Smiles all round as kindy kids parade teddy bears

Holding teddies nearly as big as them, the children from Albany Community Kindergarten have carried on the tradition of the Teddy Bear Walk.

Each year for the past decade, the class of four-year-olds have designed and created their teddy bears then paraded them down York Street.

On Tuesday, their walk started with a visit to the Albany Public Library where they posted a letter to the big man — Santa Claus.

After an ice-cream at Dylans on the Terrace, the children walked to the Museum of the Great Southern to learn about Aboriginal artefacts.

Teacher Karen Marshall said the Teddy Bear Walk was about enjoyment and education.

“The reason we take the children on a Teddy Bear Walk is to show off their wonderful work to the community,” Ms Marshall said.

“It takes several months of tracing, drawing, painting, sewing and stuffing to complete these beautiful bears and it makes sense to have a big celebration once they are finished.

“The Teddy Bear Walk is our celebration.”

Usually, the children walk in Albany’s Christmas Pageant with their teddies, families and friends.

Ms Marshall said because of changes to the pageant in light of COVID-19, that was off the cards.

“I have, however, promised the children that, all going well, we will invite this year's children to walk in next year’s Christmas Pageant with us to make up for missing out,” she said.