Teddy Bear

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, turn around, / Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, touch the ground…

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, turn around,
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, touch the ground
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, show your shoe
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, that will do!
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, go upstairs
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, say your prayers
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, turn out the lights
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, say good-night!

How to play

The skipper jumps the rope whilst singing this rhyme, and acts out the actions as the words come up in the rhyme.

Where this rhyme comes from

Earliest record: after 1902
Sung in: US, UK

The teddy bear is named after US President Theodore Roosevelt (1902–03), so this wording comes after that. The action sequence is older: in 1916 Douglas recorded a London skipping rhyme telling a 'lady' to drop her purse, touch the ground, turn around and show her foot.

Sources: Norman Douglas, London Street Games (1916), p.66.

Do you know an older version, or where this rhyme comes from? Teachers can tell us with the feedback button below.

Older and newer versions

The same rhyme, changed by children over the years.

ActionsPrinted 1898Lady, Lady, Drop Your HandkerchiefLady, lady, drop your handkerchief,
Lady, lady, pick it up…ActionsPrinted 1916Lady, Lady, Drop Your PurseLady, lady, drop your purse,
Lady, lady, pick it up…ActionsLords and LadiesLords and Ladies,
Children, too…ActionsChantsby 1916I Went Down TownI went down town I met miss Brown
miss brown brought a nicle so I bought a pickle…

Sent in by Anonymous

More rhymes like this

Actionsby 1927Three Six NineThree, six, nine, the goose drank wine,
The monkey chewed tobacco on the street car line…ActionsCountingafter 1910Salute to the CaptainI’m a girl guide all dressed in blue,
Here are the actions I must do…ActionsPepper (fast)by 1916Cobbler Mend my ShoeCobbler, cobbler, mend my shoe.
Have it done by half past two…