Most of us will be celebrating Easter while social distancing at home this year. If you are at home with little ones we have a few suggestions on how to make the holiday at home feel just as special as it would with extended family or friends!
Easter Baskets
First off, why not let your little ones help make the Easter baskets. And, do they need to be baskets? Have your kids find a container that suits them, and instead of going out to buy Easter grass make your own! This can be a great way for school aged kids to hone their fine motor skills with safety scissors. Little ones who who aren’t scissor-ready can rip up grocery bags, craft paper, or whatever you have around. These Easter “baskets” may not look picture perfect, but your kids will feel accomplished in their creative efforts at making them. You can always spruce up the baskets with a few treats of your own on Easter morning.
With the grass done, they can make special cards or presents to put in siblings’ baskets, or to mail to family and friends you would normally see on Easter!
If they get tired of card marking and letter writing, how about a few decorations? Cut out a simple egg shape in paper and have them decorate their own Easter eggs to place around the house, or tape to some string for a festive banner.
Easter Treats
Sure, you could go out for bags of Easter candy, but making your own Easter treats is a fun way to kill some time with stir crazy kids. Below are two of our favorite recipes from The Berenstain Bears’ Holiday Cookbook. These are great for Easter morning or just a yummy snack.
Easter Eggs & Egg Hunt
Decorating Easter eggs is already an at-home activity, but did you know you don’t even need an egg dying kit? You can use tools that you probably already have in your pantry.
Mix 1/2 cup boiling water, 1 teaspoon vinegar and 10 to 20 drops food color in a cup to achieve desired colors. Repeat for each color. Dip hard-boiled eggs in dye for about 5 minutes. Use a slotted spoon, wire egg holder or tongs to add and remove eggs from dye. Dry eggs and then place back in the fridge until you are ready to hide them for your Easter egg hunt!
Since the eggs are hard boiled we recommend hiding them right before your egg hunt, so they are not out for long. For talented hiders you may also want to keep a list of where you hid them to avoid a forgotten (and later rotten) egg. Since all of the dye ingredients are edible, you can even use your eggs later (if they are not kept out for too long) for deviled eggs, egg salad, or just to keep on hand in the fridge for easy breakfasts.
Church
If you normally go to church on Easter morning you can make your own at-home service. You may belong to a church that has live stream capabilities, but if not, pick out a few of your and your kids’ favorite parts of your church’s Easter Service. This can include songs, prayers, and a sermon can be whatever will hold your little one’s attention. Our book , The Berenstain Bears and The Very First Easter tells the Easter story in a way that is easier for children to understand. We may be biased but we think it could be a great addition to your at-home service!
Count your Blessings
If you don’t attend church or are not particularly religious, Easter is still a great time to take stock of your blessings and what you are thankful for. After the egg hunt, during breakfast, or over video chat, take a moment to share with your family and friends what you are grateful for this Easter. In the Berenstain Bears Easter Blessings Papa Bear shares his thoughts and we think they are especially timely:
“We are blessed by many folks here in Bear Country. Farmer Ben grows the food we eat. Police bears and firefighters keep us safe. Doctors, nurses, and other workers take care of us when we are sick or hurt.”
We hope you are all staying safe and healthy during this uncertain time, and we hope you have a wonderful Easter, whatever it looks like!
