sing Teddy Bear’s Picnic while everyone is sitting. Ask each child to introduce their bear by name; Teddy Was His Name-O gives shy children a script for that. If you need more songs to fill the meal, 6 Picnic Songs for Toddlers covers it.
The theme stretches easily. In winter, teach the bear songs alongside a den unit and pair them with hibernation songs or the winter animal songs. In fall, take it outdoors with forest songs and Going on a Bear Hunt.
Bears are also good math manipulatives. Sort them by size, which the Three Bears story sets up for you, then by color, then by soft versus stiff. Count them into a basket with Five Little Bears: Counting Up and back out with Counting Down. The number songs collection has more counting rhymes if the group wants them.
Know which songs do what. Going on a Bear Hunt, Creative Movement and The Bear Went Over the Mountain wake a group up, so use them after table work. You Are My Teddy Bear and Bear Song bring the energy back down and belong before rest time or at the end of circle. The Bear and Grizzly Bear run long, so save them for fours and fives who can sit through a full call-and-response.
Action and Movement Bear Songs
Start here. These are the songs children ask for again, and they double as the movement break in a circle time that has run long. Clear a space before you begin; most of them need room to turn around.
Teddy Bear Teddy Bear
Added: 02-22-1998
Original Author: Unknown
Teddy bear, teddy bear,
Turn around,
Teddy bear, teddy bear,
Touch the ground.
Teddy bear, teddy bear,
Dance on your toes,
Teddy bear, teddy bear.
Touch your nose.
Teddy bear, teddy bear,
Stand on your head,
Teddy bear, teddy bear,
Go to bed.
Teddy bear, teddy bear,
Say good-night,
Teddy bear, teddy bear,
Turn out the light.
Teddy bear, teddy bear,
Wake up now,
Teddy bear, teddy bear,
Take a bow.
Works from age two up; do every action at full size yourself and slow the tempo the first time through.
Goldilocks, Goldilocks Turn Around
Added: 03-24-2002
Original Author Unknown
Sung to: “Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear Turn Around”
Goldilocks, Goldilocks, turn around ,(turn around)
Goldilocks, Goldilocks, knock on the door. (knock with hands)
Goldilocks, Goldilocks, eat some porridge (pretend to eat)
Goldilocks, Goldilocks, have a seat. (squat)
Goldilocks, Goldilocks, go to sleep. (put cheek on folded hands.)
Goldilocks, Goldilocks, run, run, run. (run off)
Follow the actions in parentheses; once children know the story, this lets them retell it with their bodies.
Creative Movement (Pick Your Teddy Bear Up)
Added: 08-08-1998
Original Author: Unknown
(do actions with the teddy bears to suit)
Pick your teddy bear up from the ground,
Then go dancing all around.
Hold him high and hold him low,
As round and round and round you go!
substitute other words/actions for the poem…
…Hold him left and hold him right,
Hold him tight with all your might!…
…Hold him close and hold him far,
Pretend that he can drive a car!….
…Hold him in front and hold him in back,
sit down with him on your lap!…..
Make up more verses with help from the children.
Every child holds a bear; this is the one to use when the room needs to move but there is no space to run.
The Bear Went Over the Mountain
Added: 11-09-1998
Original Author Unknown
The bear went over the mountain,
The bear went over the mountain,
The bear went over the mountain,
To see what he could see
To see what he could see,
To see what he could see
The other side of the mountain,
The other side of the mountain,
The other side of the mountain,
Was all that he could see
Was all that he could see,
Was all that he could see,
The other side of the mountain,
Was all that he could see!
March in place or in a line around the room; threes pick it up in one sitting.
Going on a Bear Hunt
Added 6-17-03
Original Author: Unknown
Going on a bear hunt
Gonna catch a big one
I’m not afraid (shake head no)
What’s that up ahead (shade eyes with hand, look around)
A field:
Can’t go around it,
Can’t go under it,
Can’t go over it
Gotta go through it (rub hands together)
A lake (swimming motion)
A mud puddle (cup hands together, suction sound)
A tree (climbing motion)
A cave (reaching out in the dark)
What’s this? I feel something…
It has a nose
eyes
ears
fur
It’s a bear!
