There was a time when I thought community Easter Egg hunts were the best thing about Easter for little kids. What could be better than an entire field of colored eggs--ripe for the picking? Well, my opinion changed right after they rang the bell to start the first hunt.
The smiling, excited children quickly transformed into one of two things: Crazed bullies elbowing smaller children out of the way, or tear-streaked, runny nosed wrecks with nearly empty baskets. Now where is the fun in that? I decided it was time to create some new -- meaningful Easter traditions for my family.
Last year, my friend Nancy created a fantastic printable for the ladies at church. She titled it: A Daily Walk with Jesus. She created a plan to teach children all about the last week of Jesus Christ's life. She even included different ideas for toddlers, young kids and teens! Guess what? She said I could share it with you!
I spruced it up a little bit by adding links to each of the scripture passages, videos and images she referenced. I hope you like it! If you click the download image below, the pdf image will open in a new web page so that you can print or save it to your computer. (The Easter Story Resurrection Eggs activity I shared earlier this week, came from this printable.)
This year, I'd like to add even more new traditions. My favorite place for Easter ideas is the Friend magazine. Check out the ideas I've found so far!
Meaningful Easter Activities
Easter Lily Bouquet and Bird Nest Snacks -- Easter Lily craft and recipe for a snack that looks like a bird's nest
Seven Days Till Easter -- Activities to learn something new about Jesus' life every day for the week before Easter
Bunny Buns -- Recipe and directions for bunny-shaped rolls
Picturing Easter -- An Easter countdown puzzle
Make Your Own Easter Kite -- A traditional Bermuda Easter activity
Loving Scripture Sheep and Honeycomb Candy -- Make a sheep craft and honeycomb candy recipe
Easter and Signs of Spring Story to Color
Easter Footsteps -- Follow the footsteps to find out what Jesus did during the last week of his life
Easter Kitchen Crafts -- A collection of recipes and crafts for Easter
I'd love to hear if you try any of these activities! Lu really wants to make the sheep craft, and I'd love to figure out how to make the Bunny Buns gluten free!
Be sure to follow my Easter and Spring Ideas Pinterest Board for more great ideas!
Thanks for stopping by. I hope you'll stick around and browse! (Images below are linked.)
[email protected] Dairy on the Prairie
Thanks for the great ideas! I'm always at a loss of what to do for Easter even though I know I want it to be spiritual and meaningful!
Heidi Fowler
Me, too, Amy. I really like the Bible videos that are linked in the printable. They really help the kids visualize what it's all about.
Joyce
Your collection of ideas is lovely. I had to smile at your thoughts on egg hunts. I remember also agreeing with you on traditional piñatas......more bullies and tears! Our parents once took me and my sisters to an egg hunt at the zoo and I will never forget trying to climb a hill that was covered in mud. We turned around and went home and that was the end of egg hunts for the family to this day!
I will investigate the spiritual activities you've featured. It is far too easy to overlook them in the pursuit of fun, yet tasteful ideas are not readily seen. Thank you!
[email protected]
Thanks so much, Joyce! We still do egg hunts, but just small, family ones. My method doesn't exactly teach kids much about dealing with disappointment, but here's what I do: I fill up one color of egg for each kid in the hunt. Then I tell each kid which color to hunt for. My gluten-free kiddo gets only gluten-free candy (which is the most important part), and everyone comes out happy. I hide the teenager's eggs in the hardest spots to find. It works for us.
Katy Blevins
What a great list of activities! I am always looking for ways to connect activities with faith as I work to try to find the best way to introduce my children to the love of Jesus.
Heidi Fowler
I hope this helps, Katy. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment.
[email protected]
Thanks, Katy! I hope some of these ideas work for you and your family!
Camille
Great idea to use the placemats to make pillows- they are really cute. Found you via the hdydi link up.
Heidi Fowler
Thanks, Camille. The pillows were soooo easy!
Katelyn F
Thanks for sharing! I really need some good Christ-centered activities for my kids.
Heidi Fowler
I hope these help, Katelyn. Thanks for stopping by! I hope you'll be back again.
Jenna @ A Savory Feast
These are great, Heidi! I have been looking for some meaningful activities to do with the two-year-old I nanny. We have done Easter egg activities of course, but I have been looking for ways to teach her about the true meaning of Easter! Thanks for sharing with Hump Day Happenings.
Heidi Fowler
Thanks! I hope you found some ideas you like, Jenna.
Megan Walker
Awww, these activities are amazing! I remember my parents used to give my younger sister a head start on the egg hunt, which I thought was unfair at the time. But looking back, I see it was the only fair thing to do!
Heidi Fowler
It's amazing how different things looks now as adults, don't you think? (It doesn't make it any easier to be a kid, though!)
Jenjo Games
These are some really interesting activities and would help kids learn a lot too. Thanks for sharing these ideas with us, it's informative and useful.