By EK Wills
I don't practice a particular religion but I have a strong sense of family, which I tend to feed especially in holiday periods: Easter is no exception.
As our nuclear family grows, we’ve developed a few ways to join with our various extended families, including other communities such as friends, schools and colleagues.
Below is a list of child friendly activities we enjoy at Easter time.
Perhaps you have done one or some of these or can add them to your activities at Easter.
1. Easter Hunt Variations
a. Carrot Tops
It’s easy to set up a regular hunt but one with homemade components will delight participants when you create paper carrots filled with mini eggs.
b. Hard Boiled
If you have lactose intolerant kids which make them allergic to chocolate or even if you’d rather not add to the deluge of chocolate kids get from … everywhere…. Then try making your own with dyed shells.
2. Easter Parades and Egg-ventions
Most primary schools have Easter Hat Parades for the infants and some have Egg-vention Competitions for the bigger kids.
These are an opportunity for parents to do some DIY crafting with their children. There are many items that can be purchased cheaply from dollar shops to glue together or start from scratch to make your own invention.
We have had an ‘egg-spend-sive shop’, ‘Egg-punzel’ and ‘Eggie Chan’ as well as an ‘eggle bath’ and the ‘Eggs Factor’ show developed by our kids.
3. Easter Show or local school fair
Our primary school fair happens to coincide with Easter and it has lots of rides, an animal petting zoo, performances from many of the children as well as from the community. The parents join in the baking competition and volunteer their time to raise funds for the school and the kids get to have a day of fun that helps their school.
If your school doesn't have this, then there is always The Royal Easter Show where you can bustle with crowds, spend a lot of money on show bags (that used to be free once upon a time) or you could try to convince city kids to visit the smelly animals.
Having said that, we have been to the show to see a family member perform at one of the pavilions that was well worth it!
4. RSL or bowling day out
If you would like a more relaxed approach to Easter that you can attend without too much preparation or traffic concern, consider your local club.
Local communities have Easter specials from bands playing to sausage sizzles with the ubiquitous egg hunt. Sometimes the Easter bunny will make an appearance to hand out the chocolate and have a photo opportunity, too.
5. Holiday Getaway
But if it really is all too much, then you can venture out to broader pastures by taking the family camping or tuck yourselves away in an AirBnB trip with friends.
We have been to Cockatoo Island with friends for camping over a couple of Easter breaks now. The bonus is the biennale that can have sculpture displays as well as the tunnels to play in and a handy bar on the island if you need some respite.
We have also enjoyed an Easter trip to the south coast around Jervis Bay by renting a place on Air BnB. The weather is usually still nice and a beach trip is not out of the question.
The Bluesfest at Byron Bay is another option for the brave who like to spend time in mud (because it seems to always rain there at this time of year) and to camp for a few days to listen to a variety of music. That is on our agenda for one year to come.
Whatever you do, I hope you enjoy good times whether with family, friends or on your own! And if religion plays a part in your celebration then that provides another opportunity to educate your children to our varied and rich culture.
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