How to bring Easter indoors: six fun activities to try at home this weekend

From painting to baking, these family activities can be done from the comfort of home

On the left, food art by Anita (@picifalat) and colourful Easter eggs by Irene Rasetti (@irenerasetti). Instagram

Easter celebrations are just around the corner, which usually means elaborate meals and fun games for many families. This year, however, festivities will need to be enjoyed indoors – but that doesn't mean you can't still get creative. Whether you're spending the holiday with family or not, this Easter still offers a chance to try new traditions. Here are some ideas to test out this weekend.

Paint Easter eggs

There a number of theories as to why the egg became the symbol for Easter. For one, it represents new life. The custom of decorating eggs has been traced back to the 13th century, and can be found in various cultures, including Slavic and Persian.

When painting eggs, it is good to opt for natural dyes to ensure that the eggs remain edible afterwards. These include red cabbage for blue, turmeric for pale yellow, onion skin for orange and beets for pink. To extract colour, simply boil the ingredients in water, and allow to simmer for around an hour. Strain, and wait for the liquid to cool, and you have natural dyes – you can find more information about the process here.

To achieve more vibrant colours for the shells, it is best to boil the eggs with the dye, as Martha Stewart recommends on her website.

For inspiration, check out artist Irene Rasetti’s guide to the dipping method, but keep in mind that the eggs may need more time to sit with the dye in order to absorb the colours. At the same time, this allows you to play around with the colour intensity and textures. You can build layers by dipping the eggs partially in different jars.

Go on an Easter egg hunt

Easter celebrations would not be complete without an egg hunt. Host an indoor hunt with the family using the eggs you have decorated. Prizes can be doled out according to the number of eggs collected, or you can determine the rules according to how you have decorated your eggs.

For example, you can create a points system based on the colour of the eggs and tally the scores in the end to determine the winner. Rules for the hunt can differ for every family, so invent your own and it could even turn into a new family tradition.

Create food art

Easter dinners are typically elaborate, requiring hours of preparation for roasts, braised dishes or stews. So, for those who want to get creative with food styling, simpler meals such as breakfast or snacks are a good option to create food art – think bunny pancakes or devilled egg chicks.

They don’t have to be complicated or purely decorative, either. Grab some ideas from Pinterest or Instagram on how to put together your usual ingredients in more creative ways.

Make Easter treats 

Easter traditions vary from culture to culture, but sweets are often a common denominator. If you want to add to your store-bought treats, there are simple recipes for bunny sugar cookies and chocolate egg nests to try. Blogger and baker Sally McKenney has shared a few recipes on her website that build on the popular chocolate eggs, using them for bars and even a coconut Easter nest bundt cake.

Get crafty with decorations

We may not realise how many arts and crafts materials we have accumulated through the years. Now offers a chance to make use of those coloured papers, markers, crayons and paints, with craft projects such as a DIY Easter egg paper basket or simple paper eggs.

You can be resourceful and try other materials or items to make an Easter wreath, which can be hung on your door or around the home. This can be done by simply taping paper eggs together to form a ring or try Live Laugh Rowe's guide to creating one using scrap fabric.

Find time to talk and listen

Big family meals and activities can be fun and frenzied, so carving out time for connection is important. This can vary from reading together or arranging an online chat with relatives far away to check in on their day. Opt for slower activities, such as finishing a jigsaw puzzle together.

For parents who may not have had much time to spend with their children before the pandemic, it is a chance to catch up on their lives. Maybe recreate a school play that you missed or stage a talent show at home. While the pandemic may be disrupting our usual traditions, there are still opportunities to maintain our perspective and appreciate what we still have.

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