Low Cost Easter Activities for the Whole Family

An article by Chelle    Comments Off

The Easter holidays have a nasty habit of sneaking up. One minute it’s Christmas, the next the kids are breaking up from school and you’re panicking about how you’re going to entertain them for the long weekend - or worse, the full two week break. If this sounds familiar, take comfort in the fact that you’re not alone. Even so, there’s no need to worry. There are loads of activities you and your family can do together over Easter and the best part is that it needn’t cost an arm and leg. Here’s a few budget ideas to help kick-start the family fun.

Easter Egg Hunt

Feeling creative? Why not turn your garden or local park into a challenging Easter egg hunt? Supermarkets sell buckets of small chocolate eggs ideal for hiding, but you can also buy inexpensive plastic eggs if you’d rather limit the amount of chocolate your kids devour over the holidays. Hide them behind trees or amongst the bushes and see how many the children can find.

If you’d like to join in on the fun, Cadbury have teamed with the National Trust to offer family friendly Easter egg hunts in more than 250 locations across the UK over the Easter holidays, costing just £1 per family. There’s plenty of other Easter based activities going on, too, such as egg and spoon races and face painting.

The True Meaning of Easter

How much do your kids really know about Easter? Easter is a time of new beginnings, of spring lambs and chicks, of chocolate eggs and time off school, but whether you’re a religious family or not, it’s important that kids understand why Easter is celebrated in the UK. If you live in the southeast, why not enjoy a free re-enactment of the crucifixion in London or Brighton. The Passion of Jesus in Trafalgar Square and Passion of Christ at Brighton’s Soul by the Sea festival both play to audiences on Good Friday, and they’re excellent in educating both kids and adults alike as to why this holiday is so important in the Christian calendar.

Leisurely Strolls

Walking is not only a great way for the whole family to spend time together, it’s also an excellent way to keep fit and work off all those Easter eggs! If you’ve got some active kids who are always on the go, sign up for an RSPB guided walk over the Easter break. Walks take place all over the country, and each have a different theme, such as wildlife walks or bird watching. Some of the events are a little costly at up to £5 per person, but there are plenty of free walks too, such as the Saturday Wildlife Walk in Conwy, and the Guided Walk at Washburn Valley in West Yorkshire. You’ll enjoy learning more about your local area and kids will love finding out about the creepy crawlies that live in the trees and bushes.

Sunday Lunch

If you’ve got little ones, you probably know that dining out with kids can be very hit and miss. Sometimes they’re angels, other times they’re monsters, and sometimes you end up paying almost as much for a kid’s meal as you do for an adult’s. However, do a bit of research in advance and your cozy Easter family lunch can go smoothly. The first tip is to find venues that have dedicated kids’ menus with budget prices, such as the Sizzling Pub chain which allows kids to eat for just £1. Secondly, select somewhere with a play area to prevent boredom, such as Brewers Fayre who have Fun Factories for kids and Play Zones for younger ones with ball ponds and toddler friendly activities.

New Life

Easter and spring is a time of new life and new beginnings, and what better way to teach your kids this message than to show them first hand. The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust are hosting a number of events across the country over the Easter holidays that show off the new ducklings, cygnets and reptiles that have just entered the world. These events are held in West Sussex, Caerlaverock, London, Carmarthenshire, Lancashire, Gloucestershire and Tyne & Wear. All events are included in the general admission price. If you’ve got toddlers, the good news is that admission for them is completely free. If your kids are older, consider a family ticket to get the best rates.

What’s Cooking?

Your kids will love helping out in the kitchen over the school holidays… as long as there’s no veggies involved, that is! There are loads of kitchen based activities for families to enjoy over Easter, and there will be lots of full and happy bellies afterwards. Firstly, try decorating your own Easter eggs with your kids. Buy a plain egg from the supermarket, along with some cooking chocolate and cake decorations. Melt the chocolate and drizzle in patterns over the egg, topping with some edible flowers and sparkles.

For something a bit more in depth, try making your own hot cross buns. It may sound difficult, but it’s actually very simple. All you need is a simple bread dough, some dried fruit, and some warming spices such as cardamom and cinnamon. Treats always taste better when they’re homemade, don’t they?

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Chelle McCann