*AD.
The Easter holidays, in my opinion, have the potential to be the best school holidays of the year. Never mind one week off school, with the Easter holidays you get two glorious weeks in the spring sunshine! That means there’s plenty of time for Easter activities. I’ve put together this blog post crammed full of Easter activities for kids that should keep them busy over the holiday period.
I’ve also teamed up with leading sweets brand, Swizzels, who are offering two lucky winners a Retro Sweet Wicker Hamper with 1.1kg of sweets in each. That’s more than enough to treat the kids over the holidays and also sneak yourself some of your own favourites from childhood.
9 Sweet Ways To Entertain Kids During The Easter Holidays
Easter Egg Hunts
A traditional Easter activity loved by many – you just can’t beat an Easter egg hunt. You can join in with local Easter egg hunts or host your own. Last year we took Luke to his Great Grandpa’s house and hosted our very own Easter egg hunt in the garden. Luke painted his own little box to collect the eggs in too, which kept him busy on the days leading up to Easter Sunday. There are even alternative chocolate choices for those with dietary requirements, so no one has to miss out.
Sweetie Hunts
Not everyone is a chocoholic and I know lots of people who prefer sweets to chocolate. If your kids are the type who’d prefer a packet of Drumstick Squashies over some mini Easter eggs, hosting a sweetie hunt instead of an egg hunt could be a great alternative. In some respects, it’s also easier as there’s no danger of melted chocolate getting everywhere! Easter eggs are great and all, but the melted chocolatey fingers aren’t so great. Plus, as a boring parent, I think it’s easier to limit the sugar consumption when you can dish out packets of sweets rather than breaking bits of chocolate egg off into bowls.
If you’re a lover of chocolate AND sweets, you’ll be pleased to know that Swizzels have also launched a collection of Easter Eggs!
Easter Crafts
Luke’s been massively into crafts from the get go, so there’s no way we could get through the Easter holidays without doing some crafting. He’s so eager to craft that he has not one, but two craft boxes in his bedroom and they’re both full to the brim. There’s loads of cute and easy crafting ideas for children of all ages on Pinterest, but I really love these Felt Easter Egg Decorations and this Spring Chick Craft For Kids.
Traditional Egg Dying
I’ve never done this but now Luke’s a little older, I think he’s the perfect age to enjoy dying Easter eggs. We’ve always used poster paints in the past and painted our own designs on the eggs, but this year I’m looking forward to trying the traditional egg dying methods. I love how you can create different patterns using string, tape, elastic bands and bits from nature. Luke’s going to love doing this and it’s a great engaging activity.
Make Easter Bunting
Every year we make our own Easter bunting – it’s become a sort of Easter tradition for us. Sometimes we use ready made packs, like this one from last Easter and other times we embrace the mess and design our own.
Search For Hidden Rocks
Getting outside is the easiest way to keep the children entertained during the holidays. We have loads of local walks and parks near us that are great for hidden rock hunting. Luke loves painting these special stones, photographing them and hiding them for other people to find too. Why not join a local rock hunting Facebook group? It’s a real thrill when someone posts about one of the rocks you’ve painted and hidden. It’s also nice to get out and explore new areas as a family.
Local Events and Days Out
Because Easter is such a long holiday, there’s often loads of activities and events on locally that are great for families. We are lucky to have the Watercress Line locally, which hosts their A Day Out With Thomas over the Easter holidays. Luke’s really excited for that as we’ve been before but he was a little too young to appreciate everything. However, there are always lots of cheap or free activities to keep the kids entertained in local garden centres, children’s centres and schools. My advice would be to keep an eye out in local Facebook groups and start looking for event flyers in local shops.
Cook Something New
Every year I see some seriously good looking Easter treats that I’d love to try and cook! This Easter we’re going to choose one Easter recipe and try to make it ourselves. It’ll be fun to try and make something that we’ve never made before that we wouldn’t usually attempt. It can’t be Easter without Shredded Wheat nests either, right?
Have Movie And Games Day
With spring comes spring showers so you know we’re bound to have a few rainy days. This presents the perfect opportunity to have a movie and games day. Luke’s just old enough now to start playing console games – his favourites are Dreamworks Dragons Dawn Of New Riders on PS4 and, of course, Pokemon Let’s Go Eevee on Nintendo Switch. We are a family of movie lovers so sitting down with a good film is a great way to spend some nice quality time together, and it’s about the only time these days I get a snuggle with my biggest boy. It’s also the perfect excuse to sit down and eat some sweeties!
Basically: play outdoors, eat sweets, try something new and have some quality family time.
