Norwood Care Home’s Teddy Bear Picnic Brings Generations Together

Community events hold a special place in our hearts, weaving together threads of connection, joy, and shared experiences. The recent Teddy Bears’ Picnic at Norwood Care Home, part of their “Care Home Open Week,” exemplified this beautifully, with residents and visitors coming together to celebrate life, love, and cherished moments.

The picnic saw the delightful presence of children from the Arthurlie Family Centre, who met and mingled with Norwood residents including Agnes, Dora, Irene, Carolynn, Annie, Glenda, Grace, and her extended family—daughter Jaqui, great-grandchildren Jack and Abbi, brother and sister-in-law, and family member Wendy with her two children. Adding to the fun was Norwood’s very own live mascot, “Norrie” the Norwood bear.

The children enjoyed a Teddy Bear-themed picnic platter, featuring PomBear crisps, BarneyBear cake bars, bear-shaped sweets, yogurt juice, sandwiches, and sausage rolls. The picnic was filled with laughter and excitement as “Norrie” produced bubbles and organized a game of pass the parcel, with Haribo teddy sweets as prizes.

Residents and children alike were delighted by Teddy Bear-themed coloring sheets. Resident Agnes was especially touched when one of the children gifted her a colored picture, while resident Carolynn enjoyed the afternoon so much that she spent it holding on to a teddy bear.

The event was further enlivened by music and games, with tunes like “If You Go Down to the Woods Today” and “If You’re Happy and You Know It, Clap Your Hands” creating a joyful atmosphere.

Everyone involved remarked on the fantastic time they had, with many reminiscing about happy childhood memories and sharing them with the younger generation. The Arthurlie Family Centre expressed a desire to make the Teddy Bears’ Picnic an ongoing event, recognizing its value in bringing the community together.