Fun DIY Easter activities your child will love

If you’re trying to keep your child from binging on chocolate this Easter weekend, consider these fun activities to keep your little one’s entertained – without the sugar!

Dip into some yummy chocolate pudding

If your kids love the idea of chocolate pudding for breakfast, or any time of the day, why not whip up a healthier version? Mom of two, and award-winning vegan blogger Angela Liddon from Oh She Glows has a decadent healthy chocolate pudding recipe that’s packed with all the good stuff, yet tastes like the real deal. And the bonus is, it takes minutes to make so no slaving away in the kitchen on Easter.

You’ll need:

• 3 medium bananas, peeled
• ½ medium avocado, pitted
• ¼ cup smooth, raw almond butter
• 4-5 tbsp raw cacao powder, or to taste
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• Pinch of pink Himalayan salt or fine sea salt

Optional toppings:

• ¼ cup hazelnuts or any nuts, toasted and chopped
• Coconut flakes
• Fresh strawberries or banana slices
• Whipped cream (if you’re not vegan)
• A dollop of syrup or honey
• Crushed biscuits

Method:

1. Add all pudding ingredients into a food processor and process until smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
2. Let the machine run for a few minutes to get it super smooth.
3. Portion the pudding into a container and chill in the fridge for an hour or so. Or you can serve it right away with the recommended toppings.
4. Best enjoyed within 12 to 24 hours.

Ditch chocolate eggs and and decorate hard-boiled eggs instead

The ancient Pagan tradition of egg painting is still going strong in many homes today and it’s loads of fun for the whole family. Typically, hard-boiled eggs are dyed red using food colouring and painted with fine paint brushes dipped in various food colouring hues such as blue, yellow and green.

After you’ve boiled and dyed the eggs, let them cool and set up a painting station for your little ones. (Be sure to let them paint in old clothes as food colouring stains). The idea is that once they’re painted and dry, you keep them in an Easter basket and knock the tips against one another just before lunch is served.

Whoever comes out with the strongest egg, the one that didn’t crack, is the winner! The eggs don’t go to waste as the aim is to serve and eat them with lunch.

Organise a fun treasure hunt

There’s no doubt that children of all ages love nothing more than an Easter egg hunt, where they get to go on an adventure and search for hidden treasures. Be creative and tell them that the Easter Bunny has hidden all their favourite treats, but instead of chocolate, think of other items they’ll enjoy.

Why not head down to your local craft shop or plastic store and look for plastic egg cups, then fill them with a few favourite toys such as mini cars or farm animals. When you hide them, be creative and think about placing them in unusual places that will take some time for your kids to find. The more they have to search, the greater the excitement. You could also opt for a scavenger hunt where you hide clues that will lead to one big present. This idea works well for older children who can follow instructions.

Whip up an Easter breakfast or lunch

Easter is always a great opportunity to spend time with friends and family. And again, a traditional family breakfast or lunch doesn’t have to revolve around chocolate. Get your little ones to help you make it a real family affair by making Easter cards to give to family rather than exchanging chocolates or try baking and assembling these cute bunny-tail biscuits for each person’s plate. You could also think about fun Easter games for after lunch, such as “Pin the Tail on the Bunny” or an egg relay race (where you run with an egg on a spoon until you get to the other person who then takes a turn).