It’s almost April 9, which means it’s time to get out the Peeps and hide those plastic eggs. That’s right folks, Easter is just around the corner.
Easter is one of the most celebrated holidays around the world. For many people, it’s one of the year’s most important religious holidays. For others, Easter is an excuse to get together with family, paint Easter eggs, and chow down on bunny-shaped chocolate.
No matter how you celebrate Easter, it can be stressful finding ways to make the holiday fun for kids—but it doesn’t have to be!
Without further ado, here are ten of the best Easter activities for toddlers and teens that are guaranteed to make this holiday one for the books.
1. Paint Easter Eggs
No list of family Easter activities would be complete without a little egg painting. Our list is certainly no exception!
Painting eggs is one of the most traditional ways to celebrate Easter. Historians can trace the custom all the way back to Mesopotamia before the year 400, when ancient Christians would dye eggs red in memory of Jesus Christ. This tradition was eventually adopted by Christian groups in Europe and Asia. As time progressed, dying eggs became a worldwide symbol for Easter, whether practitioners were religious or not.
The history of Easter eggs might be complicated, but learning how to make them is anything but. Here are some simple instructions on how to paint your Easter eggs:
- Hard boil your chosen amount of eggs.
- Fill a container with half a cup of water, one teaspoon of white vinegar, and a few drops of food coloring. If you want to dye your eggs more than one color, you’ll need to make a separate bowl for each shade.
- Let the eggs soak in the dye for about five minutes. Make sure to submerge only the part that you want to color!
- Remove the eggs and let them dry.
There you have it! Dyeing Easter eggs is easy, fun, and sure to get the whole family excited about the holiday.
2. Decorate Easter Baskets
The egg fun doesn’t stop with painting Easter eggs—kids have to find them, too! Before they can set out for an Easter egg hunt, however, they need something to put their eggs in. That’s where decorating Easter baskets comes in.
Decorating Easter baskets is a great way to help your children express their creativity while creating something they’ll actually use. All you need to provide is a basket, bag, or bucket and some craft supplies such as ribbons, paints, and stickers. Your kids’ creativity will do the rest!
3. Go on an Easter Egg Hunt
Now that your kids have decorated their own personal Easter baskets, it’s time to put them to use and hunt for some eggs!
Easter egg hunts are a classic part of the holiday because they’re fun for everyone involved. Kids will enjoy hunting for the eggs and devouring whatever candy is inside, while parents are sure to get a few laughs out of watching their kids search.
To get the egg hunt started, purchase some hollow plastic eggs and fill them with the items of your choice. Candy is the traditional option, but don’t hesitate to mix it up. For example, if your family is feeling especially healthy, fill the eggs with dried fruit or trail mix! Once you’ve picked the prizes, take some time to hide them around the yard, house, park, basement, or wherever you’ve decided to host the hunt. Finally, set your kids free to hunt!
4. Design an Easter Treasure Hunt
Sick and tired of the ol’ Easter egg hunt? Try mixing it up this year by holding an Easter treasure hunt instead! Organizing a scavenger hunt is a great way to help kids celebrate the holiday while simultaneously encouraging them to think outside the box and work together to achieve a common goal.
The most important part of any treasure hunt is the clues. Take some time to come up with a few fun clues or riddles that will lead your kids to various places around the house. As they follow the clues, they’ll eventually reach some sort of prize. (Perhaps an Easter basket full of treats?)
Begin by giving them the first clue, then stand back to watch the hunt in action. Give them space to figure out the clues on their own. If they get stumped, however, don’t hesitate to give an extra hint or two.
Coming up with clues can be difficult. If you don’t have time to come up with your own, a quick Google search can provide you with all sorts of ideas. After all, you can find anything on the Internet.
5. Make a Handprint Chick
If you’re on the hunt for a fun easter activity for toddler-aged kids, look no further than a good craft. Chicks are a pretty vital symbol of Easter celebrations, so making a chick-related craft is a perfect way to get in touch with the holiday!
It’s simple for kids to make a chick using cardstock and their handprint. To begin, show your child how to trace their hand on a yellow piece of cardstock. Then, help them cut it out using a pair of safety scissors (and their fine motor skills). Next, they need to cut out some feet and glue them to the bottom. Paste on a pair of googly eyes, draw a beak, then let your child run wild with the decorations. In no time at all you’ll have the perfect Easter chick to hang on the fridge.