Like I said, I really do love the two week long Easter holidays. They’re such a great excuse to eat some tasty treats, try new things and make loads of new memories. I hope you found some inspiration for Easter activities that’ll keep your children entertained throughout the Easter holidays. If you are looking for more inspiration, you could always check out my Easter Pinterest board. Now, onto that giveaway I promised…
Super Sweet Giveaway from Swizzels
If this post has whetted your appetite for a little sweet treat, I have some very good news for you. The lovely people at Swizzels have given me two Retro Sweet Wicker Hampers (RRP £15.99) to give away. Packed with some of their yummiest treats, including tongue-tingling Refreshers, Love Hearts, Parma Violets, Double Dips and Squashies, these hampers would make the perfect Easter gift – or a little indulgence for yourself.
The dimensions of the hamper are: 10.5cm high x 30cm wide x 18cm deep.
Total weight of the hamper is approximately 1.1Kg This is comprised of 735g of sweets, plus the weight of the basket.
Contents may vary but will include a combination of some of the following: 500g assortment of old school classic sweets that includes Love Hearts, Refreshers, Drumsticks, Parma Violets, Double Dip, Double Lollies, Fizzers & Fruity Pops, as well as Rainbow Drops and Squashies.
To enter for your chance to win a Retro Sweet Wicker Hamper, simple read through the T&C’s, ensuring that you understand them, then enter your details and follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter widget below. The giveaway is open from 05/04/2019 and closes 28/04/2019. The winners will be contacted via email. Good luck!
Terms & Conditions:
You are entering for your chance to win a Retro Sweet Wicker Hamper from Swizzels. There is no cash alternative.
- The giveaway opens 05/04/2019 and closes 28/04/2019 .
- There will be two winners. Each winner will win 1 hamper.
- Winners will be contacted by email and via Twitter (if you have entered via a Twitter option). For this reason, please ensure the information you enter with is valid.
- This giveaway is open to UK residents only.
- Entrants must be 18+.
- If you are prompted to enter a website URL when commenting, please leave this blank if you do not have a blog/your own website (ie. please don’t enter your Facebook account or similar).
- Once the winners have been randomly selected, they will have 1 week to get back in touch with me. If they do not reply after 1 week, I will re-draw and a new winner(s) will be selected. If your name is drawn but you have not adhered to the T&C’s (ie. you live outside of the UK), you will be disqualified and another winner will be drawn.
What a wonderful sweetie hamper our grandchildren would certainly love this & grandma & grandpa too
I used to really love those strawberry looking lollies as a child but I haven’t had one in years.
Lyndsey O’Halloran recently posted…Children’s Book Review: Kiss The Crocodile
Oh yes! I ate all of these haha, they’re SO good!
The Candy banana sweets were my favourite and I still love them now.
Looks like a cracking alternative to the usual Easter egg. Who doesn’t love a retro sweet?
I loved rainbow sherbet and sherbet dib dabs!
I used to love the matchstick type sweets in the box!
Fizzy cola bottles for me both the original and the cherry but not the bubblegum they do now
You can’t beat a Drumstick!
my favourite sweets are those beer bottle ones, they were soo nice!
Jade Hewitt recently posted…FOOD | URBAN FRESH BURGERS AND FRIES, DONCASTER
the little yellow foamy bananas and cola bottles
I loved the fizzy bubblegum bottles.
I love Swizzels! Parma Violets have always been my favourite.
Jenni recently posted…Review: Weekend Box Club STEM Boxes [AD]
Sherbert fountain and refresher bars!
I really like the idea of Easter crafts, activities and fun! My little one wants to go on an Egg hunt.
Sherbet fountain were my favourite sweet as a child
flying saucers
White mice they where in the penny tray in our local shop. Loved going in with my threpenny on a Friday
I am one of those people who is not chocolate crazy, but I love fizzers and love hearts. I’ll be doing an egg hunt with my 3 year old this Easter, I’ve got some plastic eggs that I’ll fill with small toys instead of chocolate as, to be honest, he doesn’t need the extra energy haha.
Charlotte – Mama Makes Do recently posted…Grape Slicer Gadget Review
Blackjacks 🙂
Ooh would have to be refresher, for sure!
Parma Violets.
parma violets and they are still my favourite snow!
Either the pink and white foam mushrooms, or Bassetts Milk Teeth, too hard to choose one.
What some great ideas for keeping the kids entertained. Our grandsons love Easter egg hunts.
Loved Black Jacks and Fruit Salads!
I have to say, the egg hunt is my favourite on this list. Love an egg hunt 🙂
Oooo I love Swizzels sweets – thanks for the chance to win
The little jelly bears. I think they were half a pence each!
Some great ideas here, I want to do the rock hunting with the kids. My favourite sweets are Love Hearts!
Stephanie recently posted…Mothers Day Treat At Vue Eastleigh – Dumbo
My kids can’t wait for the easter holidays and making some easter bunting and doing the egg hunt!! Great tips for families and kids – have a good one
Laura x
Parma violets & bassett’s cherry drops xx
Oh such great ideas! I love Swizzels sweets. I think my favs have to be the double lollies and I just love rainbow drops x
Sonia recently posted…The Places We Wish To Go… Italy
We are going to an Easter Egg hunt and would be awesome to do more of these activities too.
