Chocolate bunnies, colorful eggs and baskets full of fake grass can mean only one thing – Easter is almost here! And while the Easter Bunny is busy hiding eggs in the yard, keeping children preoccupied is a must. Whether you enjoy baking, crafting, or games, you’re sure to find inspiration in the following ideas that the whole family will love.

Easter Basket Cupcakes

1 dozen cupcakes
1 bag jelly beans
2 cups white icing
Sweetened coconut, colored with green food coloring
White pipe cleaner or red licorice
Colored ribbon(s)

1. First, frost the cupcakes with white icing. Bend a pipe cleaner or a piece of red licorice into an arch and push the ends into the sides of each cupcake.
2. Shake the shredded coconut in a stainless steel bowl. Sprinkle on food coloring bit by bit, mixing vigorously to distribute the color.
3. Place a pinch of shredded coconut on each iced cupcake. Now place three jelly beans on the “nest” of coconut.
4. Tie a small ribbon bow on the pipe cleaner or licorice handle at a jaunty angle.
5. Put one cupcake basket by each place setting at Easter brunch or give them as gifts.

Melted Crayon Eggs

White eggs
Tongs
Empty egg carton
Crayons

1. Hard-boil white eggs. Remove them from the hot water with tongs or a slotted spoon, dry them, and rest them in an empty egg carton or on plastic bottle caps (an adult’s job).
2. Color them with the crayons’ tips or remove the paper coverings and use the crayons’ sides. For a speckled effect, grate a crayon and sprinkle the bits over the eggs. The waxy eggs are very slippery, so take care when turning them to color the underside.
3. When you’re done coloring, leave them to dry for about an hour.

Egg Scramble

1. To set up, first select one person to start off as the Bunny. The remaining players are the Eggs, who quietly (so the Bunny doesn’t overhear) each select an everyday color for themselves.
2. Next, decide on a home base for the Eggs, a starting point for the Bunny (about 10 to 15 feet away from the Eggs’ home base), and a round-trip course for the players to run, such as to a tree and back or once around the house. Have the Bunny and the Eggs gather at their starting points.
3. To play, the Bunny begins calling out colors. As soon as he calls a player’s color, that Egg takes off through the course, with the Bunny in pursuit. If the Bunny manages to tag the Egg before she can make it back to her home base, the players swap places and the Eggs all select new hues. If not, the Bunny tries again with another color.

Who knows, taking part in one (or all) of these activities may just bring out the kid you, helping you to rediscover the joy of simplicity, wonder and excitement. Happy Easter!