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Easter for Toddlers - Meaningful Activities Beyond Chocolate Bunnies
by Arlene Pellicane

Description: Fun, meaningful activities you and your toddler can do to celebrate Easter.

Children bring joy to holidays like Easter, with their beautiful suits and dresses and colorful egg hunts on green lawns. But in addition to special outfits and candy peeps, what else can parents do to provide their kids with a meaningful Easter? Here are seven ways to go beyond the Easter bunny and communicate a positive message to your toddler:

1. Deliver an Easter basket to a friend in need. Do you know a child whose parent is deployed? Or maybe a single mom who has three young children? Think of a family you know that could use a little encouragement. Make an Easter basket for that family and deliver it with your toddler. Your son or daughter will learn the joy of giving firsthand as he or she gives away that thoughtful basket.

2. Buy candy and deliver it for a church or community Easter egg hunt. You can explain to your toddler that candy doesn't just magically appear at the egg hunts. People have to donate it first. Talk to them about the joy of giving and let them have their own special egg filled with a treat for helping out.

3. Visit a senior citizen at a nearby nursing home. Have your child color an Easter coloring page and deliver it to a resident. Call ahead of time and ask the activity director if there's a particular resident he or she would recommend. Ask for the best times to come and the appropriate protocol for bringing children. Your adorable child will be the highlight of the day for that senior citizen!

4. Have an "empty tomb" egg hunt. Hide eggs in your backyard or wherever would work for a hunt. Fill the eggs with stickers, quarters, small toys or candy. Leave one egg empty. Whoever finds the empty egg is the grand prize winner. Explain how Easter is the celebration of the empty tomb because Jesus rose from the grave on the third day. The grave was empty just like that egg. Give the child who found the empty egg a great prize like a dollar bill, larger toy, or scoop of ice cream.

5. Print out Easter coloring pages. Look on the internet for free coloring pages of Jesus on the cross and other Easter images. Tell your child how much God loves him and how special he is.

6. Attend an Easter service. Whether you go to church regularly or not, Easter is a great time to participate in a holiday celebration. Many churches offer fantastic programs for kids, from giant Easter egg hunts to musical specials.

7. Make something special for the host of your Easter dinner. If you are going to grandma's house for dinner, have your toddler make her a special card or craft to say thank you. Your host will be touched by your little one's thoughtfulness. And if you're the host, your child can make something small for each of your guests. Favors could be a coloring page, popsicle sticks glued together to make a cross, or plastic eggs filled with an after dinner mint.

When you take a little time to be intentional about Easter with your kids, you will find the holiday will become more meaningful not only to them, but to you!

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