Are you looking for Easter traditions you can start with your little ones? If you want to keep it simple this year and pick a few special moments to have with your baby or toddler during Easter, look no further!
I might be getting ahead of myself, but Easter is really around the corner!
Here on Long Island, the early spring usually still feels like winter. Easter is like the unofficial start to spring and always brings up warm feelings of rebirth.
Growing up, we had a few different Easter traditions. One that I loved and that I will be passing along to my children was the way my parents the Easter Bunny hid our baskets. They He would hide them in different places around the house. If one of us came across our siblings basket, we would keep quiet and keep it moving.
It was of course followed by a puzzling egg hunt, but it was the hiding of the baskets I remember vividly!
Easter is the season of renewal, rebirth, and coming together to give gratitude for the lives we lead today. Whether you take a more religious approach, or use it as an secular unofficial start of spring, Easter can be a special time with your family.
When is Easter 2022?
Easter will be on Sunday, April 22nd this year. Let’s all hope for a warm sunny day!
Easter is always on a Sunday and changes year to year.
Here is an explanation from the Osprey Observer (click for link):
“Because the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ happened after Passover, they wanted Easter to always be celebrated following Passover. Because the Jewish holiday calendar is based on solar and lunar cycles, each feast day is movable, with dates shifting from year to year.”
What is Easter all about?
According to the BBC (click for link):
“On Good Friday, Jesus Christ was executed by crucifixion. His body was taken down from the cross, and buried in a cave.
The tomb was guarded and an enormous stone was put over the entrance, so that no-one could steal the body.
On the following Sunday, some women visited the grave and found that the stone had been moved, and that the tomb was empty.
Jesus himself was seen that day, and for days afterwards by many people. His followers realised that God had raised Jesus from the dead.”
Does your baby or toddler need an Easter basket?
Technically, no. Your child does not need an Easter basket. However, it’s a great way to wrap up things you already need for your little one and wrap them up in a basket for them to inspect! Even if it’s just a new sippy cup, a few books and clothes that they will grow into, your little one will be overjoyed to have something to open. Keep reading to see what we put in our one-year-old’s first Easter basket.
Can babies and toddlers have Easter candy?
Candy is not appropriate for babies and toddlers. While I’m impartial to the occasional bite of ice cream or pie for my toddler, candy isn’t appropriate. Stick to other “bunny food” like cooked carrots and broccoli or eggs (obviously).
Easter traditions to start with your baby or toddler:
Here are some easy and fun ways to celebrate the Easter season with your little one!
Take a family walk
I think taking a family walk is an excellent tradition for any holiday. It’s a great way to get some fresh air and make room for dessert! A walk also lets your little one get their energy out, if they’re walking yet.
Easter basket
Easter baskets are fun for us because Baby M’s birthday is right next to Christmas, so a lot of her gifts end up being winter themed. Having an opportunity to get her some new clothes and books in the spring is a welcome treat! We filled our basket last year with swimsuits, bunny books, sunglasses, and a stuffed duck! They were things we would buy for her anyways, so it was cute to see it all in a basket ready for her to inspect.
Paint eggs
This one is a classic! It might be harder to do with extra tiny babies, but painting eggs can bring joy to any age! For an easy clean up, put your little one in an empty bathtub with the paint and the eggs- you won’t have to worry about mess. Remember to always use non-toxic, kid-friendly paint, especially during the “put everything in my mouth” phase.
Easter egg hunt
This does not have to be a complex, all-out Easter egg hunt. “Hiding” colored eggs in plain sight for you to point out to your baby definitely counts. As they get older, opening and closing plastic Easter eggs is an egg-cellent fine motor building game!
Make an Easter craft
A quick search on Pinterest will reveal hundreds or Easter crafts for all stages of development. I love using pastel paints for handprints and footprints in the springtime. Basically, anything that you can do with your kids together is a tradition they will treasure even into adulthood.
Plant a tree or flowers
I love, love, love this idea. Here on Long Island, it would depend on how early or late the holiday lands and if the ground is frozen. Sprucing up your garden with a special new bush or flower (or even a tree) is a wonderful holiday tradition. Your child will be able to point it out and enjoy its special meaning.
Did you have a favorite Easter tradition growing up? Do you plan to start any this year?
Do you practice any on this list? Let me know below!
O.
