Mother Bear has played with her little bears all winter long, amusing them with cheerful games. But now spring is approaching, and the cozy but cluttered den needs cleaning. When the little bears ignore their mother's order to stop playing and help clean, she becomes grouchy and sends the bears to bed early without games. The three bears worry that their mother does not love them. They decide to clean up the den while she sleeps and then test her love by hiding: if she really loves them, she will find them. Mother Bear is touched by their attempt to pick up.