It's that time of the year again, Easter is upon us and schools will close for the holidays. Kids bore easily so unless you're prepared, keeping your kids entertained is going to be tough.

We know just how to keep them entertained these holidays. Follow our guide and you won't hear them whining.

Easter baskets

The Easter holiday is about the Easter bunny and lots of delicious treats. Your kids are going to need a basket to collect all those Easter eggs. You can help your kids make their own baskets.

You need:

Method:

Before you get started, you'll need two or three weeks to spare before you can use the Easter basket. Line the basket with the aluminium foil and fill with potting soil.

You can also line the bottom of the Easter basket with a watertight plastic bag. Sprinkle the top of the soil with the rye seed, cover with ¼ inch of soil and moisten.

Cover the Easter basket with the plastic wrap to help keep it moist, place in a warm area (try the top of the refrigerator).

After the grass has sprouted, remove the plastic wrap and keep a close eye on it. Water if it begins to dry.

After a few weeks you'll begin to have an Easter basket full of green grass! If the basket needs more decoration, you can weave dried flowers around the edge and place your Easter eggs on the other side.

If time is not on your side, don't despair, you can make a quick basket.

Quick basket

You need:

Method:

Use a plastic basket (preferably green) that has openings. Make sure it is clean and dry. Weave ribbon and paper through the sides of the Easter basket. Make a handle from wired-ribbon attaching it on the side of the basket. If you can't find wired-ribbon, make the handles out of wire and wrap ribbon around them. Line the bottom of the basket with a small piece of tissue paper, paper towel or even a paper doily.

Heart fridge magnet

Baking can be fun especially if they are doing it with their friends. Let your kids take over the kitchen… but remember, there'll be lots of cleaning up later!

You will need:

Method:

From one of your balls of play-dough, make a heart shape about two inches by two inches big. You can do this by hand, or roll out a ball of clay and use a cookie cutter.

Roll the other ball of play-dough into a small sausage. Break off bits and shape them into letters spelling your children's names (or perhaps just their initials) or the word Easter. Press these onto the heart.

Add a few hearts made from the second colour of play-dough to decorate if you want to make your magnet more exciting. Bake the play-dough heart until it is hard. When it is cool, glue the magnet to the back.

Egg beads

Girls love jewellery, even from a young age. Let them learn how to make their own — you never know… they may even take it up as a profession when they are older.

You need:

Method:

Make an egg-shaped ball from a small lump of clay. Use coloured clay to add stripes or dots or mix more than one colour for a marbled egg. Use the needle to make a hole in the egg, wiggle it around a bit to make the hole bigger. Younger children should let an adult make the hole.

Make lots of egg beads for a necklace or thread them on to a pipe cleaner (chenille stem) to make a bangle. If your kids are having fun, let them make gifts for their friends.

Treasure hunt

It's a given that children love playing. Let them invite some friends over for an impromptu party and play these fun games.

Give each guest a decorated goodie bag or a basket lined with Easter grass to collect their egg. Hide wrapped Easter eggs, coins, stickers or small toys.

For mixed ages or to keep the faster kids from getting most of the eggs have each child start with a basket with one egg in it. They are only allowed to collect eggs of that colour. (You can hide eggs for the smaller children in easy spots and hide eggs for the older children in more challenging spots).

Another way to handle this is to write names on the eggs, so kids only collect eggs bearing their own names (obviously the children would need to be old enough to read their own names).

Make it a little more fun by getting the kids to bunny hop from one spot to the next.

For young children, you could have a jellybean trail leading to an Easter basket. For older children, fill plastic eggs with a clue leading to an Easter basket (or the treasure could be chocolate bunnies, stickers or small other toys).

Egg and spoon game

You need:

Players race to the finish line, holding their egg in the spoon. The first person to get to the finish line with their egg wins. This can also be played as a relay race or with an obstacle course.

Duck walk race

All players line up at the start line. Each player squats down and grabs their ankles with each hand from behind. On the word 'go' players waddle to the finish line. This may also be played as a relay race, but an obstacle course will probably prove a little too tricky!

Follow this guide and you are bound to have a house filled with laughter and your kids will enjoy every minute of their holidays.

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