Looking for something a bit more involved? Check out this article from ArtsyCraftsyMom for more great chick craft ideas!
6. Build a Paper Bag Bunny
Chicks aren’t the only animals related to Easter. Help your kids give the Easter Bunny a little love this holiday by completing a bunny craft!
One of my favorite Easter crafts involves making a bunny puppet out of a paper bag. All you need to complete this craft are markers, paper, glue, scissors, and a paper bag (preferably white, but brown bags will do). The bottom of the bag will be the bunny’s face, so go ahead and let your child design their rabbit’s mug with some markers. Then, cut some bunny ears out of the separate piece of paper and glue them behind the rabbit’s head. Let your child decorate it however they see fit, then show them how they can use their bunny like a little puppet!
Is one bunny craft not enough? Give this other article from ArtsyCraftsyMom a read for some more bunny craft ideas!
7. Hold an Egg Roll Race
Every Easter, the White House holds an egg roll race for kids and their parents. The tradition was established in 1814, and doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. So, why not tap into the season’s fun and hold your own at-home Easter egg roll?
When it comes to supplies, you’ll need a whistle, sticks, thread, and enough hard-boiled eggs and wooden spoons for each participant. Here are the rules:
- Begin by marking out the racecourse with thread that’s wrapped around sticks.
- Give each participant a hard-boiled egg and spoon.
- Ask each participant to find a position at the starting line.
- Tell the players to place their egg right in front of their feet.
- Countdown and let the race begin!
- Each player must now roll their egg to the finish line using only the wooden spoon.
- The player whose egg crosses the finish line first wins!
To make the event extra festive, help your kids color the eggs before they begin racing!
8. Play Pin the Tail on the Bunny
Pin the Tail on the Donkey is a party classic. Go ahead and give it an Easter-themed update by playing a few rousing rounds of Pin the Tail on the Bunny!
To get the game set up, you’ll need to hang artwork of a bunny on a wall. Print out a bunny picture or get the kids involved and turn it into an art project! No matter how you decide to create your supplies, just make sure that the bunny has no tail.
Once your bunny is hanging, gather a bunch of cotton balls and place a small bubble of tape on each one. To take the creativity a step further, you could also have participants create their own bunny tails out of construction paper and craft supplies!
Once you’ve organized everything, it’s time to play the game. Here are the rules:
- Begin by blindfolding the first player.
- Spin the blindfolded player around in a circle.
- Direct them towards the bunny and set them free.
- The player has to do their best to pin the tail as closely as possible to where the actual tail would be.
- Take turns until everyone has given it one attempt.
- Whichever tail is closest to the correct spot wins!
9. Host an Easter Coloring Party
Holidays like Easter can get loud and exhausting. If you’re in need of a few minutes of peace and quiet this holiday, treat your kids to a coloring page party.
Coloring pages are fairly easy to find online. Do some searching and print out a few of the best Easter-themed examples, then break out the art supplies and let your child’s creativity run wild.
Coloring is more than just fun—there are actually a ton of benefits to encouraging your child’s coloring. According to Scholastic, coloring and drawing help kids practice their fine motor skills, refine their focus, and explore their creative side. All these benefits, coupled with the bit of peace and quiet you’ll receive, make a coloring party sound like a pretty good Easter activity for toddlers and teens to me.
10. Make Easter Cards for Family and Friends
For many people, Easter is a holiday that’s all about family. Let your family know that you’re thinking about them this year by helping your kids make handmade greeting cards.
Everyone loves getting cards, and your kids will love creating and personalizing the card for each recipient. This craft is pretty simple, too! All you need is some paper, an envelope, and a whole bunch of miscellaneous craft supplies. Show your kids how to fold the paper into a card-like shape, then give them free reign over the design and message. Just be prepared to step in and help with spelling!
If you’re mailing the cards, show your child how to address the envelope and place the stamp. Once all the cards are done, you can take the family on a little field trip to the post office!
This Easter, Focus on Family—Not Stress
Holidays can be pretty stressful, but this Easter doesn’t have to be. With these ten Easter activities for toddlers and teens, it’s easy to help your kids celebrate the season, fill the home with laughter, and make some amazing family memories along the way.
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