Easter Activities for Nurseries and Childminders
Easter Activities for Nurseries and Childminders
Include fun activities during Easter for children to provide teachable moments through play and discovery
Easter is an exciting time for children in nurseries and childcare settings. It provides a great opportunity for Early Years Practitioners to incorporate fun activities that also align with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework. Here are some ideas for Easter-themed activities that childcare workers can use to engage their little ones and support their development.
Egg-themed sensory play
Sensory play is an essential aspect of the EYFS framework as it encourages children to explore and learn through their senses. You can create an egg-themed sensory play area by filling a tray with plastic Easter eggs, shredded paper, feathers, and other materials. Encourage children to touch, feel, and explore the different textures, colours, and shapes of the eggs.
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Easter egg hunt
An Easter egg hunt is a classic Easter activity that can be easily adapted to meet the EYFS framework. Hide eggs around the room or outdoor play area and encourage children to use their observation and problem-solving skills to find them. You can also use this activity to teach children about counting and colours, by asking them to count how many eggs they find or to sort the eggs by colour.
Easter-themed arts and crafts
Arts and crafts activities are a great way to encourage children's creativity and imagination, they also support the development of their fine motor skills. You can set up a variety of Easter-themed art activities such as painting Easter eggs, making bunny masks or Easter bonnets, and creating spring-themed collages with tissue paper and other materials.
Planting Activities
Planting activities can help children to develop an understanding of the natural world, and they can also teach them about growth and the lifecycle of plants. You can set up a planting area where children can plant seeds in pots or a mini-garden. Encourage children to observe and care for their plants as they grow.
Easter-themed storytelling and role play
Storytelling and role play activities can help to develop children's communication and language skills, as well as their imagination and social skills. You can use Easter-themed stories, such as "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" or "The Easter Bunny" to encourage children to act out different roles and characters. You can also create a "bunny hop" game, where children take turns hopping like bunnies and reciting rhymes or songs.
Inclusive sensory Easter basket
Creating a sensory Easter basket is a fun activity that can be adapted to suit the needs of children with different abilities. Early Years Practitioners can create an Easter basket filled with different textures and objects, such as soft toys, scented items, and musical toys. Encourage children to explore the basket using their senses, and provide support and guidance as needed. For children with sensory processing disorders, you can provide ear defenders or sunglasses to help them feel more comfortable during the activity. You can also adapt the activity by using objects with different levels of complexity, to cater to the different needs and abilities of the children in your care.
By adding inclusive activities like this into your Easter programme, you can ensure that all children, including those with special educational needs, can participate.
EY SENCO Level 3
Incorporating these Easter-themed activities into your nursery or childcare setting can provide a fun and engaging way for children to learn and develop their skills. Early Years Educators can link activities to the EYFS framework, ensuring teachable moments that support children's learning and development.
Within our Early Years apprenticeships, we encourage and support you in developing fun and exciting activities which meet the developmental needs of the children.
Are you an Early Years Teacher?
Help us celebrate National Early Years Teacher Day on April 19th. If these activities have inspired you, we are also hosting free virtual workshops for Early Years teachers and practitioners to learn new skills to take back to their settings.