A Dozen Memory Makers to Add to Your Easter Celebration

By Pam Molnar

Easter reminds us of renewed life, new beginnings and the feeling of spring in the air. It is no wonder that our commercialized celebration of the holiday includes bunnies, baskets, eggs and all things spring. This year, mix in some kid friendly fun with your traditional celebration and create memories that will last a life time.

DO SOMETHING AS A FAMILY

Explain the Easter story to the kids by making Resurrection Rolls. You will need refrigerated crescent rolls, marshmallows, cinnamon, sugar and melted butter. Dip marshmallows in melted butter and then roll in cinnamon and sugar. Wrap up in the refrigerated crescent rolls. Bake per package instructions.

Watch Easter shows like “It’s the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown”, “Hop”, “Here Comes Peter Cottontail” or “Veggie Tales – An Easter Carol”. For older kids you may want to also include “Easter Parade” or “The Greatest Story Ever Told”.

Plant jelly beans with your child in the garden or flower beds. When they are asleep, the jelly beans will sprout into lollipops (with a little help from Mom and Dad).

Story of the Resurrection Rolls
The marshmallow represents Jesus–white and pure. Dipping the marshmallow in the butter represents the embalming oils used after his death. The sugar and cinnamon are symbols of the spices that prepared the body for burial. The marshmallow is then wrapped tightly in the crescent roll which represents the burial cloths. The body is placed in the tomb (oven) per package directions and that represents the night passing. When the resurrection rolls are finished cooking (meaning it is the next morning), unwrap the cloth (crescent roll) and you will see that the body (marshmallow) is gone. This is a great way to tell the story so that children can understand and they have a yummy treat to go along with it.

BE CHARITABLE

Make boo-boo bunnies for a local children’s hospital or woman’s shelter. You will need a washcloth, rubber band and a plastic ice cube (found on Amazon, Bed Bath and Beyond or the Dollar Store). For directions, see above.

Create mini Easter baskets to hand out at the senior centers. Use baskets from the Dollar Store and fill with hard candy, hand lotions, a magnifying glass, slipper socks or a large type deck of cards.

Make Easter s’mores in a jar to pass out to neighbors and friends. You will need one pint jar with lid, 1 sleeve of crushed graham crackers, 1 ¼ cups of M & M candies, 1/3 cup of brown sugar and 8 bunny peeps. Arrange dry ingredients in the jar and place bunny peeps around the jar facing out. Cover with lid or fabric and attach gift tag (see below) for instructions.

How To Make Boo Boo Bunnies
Supplies:
• Wash Cloth
• Rubber Band
• Plastic Ice Cube
• Decorations–markers, pink pom pom (for nose), googly eyes, ribbon, white cotton ball for tail.

Lay the wash cloth flat on the table. Starting at one corner, roll the wash cloth up to the other end. Fold the cloth in half long ways (to form the hole for the ice) and then fold in half again to form the head. Place the rubber band around the second fold to form a head and bring the ends up to form the ears. Define the head more by wrapping a ribbon around the ears and making a bow. Create a face with markers or by hot gluing goggly eyes and pom pom for nose. Add the tail on the back of the bunny and insert the plastic ice cube.

Gift Tag for Easter S’Mores
Remove bunny peeps from the jar and cut in small pieces using a scissors. Mix bunny pieces and dry ingredients from the jar into a large bowl. Add ½ cup of melted butter and a teaspoon of vanilla extract. Press mixture into a greased 8” square pan and cook for 15 minutes at 350 degrees. Cool and cut into bars. Enjoy!

FUN WITH EGGS

Make Cascarones (Confetti Eggs). Hollow out raw eggs by making a small whole one end and letting the egg drain out into a bowl. When the eggs are empty, rinse the inside and let them dry overnight. In the morning, fill with glitter or confetti using a small funnel. Place glue around the hole on the egg and decorate the egg with colored tissue paper. Take the eggs to the yard and try to smash them on the heads of friends and family, which signifies good luck.

Create your own egg heads. Crack and remove the top part of an egg, leaving at least 2/3 of the shell in tack. Rinse the eggs and let dry. With markers, make silly faces on the egg shells. Fill the eggs almost to the top with soil and grass seed. Place the eggs in an egg carton and keep it in a sunny spot. Water as needed and watch the grass grow to look like green hair. Cut or style as needed.

Make yarn eggs using water balloons. As you are blowing up balloons with air, insert small toys, candy or dollar bills into the balloon. Tie up as usual. Drop colorful yarn strands in glue and use fingers to wipe off excess. Wrap around the balloons crossing back and forth to make a little cage. When the yarn dries, pop the balloon and the prize remains inside the egg shaped yarn.

New twists on the traditional Easter Egg Hunt
1. Add glow sticks or bracelets to create a glow-in-the-dark egg hunt.

2. Place a puzzle piece inside each egg and after the hunt, put the puzzle together.

3. Fill each egg with a number and have a corresponding prize waiting to match up with the eggs.

4. Add a silly request to each egg to be performed by the person who found the egg. For example, “Do the chicken dance” or “Do jumping jacks while reciting the ABC’s”.

5. Number each egg and have the kids find them in numerical order. Write the Easter story in short paragraphs and place them in order in the eggs. Read the story as each egg is found.

6. Choose one color egg for each person and they can only find their color. This allows the eggs to be filled with age appropriate or allergy free items for each child.

FIND THOSE EASTER BASKETS

Show the kids evidence of the Easter Bunny’s visit by making a jelly bean trail from your child’s bedroom door to their Easter Baskets. If you have pets, be sure to have them sleep with you that night to keep them from eating your trail.

Hunt for Easter Baskets by leaving clues. Start with a note on their bedroom door leading them to different clue spots around the house and let them find the Easter basket in a crazy place like inside the dryer or tucked behind the couch.

Attach a piece of different colored yarn around each child’s door knob. Take the string down the hall and through the house wrapping it around chairs, inside closets and under couches to lead them to their Easter basket that is hidden somewhere in the house.

Send Us Your Photos!
Help us celebrate the Spring season by sending in a spring or Easter photo of your child. Snap a picture during the big Easter Egg Hunt, visiting the Easter Bunny, showing off their decorated eggs, or just outside enjoying Spring! Send your photo to ccparent@ccparent.com with “Spring” as the subject line. Include your child’s name, age, and city. Deadline for submitting your photo is April 21st, 2017.

You could see your child featured on our Instagram!

Easter Bunny Locations

• Fashion Fair Mall, Fresno: Visit the Easter Bunny for photos and a free gift through April 15 in Center Court! Reservations available but not required. Monday-Thursday 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday-Saturday 10 a.m.-9 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Starting at $28. 645 E. Shaw Avenue. 224-1592

• Sierra Vista Mall, Clovis: Snap a photo with the Easter Bunny though April 15 in Center Court! Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-8 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Children with special needs and their families can take photos with the Easter Bunny in a sensory friendly environment on April 2nd from 9-11 a.m. Starting at $25. 1050 Shaw Avenue. 299-0660

A Dozen Memory Makers to Add to Your Easter Celebration

A Dozen Memory Makers to Add to Your Easter Celebration

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