SALEM, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Massachusetts is officially under a stay-at-home advisory until April 6. Amid widespread orders to keep six feet apart from each other during the COVID-19 pandemic, communities have discovered that social distancing doesn't have to mean social isolation.
That's the beauty of the Bear Hunt Game, which recently started as an incentive for children to get outside while also keeping their distance during the coronavirus pandemic. The game requires neighbors to take part by putting stuffed teddy bears in their windows, giving kids something fun to look out for during walks around their local area.
"I think we're up to... 62 now," says Cheryl Dolan, who has been walking with her 10-year-old daughter Amelia around their neighborhood in Salem, Massachusetts trying to spot as many teddy bears as they can. Dolan helped organize the town-wide Bear Hunt, which has since caught on in other communities.
Amelia, who was initially "weirded out" by the idea of finding stuffed animals in windows, told WBZ NewsRadio she's warmed up to the game and she now thinks it's a nice way to get outdoors during isolation. "Everyone gets to go out the house and play instead of being inside your house all day," Amelia said.
"I keep telling that to the kids too, all your neighbors are doing this," Dolan said. "Everybody is in the same boat, everybody's doing this for each other trying to brighten everyone's day."
WBZ NewsRadio's Suzanne Sausville (@WBZSausville) reports:
(Photo: Getty Images)
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