ID: 3
Date: 1959, - 2006
Title: Teddy bear
Gender: Female 
Classification: Skipping 
Rhyme: 

Teddy bear, teddy bear, turn around, 
Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch the ground. 

(NZ ex UK, 1983; Upper Hutt, 1990s; Lower Hutt, 2006; Wellington, 2006)

--

Teddy bear, teddy bear, go upstairs, (Timaru, 1990s)
Teddy bear, teddy bear, say your prayers.
Teddy bear, teddy bear, turn off the light, (Wellington, 1990s)
Teddy bear, teddy bear, say good night.

(Methven 1970s; Auckland, 1970s x 2; Palmerston North, 1970s; Christchurch, 1975 x 2; Awanui, 1980s; Blenheim, 1980s; Auckland, 1980s x 2; Gisborne, 1980s; Hawarden, 1990s; Wellington, 1990s x 2; Whangarei, 1990s x 3; Porirua, 1990s; Te Aroha, 1990s; Napier, 1990s; Whangaparaoa, 1990s; Hamilton, 1990s; Palmerston, 1990s; Carew, 1990s; Springston, 1990s; Christchurch, 1990s x 14; Auckland, 2000 x10; Coromandel, 2000;  Kerikeri, 2000; Howick, 2000; Dannevirke, 2000; Motueka, 2000;  Tauranga, 2000 x 2; Ashburton, 2000; Greymouth, 2000;  Waiuku, 2000;  Rotorua, 2000;   Whakatane, 2000 x 2; Nelson, 2000 x 3;  Northland, 2002; Wairoa, 2002;  Porirua, 2003 x 2; Fairlie, 2003; Timaru. 2003 x 2;    Ashburton, 2005; Dunedin, 2005; Motueka, 2005; Lower Hutt, 2005 x 2; Wellington, 2006)

--

Variants:
Spell goodnight, G O O D N I G H T

(Rangiora, 2000)

--

Teddy bear, teddy bear, count down again.
Teddy bear, teddy bear, jump up high
Teddy bear, teddy bear, say good bye.

(Lower Hutt, 2006)

--

Teddy bear, teddy bear, tie your shoe,
Teddy bear, teddy bear, how old are you?
1,2, 3..

(Winton, 1975)

--

Teddy bear, teddy bear, turn around, 
Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch the ground.
Teddy bear, teddy bear, count to ten,
Teddy bear, teddy bear, count down again.

(Auckland, 2000)

--

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.

(Christchurch, 2000; Taupo, 2000)

--

Teddy bear, teddy bear, turn around, 
Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch the ground.
Teddy bear, teddy bear, jump up high,
Teddy bear, teddy bear, wave goodbye.

(Christchurch, 2003)

--

Teddy bear replaced by Koala bear in Christchurch, 1970s.

--
 
Background Info: Development of this rhyme can be traced back to a circle game known as "Drop your Handkerchief," played in the early 1900s. The linked chant begins:

Lady, Lady, drop your purse,
Lady, Lady, pick it up.
Lady, Lady, touch the ground,
Lady, lady, turn around. (Abrahams, 1969:xviii )

==

Rhyme used in 1950s (Sutton-Smith, 1959:81):

I had a teddy bear, dressed in green,
I didn't want it so I gave it to the Queen.
The Queen didn't want it so she gave it to the King,
And the King said:
Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch the ground..

Includes the line "take your hook", where the skipper pulls above at an invisible hook. Other lines include: say your prayers, read a big book, look at the sky, wink one eye,

==

Alternative version in Botkin, 1944:793:

Old lady, old lady, touch the ground,
Old lady, old lady, turn around,
Old lady, old lady, point your shoe,
Old lady, old lady, 23 skidoo.

(USA, 1930-1940)

==
 
Keywords: action rhyme 
Location: Various NZ, USA 
Group size: 2 
Incidence: 90