RUN!!!
Run away, through actions backward
Out of the cave (you can see)
A tree ( climbing motion)
A mud puddle ( suction hands, move fast)
A lake (swimming motion)
A field (rub hands together)
Whew!
We’re home
I’m not afraid!
Sit in a circle and pat knees for the walking; children as young as three follow the actions, and the run home is the payoff.
Teddy Bear Picnic Songs
These three carry the picnic itself. Sing the first while the snack goes out, use the second as the snack, and use the third to introduce every bear by name.
Teddy Bear’s Picnic
Added: 02-22-1998
Original Author: Unknown
The words to this song were written by Jimmy Kennedy in 1932 and are still under copyright, so the full lyrics are not reprinted here. Play a recording at the picnic and sing along; most children have the chorus after two listens.
Best sung seated at the picnic with bears on laps; the long verses suit fours and fives, and threes can join on the chorus.
Cinnamon Bear Poem
Added: 08-08-1998
Original Author: Unknown
Cinnamon, Cinnamon
Cinnamon Bear
Sitting on a kitchen chair.
Cinnamon sugar in a shaker.
Shake, shake, shake it
Like a baker.
Sprinkle it on buttered toast.
It’s the treat
You’ll love the most.
Cinnamon, Cinnamon,
Cinnamon Bear,
Do you think that we may share?
Say it at snack with a real shaker and pretend to sprinkle; it makes a natural lead-in to cinnamon toast at the picnic.
Teddy was his name O
Added: 02-02-2002
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “B-I-N-G-O”
There was a boy who had a bear
and Teddy was his name-O
T E D D Y, T E D D Y, T E D D Y
and Teddy was his name-O.
Swap in each bear’s name to spell; it is the easiest way to have every child introduce their bear at the picnic.
Counting and Rhythm Bear Songs
Put real bears on the table for these. Children who can see the number change learn the count faster than children who only hear it.
Five Little Bears: Counting Up
Added: 08-08-1998
Original Author: Unknown
One little bear
Wondering what to do
Along came another
Then there were two!
Two little bears
Climbing up a tree
Along came another
Then there were three!
Three little bears
Ate an apple core
Along came another
Then there were four!
Four little honey bears
Found honey in a hive
Along came another
Then there were five!
Hold up one more finger each verse, or add a bear to a basket; three-year-olds manage this one easily.
Five Little Bears: Counting Down
Five little bears
Heard a loud roar
One ran away
Then there were four!
Four little bears
Climbing up a tree
One slid down
Then there were three!
Three little bears
Deciding what to do
One fell asleep
Then there were two!
Two little bears
Having lots of fun
One went home
Then there was one!
One little bear
Feeling all alone
Ran to his mother
Then there were none!
Line five bears on a table and take one away per verse so children watch the number shrink.
Three Bears With A Beat
Added: 02-22-1998
Original Author: Unknown
(Snap or clap or pat, or keep the beat in any way you want, on the
words in parenthesis.)
.
(Once) upon a (time) in the (mid)dle of the (woods) there were (three) (bears).
(One) was a (Pa)pa bear, (one) was a (Ma)ma bear, (one) was a (Wee) Bear. ((x)) ((x)).
A(long) came the (girl) with the (gold)en curls.
She (knocked) on the (door) but (no) one was (there).
So she (walked) right (in) cause she (did)n’t care.
