Since most of us are currently staying indoors, this Easter holiday period is going to look very different for a lot of families, especially when some of the services and activities we’d normally rely on aren’t available.
On the plus side, we now have ample opportunity to spend some much-needed quality time with our kids when often this can be hard to come by. But, with the long hours stretching into days, you may find yourself running out of ideas on how to keep the little ones, and big ones, entertained these Easter holidays.
If you find yourself at a loss for activities over the coming weeks, don’t worry. We’ve done the thinking for you so all you need to do is enjoy the time with your children!
Cooking
Having time at home with the kids can provide us with a great opportunity to pass on some important life skills including baking and cooking. Dedicate some time out of your work-from-home days with your children to create some of their favourite recipes. You can teach them how to make these recipes themselves in the process. This also provides a great opportunity for kids to understand more about health and nutrition.
As a bonus, consider taking some time to create a family cookbook. Let the kids choose their favourite recipes before baking them together and be sure to take some photographs for posterity. At the end of the holidays, you can collate everything in one place and create a keepsake for your kids to use for years to come.
Lego
Ever the popular pastime, Lego remains a big hit for kids young and old. It’s a great rainy-day activity, and one that will keep them entertained for hours inside. Consider setting your kids the task of creating something big over the course of their holidays.
Start them off small and see how long it takes them to build a city, or replicate your suburb, depending on how many Lego blocks you have at your disposal.
For something a little more complex, or for the older kids at home, set them up with some PVA glue and matchsticks/paddle pop sticks and see what they can construct in their spare time. For the kids with a competitive streak, give them some time limits to create something grandiose like a boat, a building, or a famous monument, and let them compete for the top prize. Perhaps the winner gets to choose the next family holiday destination; you might even head off to see their winning monument.
Crafts
Easter is a great time for crafts. For example, get your kids to hold their own Easter hat parade in the living room or decorate their own Easter eggs with food dye and paintbrushes.
If they can’t see extended family over the holidays, they can still keep in touch. Set some time aside for an afternoon of scrapbooking and help the kids make up some cards to send to their grandparents, or even to members of the community in the local nursing home (once you’ve called ahead first).
Home cinema
No matter what ages your kids are, they can usually still be entertained with a movie or two on the long days inside. If you want to take this to the next level, set aside some time for crafting and create the perfect at-home indoor or outdoor cinema for them.
There are many how-to guides out there that will help you create a shoebox projector for your smartphone to give the kids a big screen experience in the comfort of your own home. With the help of a blank wall and some strategically placed cushions and blankets, you can set them up for the perfect cinema-going experience, all without leaving the house. They can even make their own movie snacks from the family cookbook.
Easter egg hunt
A key feature of the Easter holidays is, of course, the much-anticipated Easter egg hunt. If you have some extra time on your hands, why not take this to the next level and set up a scavenger hunt for the kids around the house? Leave them some clues from the Easter Bunny and watch them work together to find those precious chocolate eggs you’ve hidden in every corner of the living room.
Reading
Just because the kids aren’t at school doesn’t mean they shouldn’t still be reading books. Reading for pleasure is perfect as an individual activity or together. Consider making a reading list with your kids and then reading together during the holidays. Older kids may want to read on their own; this can be a great opportunity to introduce them to books you loved when you were their age. When they’ve finished the book, you can discuss it over lunch or dinner. It’s a great way to get them reading and thinking, and to remind them that you were young once, too!
Storytelling
Get your kids to write and perform a play for you, preferably with roles for everyone in the family. Whether you perform the play for grandparents and friends or use your smartphone to turn it into a short film, this can be a great way to get everyone in the family working together.
Photography
Today’s smartphones have exceptional photography capabilities. Why not task your kids with a photography competition. See who can capture the best and most interesting photos of nature, the family pets, everyday objects, or even each other.
If you’re looking for more activities at the end of a long period inside together, consider collecting the photographs of all the activities you’ve done over the holidays and plan a craft day creating a memento for the whole family to enjoy.
It can be a great end-of-holiday treat to sit down together and create a family album or scrapbook of the Easter holidays. You can strengthen your bonds with your kids, spend time together as a family, and even keep them entertained with some glue and glitter for a while as you enjoy a well-deserved break.
