April Fool’s Breakfast:
Have dinner for breakfast…get creative. Also as part of breakfast, each person has to tell a joke that they have prepared for the occasion. You can also do fun, harmless pranks throughout the meal/day.
Invisible Writing:
Dip a cotton swab in milk or lemon juice and use it to write a message on a piece of white paper. Send it to a friend or family member with instructions to iron the paper to read the hidden message (of course with help from parents if child is not old enough to use an iron). Like magic, the special message will appear!
Easter Bunny Trail:
A fun way to bring those that are too little to hunt for an easter basket or eggs is to make a bunny trail. You can make footprints out of construction paper, or make a stencil and use baby powder or flour to make prints. They will squeal with delight as they follow the trail to their basket of treats. Black jellybeans can also be used as bunny droppings to add an element of humor that older children will enjoy.
Kindness Wreath:
Create a kindness wreath for your front door. Begin with a small, plain wreath. A week or two before Easter, distribute 10 or more ribbons in bright spring colors to each family member. Whenever someone reaches out to another in kindness during the week, another ribbon is tied onto the wreath.
True Meaning of Easter Tree:
You need a tree or a tall vase with branches in it. You also need several very tiny Easter eggs (to put on the tree), small baggies to hold the Easter eggs, and small strips of paper with the following verses:
Day 1: Genesis 3:1-19 (God's first promise of sending a Redeemer)
Day 2: Genesis 22:1-14 (the story of Abraham and Isaac when God provides the ram for the offering)
Day 3: Exodus 12:21-30 (the first Passover)
Day 4: Numbers 21:4-9 (Moses and the brass serpent)
Day 5: Matthew 21:33-46 (parable of the unfaithful stewards)
Day 6: John 12:1-11 (Mary's anointing Jesus' feet with her hair)
Day 7: Matthew 21:1-11 (Jesus' triumphant entry--Palm Sunday)
Day 8: Matthew 26:14-30 (the Last Supper)
Day 9: Matthew 26:31-46 (the Garden of Gethsemane)
Day 10: Matthew 26:47-75 (Judas' betrayal)
Day 11: Matthew 27:11-31 (Jesus' trial before Pilate)
Day 12: Matthew 27:32-56 (the crucifixion)
Day 13: Matthew 27:57-66 (Jesus' burial)
Day 14: Matthew 28:1-10; Mark:16:1-20; Luke 24:1-49; John 20:1-31 (the resurrection)
Start two weeks before Easter. Each day, take the egg out of the little bag and hang it on the tree. Read the verses and discuss the meaning of the verses. On Easter morning, the tree is covered with eggs. (Have extra eggs to hang on the tree and a few other decorations to make it look beautiful.)
Day 2: Genesis 22:1-14 (the story of Abraham and Isaac when God provides the ram for the offering)
Day 3: Exodus 12:21-30 (the first Passover)
Day 4: Numbers 21:4-9 (Moses and the brass serpent)
Day 5: Matthew 21:33-46 (parable of the unfaithful stewards)
Day 6: John 12:1-11 (Mary's anointing Jesus' feet with her hair)
Day 7: Matthew 21:1-11 (Jesus' triumphant entry--Palm Sunday)
Day 8: Matthew 26:14-30 (the Last Supper)
Day 9: Matthew 26:31-46 (the Garden of Gethsemane)
Day 10: Matthew 26:47-75 (Judas' betrayal)
Day 11: Matthew 27:11-31 (Jesus' trial before Pilate)
Day 12: Matthew 27:32-56 (the crucifixion)
Day 13: Matthew 27:57-66 (Jesus' burial)
Day 14: Matthew 28:1-10; Mark:16:1-20; Luke 24:1-49; John 20:1-31 (the resurrection)
Start two weeks before Easter. Each day, take the egg out of the little bag and hang it on the tree. Read the verses and discuss the meaning of the verses. On Easter morning, the tree is covered with eggs. (Have extra eggs to hang on the tree and a few other decorations to make it look beautiful.)
Find or create a very special egg that can be used every year. Decorate elaborately with ribbons, rhinestones, etc. Next make a treasure map that shows where the Family Treasure Egg will be hidden (in your home, back yard, local park, etc.) and cut the map into puzzle pieces. Put those pieces into individual plastic eggs and hide them. It’s up to the little ones to find the small hidden eggs and bring the pieces to the older kids or adults who put together the Treasure Map. Then all go searching for the Family Treasure Egg, which contains a surprise gift the whole family will enjoy.
Do you have any you'd like to share with us?
