Ways to Celebrate Easter w/ Your Kids
Children love holidays, but springtime is frequently a favorite time of year for kids. Regardless of whether or not Easter is a religious celebration for your family or not, there are many ways to celebrate the holiday and welcome spring!
Plant Flowers.
Though Easter sometimes falls too early in the year to begin any real gardening, most of the time it’s warm enough to get outside and late enough that the ground has had its last frost.
While you might not be able to enjoy the fresh spring flowers until later in the year, initially planting them on Easter can be a fun way to celebrate, while also representing the growth and rebirth that the religious holiday entails.
Cook an Easter meal.
Some families take extra pride in their Easter brunches, so you may not find it especially exciting to invite your little ones into the kitchen during your moment of stress. However, kids often love contributing something to the meal on their own, and they get to practice a lot of social and cognitive skills while doing it!
Consider inviting your kids into the kitchen to help, even if it’s just to pour the jellybeans into a dish. Or, consider cooking a special Easter treat with them later in the day. It could be as simple as bunny pancakes or Pillsbury Easter cookies!
Attend an Easter Service.
If your family celebrates the holiday in a religious sense, consider attending a sunrise easter service, or maybe even a service at another church to meet some new people.
Even if your family isn’t religious, many families attend on Easter and Christmas to expose their kids to other belief systems, connect with new people, or pay homage to the way in which they were raised.
Host an Egg Hunt.
As usual, this can be as simple or as extravagant as you wish it to be.
You can hide plastic eggs around the house and send your kids on a scavenger hunt during the afternoon, or take the game outside! Hiding eggs throughout the backyard, neighborhood, or park can make the hunt even more exciting. You might even consider banding together with other parents to have more people to help you plan, and more kids involved in the hunt!
And even if the planning aspect is just too much for you, many local churches, hospitals, and community centers put on egg hunts for families! Check online to find one nearest to you, and be sure to check their websites in case you need to RSVP or purchase ticket!
Sidewalk Messages.
Sidewalk chalk has always been a favorite activity among young children, but chalk messages are becoming increasingly trendy!
Many churches, community centers, and even downtown areas frequently decorate the sidewalks for holidays in the spring and summer. Join in on the trend by decorating your own driveway, sidewalk, or paved area of a local park!
Decorate Eggs.
Egg decorating a favorite among calmer and crafty kids, and it’s easy to execute.
Start with a dye kit or any type of craft paint (acrylic, watercolor, even spray paint will do!).
Boil a dozen eggs (either stovetop or in your Instant Pot), and get to work!
Consider laying out other craft supplies like glitter pens, stickers, and other items from your kids’ craft drawers to add extra personality to your designs.
Outdoor Fun & Games.
If the weather is nice, consider inviting a few families over for some backyard fun. Consider an easy-eat meal (like finger sandwiches and pizza rolls), and relay-type games set up outside. Bunny Hop Races, Egg-On-A-Spoon Relays, and Egg Tosses are a few family favorites!
Make Suncatchers.
Suncatchers are beautiful spring pieces that only get prettier as the days get longer and the season comes into bloom. There are multiple kits and templates that can be ordered, but you can also make your own out of beads, tissue, wax paper, and more!
Make “Happy Easter” Cards.
Some kids (and parents) don’t do well with the loud interaction of egg hunts or the mess of egg decorating. If your child needs an activity that’s a little more chill, consider making “happy Easter” cards for friends or family.
You can find many printable templates online, or you can encourage your kids to make their own designs on plain construction paper. Once you are done, send them to any relatives who are long distance, drive to put them in local friends’ mailboxes, or deliver them to a local hospital, homeless shelter, etc. to meet some new people and spread the kindness.
“Egg” Your Neighbors.
Your child has probably received some sort of Easter basket in their lifetime. Some baskets include games, movies, candy, art supplies, and other small gifts and activities. Why not spread the love?
Put together a few baskets for those in your community. Think about the people you will be gifting the baskets too, and design accordingly.
Easter baskets for a local children’s hospital might include stuffed animals, books, and games they can play with their families.
Easter baskets for homeless shelters might include toothbrushes, hairbrushes, non-perishable foods, and printed games like crosswords, coloring pages, and word searches.
Contact the center you’re going to gift in advance to give them a heads up, and request any items they specifically recommend.
