It’s hard to find easy developmental Easter activities for toddlers and preschoolers. Many Easter preschool and toddler activities are too complex, messy, and time-consuming.
The crafts involve scissors or dreaded paper mache. There are too many steps; they ask toddlers for more attention and dexterity than they possess.
Here’s a list of quick, easy, and developmentally appropriate Easter activities. Most call for materials you probably already have.
I look at most activities through a developmental lens, and Easter is no exception. These Easter activities for toddlers and preschoolers are listed according to the developmental area they enhance.
Fine Motor Skills
Activities that increase fine motor skills focus on small muscle groups (especially in the hands). Fine motor skill activities could be using tongs, kneading Play-Doh, and ripping paper.
Increased fine motor skills help toddlers and preschoolers use utensils, get dressed, and play efficiently.
- Marshmallow Easter Bunny Craft from No Time For Flashcards: placing mini-marshallows in a bunny shape is a fun (and tasty) way to increase hand strength and hand-eye coordination
- Bunny Handprint Card from The Best Ideas For Kids: these cards are adorable and grandparents will love them
- Egg Carton Easter Baskets from Creative Family Fun: manipulating pipe cleaners is always a fun fine motor skills activity
- Paper Plate Easter Sewing Craft from Red Red Art: another cute craft that strengthens little hands
Sensory Activities
My autistic preschooler loves sensory activities. These activities give him a safe outlet to explore textures.
He doesn’t always feel like getting messy, so some activities are more hands on than others.
- Opposite Texture Easter Egg Craft from No Time For Flashcards: this activity uses buttons and pom-poms to decorate an Easter egg and talk about opposites
- Shaving Cream Dyed Easter Eggs from Crafty Morning: plunge little hands right into some shaving cream and food coloring
- Easter Egg Sensory Bin from Learn Play Imagine: pastel colored rice takes this sensory bin to the next level
Gross Motor Skills
Activities that increase gross motor skills focus on bigger muscle groups like the arms, legs, and torso. Increasing gross motor skills helps children complete complex movements efficiently.
- Life-Size Bunny Hop Board Game from Playground Parkbench: this delightful indoor game will help toddlers and preschoolers jump around and get some energy out
Pre-Writing
Holding and controlling a pencil is really hard for little hands. Pre-writing activities strengthen muscles and condition hands, helping kids make art and write stories.
- Easter Worksheets from Mess for Less: this blog has thoughtfully gathered several fun and easy worksheets which will make toddlers and preschoolers happy to pick up a pencil
STEM Activities
STEM is science, technology, engineering, and math. STEM activities teach toddlers and preschoolers these four principles in creative ways.
Exposing preschoolers to STEM activities will increase problem-solving and critical thinking skills. STEM activities encourage toddlers and preschoolers to appreciate these subjects later, in a more rigorous academic setting.
- Baking Soda and Vinegar Rainbow Easter Eggs from Little Bins for Little Hands: the baking soda and vinegar reaction is a cheap, easy, and science-y way to amaze toddlers and preschoolers
- Marbled Easter Eggs from Little Bins and Little Hands: have more science and Easter fun by dyeing eggs with oil and vinegar (FYI: this website has so many great STEM activities)
- Preschool Addition Game with Chicks and Eggs from Simple Fun For Kids: this DIY board game is a fun way to explore math
I hope you love these easy, developmental Easter activities for toddlers and preschoolers as much as we do.
If you try any of these activities, take a pic and tag me on Facebook or Instagram.
Happy Easter!
Love,