Anosa recently posted…The Ultimate Packing Guide for Thailand
These are lovely ideas to do over the Easter holidays. Retro sweets are mine and Mr Buttons favourites. I have fond memories of the double dips! Yummy 🙂
Annette, 3 Little Buttons recently posted…Welcome to the world BABY born Surprise! – Review
Sherbet dips
Thanks an absolute million for all of these tips. We have my boyfriends son staying with us this Easter Hols and I’m a bit out of touch with what to do! xxx
Milk Bottles, i used too, and still do love’em
We didn’t have these when I was a child, because I grew up in Hungary. My favourite was Haribo which I don’t like anymore. These look so cool!
Éva Katona recently posted…Comment on How to Make Pimientos de Padron (Spanish Green Pepper Tapas) by Annette, 3 Little Buttons
I’m such a fan of retro sweets, I think a sweet hunt makes a great alternative to the traditional Easter Egg hunt x
Sherbet Fountain yummy!!
Fried eggs
I loved the parma violets
lovely treat for the family
I love these ideas for things to do during the easter holidays – I have fond memories of days out with my siblings from when I was younger! Now we’re older it’s considered our ‘family holiday’ time and this year we’re heading up to Edinburgh where my dad was born!
El x
Elen Mai recently posted…8 Ways to Re-use Plastic Bags
Oh that’s such a lovely little Easter tradition!
Having a big family Easter and looking for inspiration to keep all the kids busy, just wanted to say thanks 🙂
Aw, you’re so welcome! 😀
I loved Fruit Salad chews as a kid.
Apart from chocolate, my favourite was sherbert. Loved the ones with a lolly in, rather than the licorice. Remember sherberts in all different colours (goodness I sound like my Grandfather ha ha)
Black Jacks and Fruit Salads
I think my childhood just revolved around sweets and comics.
My favourites were – and still are – chocolate limes.
Sports mixtures
I loved sherbet saucers
I always loved Refresher lollies but my teeth no longer do lol
favourite sweets would either be coconut mushrooms or jelly tots
mine was love hearts x
Black jacks
Flying Saucers were my favourite
I used to love sherbet dip
Jaffas from New Zealand. Unfortunately, they don’t sell them here but I recommend trying them for anyone visiting the Antipodes.
parma violets were my favourite and now someone makes parma violet beer!
For me it would have to be drumsticks love them!
The wonka sweets they used to make!
White mice
flying saucers
My favourite childhood sweet is definitely the Double Dip.
Black jacks – love the fact they made my mouth black
Black Jacks x
those sweetie necklaces mmm
I loved pear drops even though they cut the roof of my mouth from sucking them!
I used to love sherbet straws. They were a Friday night treat.
Cola Cubes – oh how I loved them – I could suck them til there was nothing left!!
kinder eggs, i still love them now
Flying Saucers
Flying Saucers
Strawberry milkshakes xx
Love Double Dip
I loved any type of liquorice, especially black jacks and sherbot fountains –
I used to enjoy a ’10 pence mix-up’ and I remember that I liked the white chocolate mice.
Love the Sherbert fountain
pink shrimps
Wow how lovely … my 3 children would love this as they all have a sweet tooth
I love swizzels lollies and still love them to this day
Jelly Babies!
Little blackberry and raspberry jelly sweets. I haven’t seen them for years, they were little jelly domes covered in little sugar “pips”. Nothing like the jelly backberries and raspberries you can still buy
I used to love Nutty Logs, I had one every day on the way home from school and they cost 2d in old money.
Eileen Tingle recently posted…Days Out | The Watercress Line: Day Out With Thomas – Review
Smarties, oranges ones were my favourites and still are
Many thanks for the great ideas! Favourite childhood sweets has to be peardrops and refreshers!
The love hearts was mine
I always loved sherbet dabs!
I really don’t think you can beat a Double Dip
I loved parma violets!
Refreshers (fizzy not chews) were my favourites I think.
Milk bottles were my favourite…closely followed by fruit salads 🙂
I love Black Jacks and Sherbet Fountains
Space Dust – that biz really did fizz when you popped it in your mouth!
Black jack’s
I love the double dips!
It has to be milk bottles for me, the old fashioned ones with the dusting on them
I love drumstick lollies or the sherbet fountains!
My favourite has to be Parma violets!
I loved all pic n mix. Fruit salads and refresher bars were a favourite of mine.
My favourite childhood sweet were jelly babies
Refresher chews was my favourite
I loved chocolate mice.
I absolutely loved icy cups, the little chocolates in foil wrappers
Sherbet fountains.
I used to love drumsticks, also bon bons
I love Parma Violets
love the love hearts
Cola bottles was and still are my favourite sweet.
I loved Refreshers so much!
Flying Saucers
Pear drops
Love the Coke Bottles.
I loved cola bottles and any sour sweets. Still love them both!
Sherbet dips
Cola Cubes (Kola Kubes)
My favourite childhood sweets are opal fruits aka Starburst!