Easter is a time for fun, family, and togetherness. You and your child can get excited about Easter baskets, egg hunts, and other activities. Even if your infant or toddler visits the best child care centre in Singapore, you can plan for a few activities that will help build a better bond with your little one and at the same time boost their skills.
This blog lists a few activities that will help your infant or toddler get into the holiday spirit and put a smile on their faces.
Easter is a super fun celebration for kids, and each year provides new opportunities for your infant to explore, just like a good infant preschool in Singapore. Even if you don’t celebrate, those plastic and colourful eggs are great for so many activities.
Simple Easter egg activities for infants (under one year)
Shakers:
You can make shakers by putting different loose parts like rice, gains, bells, small stones, coins, or anything that will make a sound. Ensure that you glue or tape them shut to avoid potential mess or choking.
Exploration basket:
Put a few eggs in a basket. It will allow your baby to explore with their senses. If you use different colours and materials, it will help keep your child busy for a longer time.
Crawling game:
You can roll eggs on the floor and encourage your child to crawl after them.
Hang an egg: Tie an egg to one end of a string and the other end to a stand. Allow the egg to move to and fro. If your infant could just be looking at it, kicking it, or grasping it, ensure that the string is strong enough to withstand exploration.
These Easter activities for toddlers provide a chance to explore their curiosity and learn a few new things, just like they do in a childcare centre in Singapore.
Read More: A Practical Guide to Early Childhood Education
You can find many easter activities on the internet. Here are a few that will provide some learning benefits:
1.Easter egg hunt
You can place colourful eggs in designated areas within their reach. Try using larger and easy-to-grab eggs that make a sound when shaken. Place a few eggs in plain sight, while others are partially hidden under soft toys or blankets.
This activity promotes fine motor skill development as babies use their hands to grasp and explore colourful eggs. The sensory experience (made by eggs when shaken) contributes to a baby’s awareness of different sounds and boosts their sensory development. Sighting of colourful eggs encourages visual exploration, while touching various objects like blankets and toys promote sensory exploration. Searching for eggs is a simplified version of problem-solving.
2.Story time
Choose books with large, bright, and colourful images with simple text. Pick a cosy place with babies to sit and read. You can point at the pictures and make reading interesting with variations in your voice.
It promotes early literacy development and encourages the ability to focus, concentrate, and associate words and pictures. Reading aloud and engaging toddlers with your voice will support language acquisition and develop a better understanding of communication.
3.Nature walks
Take babies for a stroll to a safe and shaded area. You can use a baby stroller or carrier for better support. Point out gentle sounds like the rustling of leaves or singing birds. Encourage toddlers to touch soft leaves and flowers. Playing with your baby is a good thing.
This activity enhances their sensory awareness, allowing them to explore and respond to gentle sights and sounds in a natural environment. Natural settings contribute to the emotional well-being of the child and promote a better bond between primary caregivers and babies.
4.Easter-themed water play
Fill a shallow and broad container with water. Add plastic Easter eggs and baby-friendly water toys. Encourage the toddler to splash and explore. You can describe colours and shapes that will help in language development. You can capture these moments, which will enhance your joy.
Splashing water and reaching for eggs and toys will promote the development of fine and gross motor skills and improve coordination and strength. Engaging the child in cheerful conversation will boost the child’s vocabulary.
5.Egg bowling
You can create a soft and safe bowling area with lightweight plush eggs, soft pins, or stuffed animals. Encourage your toddler to roll the eggs towards the pins, exploring the cause-and-effect relationship.
The development of gross motor skills is one of the pros of this activity. Other benefits of this activity include cognitive and sensory development. It also boosts eye-hand coordination.
6.Bunny Hop, Freeze Dance
In this activity, you can hold your toddler in your hands or join hands with them while you sway or bounce to bunny-themed music. Introduce brief pauses, encouraging the toddler to freeze in place before resuming the movement.
Auditory development, sensory stimulation, adjusting and balancing, coordinating movements, and better emotional well-being are some of the benefits of this activity.
7.Chocolate bird’s nest
You can make a chocolate nest using cornflakes and chocolate. While dealing with mall babies, use a safe chocolate alternative and soften cornflakes. You can mix various ingredients and form small chocolate nests.
Babies can explore different textures with their hands, which boosts sensory awareness and tactile skills. Portioning helps with fine motor skills, and the child develops better hand-eye coordination and finger dexterity.
8.Dying eggs with tissue paper
You can involve the child by cutting tissue paper into small pieces of different colours. Dip these papers in white vinegar, then stick them onto the eggs. Ensure that every inch of the shell is covered with the colourful tissue. Allow the eggs to dry before removing the paper. You can see one-of-a-kind designs.
This activity requires less involvement but enhances the child’s creativity and fine motor skills.
9. Baby chicks painting
Dip your toddler’s hand in child-safe paint. Make hand prints on paper. You can draw legs, faces, feathers, and beaks for shapes that could look like chicks or other small animals.
This time-consuming activity keeps the child busy and enhances hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.
10.Paper bouquet
You can make beautiful paper tulips from a handprint. Trace your child’s hand on pieces of pink paper. Cut the hand out and roll it into a cone shape to create a flower. Attach green pipe cleaners to give it a natural look.
Picking the best activities for your child will help you enhance child growth and improve bonding. If you are not able to decide on the best activity, you can seek guidance from any childcare centre in Singapore.