Getting ready for Easter with your baby

They can enjoy this spring holiday right from a very early age. Get inspiration from our ideas for activities that you can try for gently introducing your baby to all the traditions of Easter!

3 months and above: coloured eggs
Get hold of some brightly-coloured plastic or polished wooden eggs, decorated with stripes or drawings. When you buy them, make sure that they will not be harmful to your baby in any way if they put them near their mouth. When Easter comes, place the eggs around their diaper change table. Your baby can easily hold them while they are having their nappy changed: put them in their hand one after another and let them examine each one before giving them another.

3 months and above: the spectacle that nature provides
Easter is when everything is in full bloom. Put your baby in a baby carrier and take them out in search of nature. The middle of a forest or just a park somewhere… they can listen to birdsong, the sound of the wind, the whispering of a river… Touch their hand to a tree trunk… let them feel the softness of the grass, the crunch of leaves underfoot, etc. Together, admire the colourful flowers and breathe in their fragrance. Even if your child does not seem interested, you can be sure that they'll enjoy the feeling of having nature all around them.

6 months and above: the sound of chimes
Right from the youngest age, babies are very sensitive to the sounds around them. At Easter, the sound of bells is all around. Try and find a few little bells that make different sounds: gently sound them in front of your baby and then place them in their hand. They will probably try and shake them to reproduce the pleasant sounds that they heard you make.

6 months and above: the treasure basket
Fill a small basket with soft straw and hide a number of objects in it that have something to do with Easter: little bells, rabbit figurines, fluffy hens or chicks, decorated eggs, etc. Give your baby the basket and let them take their time, gradually discovering all of the surprises inside it, talking to them about each of the objects. Wonderment guaranteed!

1 year and above: spring bouquet
Take a nature walk with your baby and gather up a few flowering branches. When you get home, put them in a large vase and hang a number of coloured eggs, little bells, chicks and other Easter decorations from it. Let your child admire the result and talk to them about each of the objects suspended from your bouquet. Just like Christmas trees, the Easter bouquet is a fascinating tradition for very young children.

1 year and above: Easter egg hunt
If your baby has already started walking, you can organise an easy egg hunt on Easter Sunday. In your home or garden (if you have one), lay out a number of Easter eggs on the ground wrapped in shiny paper. Create a winding (and clearly visible) line that will lead your child up to their Easter surprise (chocolates or a small toy, depending on their age). They'll really enjoy picking up all these treasures. The older your child gets, the better you can hide the eggs, and they will really enjoy looking for them.

18 months and above: surprise eggs
Buy a few cardboard or plastic eggs – the kind that can be split into two halves. Put a few little objects inside them: small cars, figurines or other miniature toys. Then give them to your child and show them how to open up the first one. They will be delighted once they discover what's inside the other ones, and they'll love opening and closing the eggs.

2 years and above: Easter decorations
At 2 years old, your child has enough dexterity to start doing creative activities: they'll get a lot of pleasure from drawing, finger-painting and making simple collages. Take a piece of thick cardboard and cut out pieces in the shape of hens, eggs, rabbits or bells… and then start decorating them. Give your child some paint, some coloured sticky labels, some thick felt tip pens, some crêpe paper, some feathers, some cotton wool… and then help them (if they need it) to stick these on the cardboard. You can then admire the results together and use it to decorate their room in the colours of Easter!

2 years and above: the Easter basket
You and your child can use everyday objects from around the house to make an Easter basket. First find a cardboard box: a milk or fruit juice carton will do… or a small shoebox or something similar. Cut the top of the box off and throw it away. Then attach a handle made from cut-out cardboard onto it. Your child can then use paint, felt tip pens, coloured sticky labels and silk paper to decorate their basket. Once it's finished, they can use it to collect their eggs on Easter Sunday.

2 years and above: the little chick
Get your child to place their hand on a piece of yellow cardboard, with their thumb stretched out so it is separate from their other fingers. Trace around their little hand and then cut out the shape. Draw an eye and a beak onto the thumb, and then together stick little white or yellow feathers onto the other fingers: And there you have it – a little chick in the shape of your child's hand!