Easing into a different kind of Easter

Easter will be different this year.

Australia’s response to COVID-19 virus asks us to change the way we do things, including the way we celebrate traditions that have always seemed set in stone. There’ll be no camping holiday, no family catch up, no rambling Easter egg hunts.

But as parents we know that all kids love traditions. Along with Christmas and birthdays, Easter may be one of those important festivals that shape and punctuate our child’s year. We may have special activities that we always do at this time of year that will simply not be possible in 2020.

This Easter we’ve been asked to remain socially isolated, to remain safe within our homes in order to “flatten the curve”. If that confinement has already tested our patience, then Easter may test it even further. So let’s prepare. Let’s embrace the challenge, and work to celebrate in a different way using what we have.

If marking Easter is important to your children, then this week it’s time to let them get creative. Being busy and working on projects together can be a constructive and healthy use of our time, and a good way to distract us from the situation we’re all in. By thinking outside the box we can encourage our kids to make some simple crafts in the days leading up to Easter, so that we can experience the weekend in a new and different way.

Shopping is super tricky at the moment and money may be tight, so the following craft ideas require only very basic materials that you’ll probably be able to lay your hands on without leaving the house. Any extra art materials will be a bonus.

Toilet roll bunnies

These cuties are fun for creative play, and look great with or without an Easter egg poked in the top. A hole punch is perfect for making eyes and I used a newspaper page for mine.

Cotton wool chicks

Just a couple of cotton balls joined with glue or a loop of tape is the basis these little sweeties.

Simple dyed eggs

Use hard-boiled eggs for this - they’re robust and you can eat them afterwards! White shells are best if you have them. Oil pastels are better for making marks on their shells than crayons, but use what you have on hand. If you have neither use the rubber band method.

Easter cards

If you managed to rustle up a pastel or crayon for the dyed eggs, and before you tip out that leftover food colouring, let the kids re-use it to make some pretty card designs. They can draw onto paper with the pastel or crayon, then brush over their marks with the diluted food dye. Once dry, cut the page into egg shapes for them to glue them onto blank paper for some pretty Easter cards to let absent loved ones know you care.

These are challenging days. Use whatever means you have available to stay connected to others if that helps. As strange and unnerving as these times seem, remember that we really are all in this together. x