As a grandparent or family friend, you know just how joyful it is to spend time with the little ones, watching them grow up and hearing them laugh. There also comes that welcome time when you can relax at the end of the day knowing they’re back home!
During the Easter holidays, your babysitting services might be more in demand than usual, so it pays to have a few tricks up your sleeve to keep the kids entertained…
Need activity inspiration this half-term holidays? Read our list of 5 fun things to do with your grandchildren, come rain or shine, to help you entertain them this Easter!
1. Set up an Easter egg hunt
Everyone loves an Easter egg hunt! This fun activity brings the whole family together and it can be as much fun to set it up as it is to watch the little ones’ excitement when they are actually hunting for the eggs. Follow Saga’s simple guide to ensuring your Easter egg hunt runs smoothly, come rain or shine.
2. Enjoy the great outdoors and embrace nature
Children love exploring nature and spring is the perfect time to get outside if the weather is nice. The possibilities are endless and great for keeping little ones entertained this Easter holiday whether you’re visiting them, or they you, or you’re all going away somewhere together as a family in the UK.
Create educational fun for all ages by hunting for bugs in the back garden, get them engaged spotting spring flowers on a walk in your local woodland or countryside, or even treat them to a visit to a local petting zoo or animal farm to see the new lambs or cuddle up to fluffy bunny rabbits.
3. Bake your own Easter treats
Baking sessions are a fun way to keep your grandchildren entertained, though we can’t promise minimal mess! The BBC Food website has lots of Easter treat recipes to try, like Easter egg nest cakes to make with little ones, or check out this recipe from BBC Good Food magazine for chocolate chip hot cross buns to offer a bit more of a challenge for older kids.
4. Discover hidden talent with mini Shakespeares
When those April showers threaten to cause indoor boredom, why not find inspiration for a play from a dressing up box or some older clothes from the back of your wardrobe. That old dressing gown would make an excellent royal robe alongside your serving spoon as a sceptre!
Let their imaginations run wild re-creating a scene from their favourite book, film or something completely original. And while you watch, you can enjoy a well-earned rest and a cup of tea while they entertain you all afternoon.
5. Get creative with crafty fun
Children love getting creative and arts and crafts provide a range of fun, educational and inexpensive activities that won’t be affected by the weather!
Here are some of our favourites with an Easter theme...
Create a flamboyant Easter bonnet
You can dress up an old hat or baseball cap, or many supermarkets sell inexpensive ones just for this purpose! You can even create a catwalk ‘parade’ in the living room to give the grandchildren a fun chance to show off their creations.
Craft fluffy pom-pom chicks
Creating these cute woollen chicks is really fun and easy, perfect for little kids! For simple guidance on how to make these and over thirty other crafty creations for children of all ages, check out these handy suggestions from netmums.com.
Decorate and paint Easter eggs
Your grandchildren will have hours of fun creating beautiful hard boiled eggs. From painted to marbled, there are lots of decorative effects to try. Check out these suggestions and step-by-step guides from Country Living magazine for creating a masterpiece for your dining table.
Enjoy fantasy drawing or colouring in
Little ones just love an Easter bunny picture to personalise. Check out these free printables and crafts from thebalance.com.
If the unpredictable Great British weather decides to create a mini heat wave this half term, you could even explore our summer holiday activity list too!
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