(Home), (home), (home), came the (Pa)pa bear,
(Home), (home), (home), came the (Ma)ma bear,
(Home), (home), (home), came the (wee) bear. ((x)) ((x))
(change voice with each bear)
“(Some)one’s been (eat)ing my (porr)idge!” ((x)) said the (Pa)pa
(bear). “Grrrrrrrr” (hold hands in front like sharp claws)
“(Some)one’s been (eat)ing my (porr)idge! ((x)) said the (Ma)ma
(bear). “Ahhhhhhh” (throw both hands up in surprise)
“(Hey)-baba-(ree)-bear,” (said) the little (wee) bear, “(Some)one has (eat)en my
(soup)! Hmmmmmph!” (cross arms on chest and pout)
“(Some)one’s been (sit)ting in (my) (chair)!” said the (Pa)pa (bear).
“Grrrrrrrrr”
“(Some)one’s been (sit)ting in (my) (chair)!” said the (Ma)ma (bear)!”
“Ahhhhhhh”
“(Hey)-baba-(ree),bear,” said the little (wee) bear, “(Some)one has
(brok)en my
(seat)! Hmmmmmph!”
“(Some)one’s been (sleep)ing in (my) (bed)!” said the (Pa)pa (bear)!
“Grrrrrrrrr”
“(Some)one’s been (sleep)ing in (my) (bed)!” said the (Ma)ma (bear).
“Ahhhhhhhh”
“(Hey)-baba-(ree)-bear, (said) the little (wee) (bear), “(Some)one is
(still) in my
(bed)! Hmmmmmph!”
(Change to a whisper)
Just then Goldilocks woke up. (Scream, arms raised:) “Aaaaahhhhhhhhh!”
She (jumped) out of (bed) and she (beat) it out of (there)! (point with
thumb)
“(Bye),(bye), (bye),” said the (Pa)pa bear. (wave)
“(Bye), (bye), (bye),” said the (Ma)ma bear. (wave)
“(Hey)-baba-(ree)-bear,” (said) the little (wee) bear, “(This) is the
(end) of our
(tale). Hmmmmmph!”
For fours and fives who can hold a steady pat; start with knee pats only, then let children choose the beat.
Quiet and Bedtime Bear Songs
Use these to bring a group down. Both work best with a bear in every lap and the lights lowered a notch.
You Are My Teddy Bear
Added: 02-22-1998
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “You Are My Sunshine”
You are my teddy bear
My only teddy bear
You make me smile dear
You are my friend
You’ll never know dear
How much I like you
I’m so glad you’re my
Teddy Bear today.
Rock side to side holding the bear; a good last song before rest time.
Bear Song (Hug, Hug, Hug Your Bear)
Added: 02-22-1998
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Row, row, row your boat”
Hug, hug, hug your bear
Squeeze him very tight
Hold him high
Help him fly
Then hug with all your might.
A settling song for threes; hug on the first line and lift the bear high on the third.
Camp-Style Story and Echo Songs
These run longer and come from the campfire tradition. They suit fours and fives, and two of them are echo songs, so you sing a line and the group repeats it. Nobody has to know the words ahead of time.
The Bear (The Other Day I Met a Bear)
Added: 11-09-1998
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “The littlest worm”
The other day (the other day),
I met a bear (I met a bear),
Away up there (away up there)
A great big bear (a great big bear)
The other day I met a bear,
A great big bear a way up there.
He looked at me (he looked at me)
I looked at him (I looked at him)
He sized up me (he sized up me)
I sized up him (I sized up him)
He looked at me, I looked at him,
He sized up me, I sized up him.
He said to me (he said to me)
“Why don’t you run? (why don’t you run?)
I see you don’t (I see you don’t)
Have any gun (have any gun)
He said to me, “Why don’t you run?
I see you don’t have any gun.”
And so I ran (and so I ran)
Away from there (away from there)
And right behind (and right behind)
Me was that bear (me was that bear)
And so I ran away from there,
And right behind me was a that bear.
Ahead of me (ahead of me)
I saw a tree (I saw a tree)
A great big tree (a great big tree)
Oh, golly gee (oh, golly gee)
Ahead of me there was a tree,
A great big tree, oh, golly gee.
The lowest branch (the lowest branch)
Was ten feet up (was ten feet up)
I had to jump (I had to jump)
And trust my luck (and trust my luck)
The lowest branch was ten feet up,
I had to jump and trust my luck.
