Get Hoppin’!

These ideas and crafts add a little something
‘eggs-tra’ to traditional Easter fun.

by Pam Molnar

Go Natural, Easily

Some parents dye Easter eggs by making “natural” shades using blueberries, beets, coffee or other fruits and vegetables. Glob Colors’ Natural Easter Egg Coloring Kit keeps it natural without the added work. Three color packets use radish, cabbage and annatto extracts. Create other colors by dipping the egg a second time in another color. Buy the kit for $14 at globcolors.com or at select Whole Foods Markets.

Two Top Easter Books

Betty Bunny Loves Easter

by Michael B Kaplan
Peguin Group $16.99

Betty Bunny loves Easter so much she just knows when she grows up, she will be the Easter Bunny.

The Littlest Bunny in Georgia

by Lily Jacobs
Source Books $9.99

See Flop the Easter Bunny take flight in his hot air balloon, and soar over important locations such as the Bank of America Plaza, the Georgia Aquarium, Turner Field, the Atlanta Botanical Garden, and more , all on his way to your house!

Find a ‘Pet’

A new twist for Easter egg hunts is Hide ‘em & Hatch ‘em Eggs – put the eggs in water and in a few days they’ll begin to “hatch” a chick, duck or bunny rabbit or a frog, kitten or bird. Once the toy emerges, keep it in water and it will continue to grow, or take it out for your child to play with. A set of three eggs is $11.95 at hatchems.com.

Hunt for a Basket

Show the kids evidence of the Easter Bunny’s visit by making a jelly bean trail from your child’s bedroom door to his Easter basket. Or let them hunt for Easter baskets by leaving clues. Start with a note on their bedroom door leading them to different clues around the house.

Make Confetti Eggs

Make Cascarones or Confetti Eggs by hollowing out raw eggs. Make a small hole in one end and let the egg drain out into a bowl. When the eggs are empty, rinse the inside and let them dry overnight, then fill with glitter or confetti using a small funnel. Place glue around the hole on the egg and decorate. Take the eggs to the yard and try to smash them on the heads of friends and family, which signifies good luck.

‘Grow’ an Egg

Crack and remove the top part of an egg, leaving at least two-thirds of the shell in tack. Rinse the eggs and let dry. With markers, make silly faces on the egg shells. Fill the eggs almost to the top with soil and grass seed. Place the eggs in an egg carton and keep it in a sunny spot. Water as needed and watch the grass grow to look like green hair.

Give to Others

Create mini Easter baskets to hand out at senior centers or assisted living facilities. Use baskets from a dollar store and fill with hard candy, hand lotions, slipper socks or a deck of cards, or simply put small treats in a clear bag and tie it with colorful ribbons.

Raise a ‘Garden’

A magical activity for young kids is to plant jelly beans in a garden or flower bed. While the children sleep, the jelly beans sprout into lollipops with a little help from Mom and Dad.

Rock the Egg Hunt

Add a bit of excitement to the traditional egg hunt by trying one of these ideas:

• Use glow sticks or bracelets for a glow-in-the-dark hunt
• Fill each egg with a number and have a corresponding prize waiting to match up with the egg
• Add a silly request to each egg for the person who finds it, such as “Do the chicken dance.”
• Choose one color egg for each person and they can only find their color. This allows the eggs to be filled with age appropriate or allergy free items for each child.

Fun Facts

5.5 Million Average number of Peeps “born” each day.

16 Billion  Jellybeans are consumed at Easter.

76 Percent who said Chocolate bunnies should be eaten ears first.