Looking for some Easter traditions you could start for your family, or activities to do with your children? Here you are, just in time!
(These are mainly aimed at small children, and people who like simple, easy-to-execute, inexpensive fun. Because that’s what I know!)
If you’re curious about why “Take your kids to meet the Easter bunny” isn’t on this list, you’ve got some more reading to do!
Photo Ideas (If your kids are game!)
- Bunny ears headband.
- Newborn sleeping in a large Easter basket
- Children surrounded by plastic Easter eggs
- Oversized Easter stuffed animals or other oversized seasonal props
- Kids hunting for eggs outside
- Kids holding or sniffing flowers
Cooking & Baking
- Rice Krispie bars, cut into seasonal shapes. Maybe even break out the seasonal sprinkles.
- Meringues. These are actually traditional – the empty air pocket inside is reminiscent of Christ’s empty tomb. (My husband makes them from his grandmother’s recipe every year. Since they sit in the oven overnight, he makes them Saturday evening and they’re “empty” Easter Sunday morning!)
- Toss some pretzel sticks in some melted chocolate and make little nests (to put candy eggs or jellybeans in.)
Outings
- Egg hunt! Most communities have one, many put on by parks departments or local churches. If you don’t have one, gather the neighbor kids or cousins and have your own! (Simply, of course… toss some candy in some plastic eggs. Send a teen to scatter them around the yard. BYOB (Bring Your Own Basket). Done!)
- Flower hunt. Check out a local botanical garden, park with flower beds, or your own yard for the first blooms of the season. (This is great for pictures, too!)
- Easter Vigil random acts of kindness. (The Saturday between Good Friday and Easter Sunday is sometimes called Easter Vigil.) Leaving a cut flower under the windshield wipers of some cars, leaving some treats on a neighbor’s doorstep, tagging a friend’s sidewalk with an Easter greeting. It’s warm in the evenings, and what a lovely surprise to add to the beauty of Easter morning.
- Animal petting. Some communities run a petting zoo, or an exhibition of prize-winning rabbits and ducks, or a baby animals meet ‘n’ greet. Or, again, find a friend who farms or raises small animals and take your kids to pet them. (More cute photo ops here!)
Old fashioned traditions
Don’t forget about the traditions of the past generations – perhaps a new dressy outfit for Easter. Reading Peter Rabbit or another spring/rabbit book together. (I’m a big proponent of reading to/with children!) A specific special treat in the hidden Easter basket. (My grandparents always gave us fancy decorated fudgy eggs from the local bakery! Yum!) Religious services during the week. Gathering with family for a special brunch on Easter morning.
These things have a longer impact (even the clothes – you can wear those for birthdays and church and weddings all summer!) and some deeper meaning than a stuffed rabbit. They are about relationships, family culture, neighborhood friendships, a sense of wonder and anticipation to the most important holiday of the year. And are possibly much more enjoyable and low stress than waiting in a line with a child who might just scream for a photo with a stranger.
Whatever you do in your home – have a blessed Holy Week preparation. Love on your kiddos. Impress upon them the eternal importance of what we’re celebrating. How that looks in practice is up to you.
If you have simple Easter traditions of your own, feel free to leave them in the comments! I’m sure there are great ideas I didn’t think of.