And so I jumped (and so I jumped)
Into the air (into the air)
And missed that branch (and missed that branch)
Away up there (away up there)
And so I jumped into the air,
And missed that branch away up there.
Now don’t you fret (now don’t you fret)
And don’t you frown (and don’t you frown)
I caught that branch (I caught that branch)
On the way back down (on the way back down)
Now don’t you fret and don’t you frown,
I caught that branch on the way back down.
That’s all there is (that’s all there is)
There is no more (there is no more)
Until I meet (until I meet)
That bear once more (that bear once more)
That’s all there is, there is no more,
Until I meet that bear once more.
The end, the end (the end, the end)
The end, the end (the end, the end)
The end, the end (the end, the end)
The end, the end (the end, the end)
The end, the end, the end, the end,
This time it really is the end!
A long echo song for fours and fives; sing each line, have them repeat it, and add a jump on the branch verse.
Grizzly Bear
Added: 11-09-1998
Original Author: Unknown
I’m gonna tell y’a little story ’bout a grizzly bear,
Tell y’a little story ’bout a grizzly bear.
Well, a great big grizzly, grizzly bear,
A great big grizzly, grizzly bear.
Well, my mama was a-scared of that grizzly bear,
My mama was a-scared on that grizzly bear.
So my Daddy went a-huntin’ for that grizzly bear,
My Daddy went a-huntin’ for that grizzly bear.
He had long, long hair that grizzly bear,
He had long, long hair that grizzly bear.
He had big, blue eyes that grizzly bear,
He had big, blue eyes that grizzly bear.
Well, he looked everywhere for that grizzly bear,
He looked everywhere for that grizzly bear.
But he couldn’t find that great big grizzly bear,
He couldn’t find that great big grizzly bear.
So my mama’s not a-scared of that grizzly bear,
My mama’s not a-scared of that grizzly bear.
That great big grizzly, grizzly bear,
That great big grizzly, grizzly bear.
Clap the repeated line and let children add a growl on each “grizzly bear”; best with a group of fours.
Winnie the Pooh
Added: 11-09-1998
Original Author: Unknown
The Winnie the Pooh theme is a copyrighted Disney song, so its lyrics are not reprinted here. Most children already know the chorus from the films, so sing that part together while they hold their bears.
Sing it while children hold their bears; a tune this familiar gets the whole room joining in.
Teddy Bear Songs FAQ
What age is Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, Turn Around for?
Two-year-olds can do the turn and the ground touch with a model to copy. Three- and four-year-olds can do the full sequence from the words alone, which is why it works as an informal check of listening and gross-motor skills. Five-year-olds still enjoy it if you speed it up or let them lead.
How do I run a teddy bear picnic in a classroom?
Push tables aside, spread blankets, and have each child sit with their bear beside them. Serve a simple snack such as cinnamon toast or fruit, and sing Teddy Bear’s Picnic once everyone is settled. Keep it to twenty or thirty minutes; the point is the ritual, not the length.
What if a child has no teddy bear to bring?
Keep a small basket of clean spare bears in the classroom before the theme starts. Give one to any child who arrives without a bear at drop-off, quietly, so it never becomes a public moment. For the rest of the week that bear is theirs, and a soft toy of any kind counts.
What skills do bear songs teach?
The action songs build following directions, body awareness and balance. The counting rhymes teach one-to-one correspondence and the idea that a number goes up or down by one. The echo songs stretch listening and memory, and the quiet songs give children a routine for calming down.
How long should a bear theme last?
One week is the standard, ending with the picnic on Friday. Two weeks works if you fold in a hibernation or Goldilocks story unit, which gives the second week its own focus. Longer than that and the bears stop being special.
More Song Collections
Once the bears go home, the songs still have places to go. The zoo animal songs cover the bears children see on a field trip, and the preschool camping songs are the natural next stop for Going on a Bear Hunt and The Bear.