Easter is an eggciting time for children. Chocolate is one way to delight children, but believe it or not their are others. There is some truth in the age old adage that anticipation is 9/10 of the pleasure. Involving children in Easter preparation is key to marking the significance of the celebration. Here are some ideas for Easter activities for Forest School.

Symbolism of eggs

Talking about the symbolism of eggs and new life. Most birds in the UK (apart from chickens) nest in spring.

Nesting Birds

Have any of the children seen any nests or chicks?  The RSPB have some interesting facts on nests.Further more there is some good advice on what to do if you find a fledgeling.Leave it alone, if it has feathers, unless it’s in imminent danger of being run over. It’s parents will be looking out for it. If you do move it, move it close by where it’s parents can hear it cheap.  One good thing about lockdown 1, was the time we had to observe the birds hatching from nests in our gardens.

Easter bunny folk tale

Here is a beautiful story that may be behind the Easter bunny (a mammal) being associated with eggs. Ostara and the hare

Natural Dyed Eggs

Dyeing easter eggs is great fun.  I like this recipe using red cabbage, turmeric or beetroot and vinegar. You can prepare the dyes on the fire at Forest School and hard boil the eggs too. As a child I loved creating flowery eggs.

 Flower patterned dyed eggs method:

  1. Place non toxic flowers/ leaves on the egg
  2. Tightly wrap them in a bit of old tights
  3. Gently place wrapped eggs in the jars of dye overnight.
  4. Take out your eggs, unwrap and marvel at your creations.
    Make botanical patterns on eggs for Easter

    Gardens Illustrated dyed egg instructions

Easter Egg Hunt

For the hunt appoint a rabbit on each team to hide eggs of a set colour for the other team.  The hunters from both teams should cover their eyes while the rabbits go off and hide the kids.  Then it’s a race to see which team finds all their colour eggs.Encourage the children to lay Easter egg hunts for each other with naturally dyed eggs.

Egg Games

As a child -in Cornwall- we used to got a hill of beautiful wild flowers and roll our dyed eggs down it to see whose egg cracked last.  Where we live in Cambridgeshire hills are a rare commodity. Consequently, we’ve created a new tradition of egg throwing. You’ll need a wide open space. Split into pairs. Each pair throws an egg between them. After each round (throw) you all take two steps back.  The winning team are the ones who make the furthest throw without it cracking. If your egg