Matching Easter dresses and egg hunts; posing with the Easter Bunny and surrounded by family; church gatherings and happy moments … just a few of the things we traditionally think of for family Easter celebrations. But what about this year?
With a stay-at-home order in place, Champaign-Urbana area families are going to turn to making this year’s celebration a happy Easter at their homes.
We’ve already heard plenty of area families discussing that “Easter just won’t be the same this year.” While we can all agree that is true, that doesn’t mean this year’s celebration won’t be full of good memories and fun. As parents, we often find ourselves in a position to make the lemonade out of lemons for the people under our roofs and Easter 2020 is no exception.
Let’s explore some ideas on how you can make the most of this year’s Easter holiday as a family.
Thanks to Prairie Gardens for presenting our 25+ ways to have a happy Easter at home.
Prairie Gardens Greenhouses and Garden Center will be OPEN starting Monday, March 30!
Whether it’s farmers at local markets, landscapers, or gardeners who enjoy home-grown produce from their own sustainable gardens – many depend on local garden centers to supply important agricultural and garden essentials with the sale of fresh vegetables, fruits, herbs, seeds, soils, fertilizers, and more.
Our commitment to the safety of our associates and customers remains strong. We will continue to provide safe distancing, safe handling, enhanced cleaning procedures, monitor traffic, and more to create the safest shopping experience possible.
Plus, to make things easier, cart pickup and curbside pickup will also be available.
For those who prefer to stay home & secure some garden beauty for a future trip: gift cards are available. Buy a Prairie Gardens $50 gift card now and receive a FREE Live Hibiscus Bush (10″ pot • about a $20 value) for a limited time. All the info can be found here: https://prairie-gardens.
For up-to-date information, check out the Prairie Gardens website and Facebook Page.
We hope you read this list and come up with a new idea or two to try out with your family. This article is NOT intended to give you a list of a dozen things you have to do in the coming weeks! (Because who needs that?!)
Remind yourself that this Easter WILL be different … and that’s OK
Your kids will have a lovely holiday with you no matter what. Really, we believe that. Yes, even if you are missing many of your regular traditions and don’t get the chance to celebrate with all of your child’s grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Remove the pressure from yourself to “make up” for what’s lost and remind yourself these are stressful times and it’s not your job to make everything “normal.” Because this time is not normal.
Order what you want to get early — like now
If your Easter plans involve buying plastic eggs, baskets, or anything else along those lines, we recommend you plan as soon as possible; either place that order online or add it to your grocery pickup for this week to avoid scrambling next week. Two things you don’t need during a pandemic are 1) extra stress trying to get everything just right and 2) trips into too many stores hunting for items.
Get crafty
You don’t need to buy anything special to get extra crafty this Easter. And since eggs (for dyeing) are in high demand this year with some grocery stores completely out, you may not be dyeing eggs as a family. A few ideas:
- cut out paper eggs and hang them up on the wall or window
- make an Easter garland you can hang in your home
- paper mache Easter egg – blow up a large balloon and drape sheets of newspaper coated in 3 parts glue to 1 part water on your “egg” before painting it
- Make a “stain-glass” Easter window. Use painter’s tape to create the design right on your window or storm door; use washable paint with a bit of water.
… and then head to the kitchen
- Pick something new to bake. If you want to grab break and bake cookies at the store, that’s an easy place to start.
- See those fun spring-themed sprinkles at Aldi? You can make your own cookies/cupcakes/cake and decorate with those.
- Get a twist on standard puppy chow by adding some spring-themed M&Ms or something.
- Feel like going even farther? Get set up for a kitchen adventure with your kids and take on something more challenging to remember this Easter by. Maybe you’ll even start a new tradition with a bunny-shaped cake or something.
- Find more Easter-themed treats to make here.
Work on Easter cards to send to family
Will your Easter brunch or dinner table be missing some familiar faces this year because Grandma and Grandpa are hunkered down at home? Take some time to craft thoughtful Easter cards with your kids for everyone you’ll be missing this year and get them in the mail early so they can arrive in time for the holiday. Your kids will enjoy thinking of the people they’re missing and your family members will love the surprise in the mail as they’re thinking of you, too!
Plan an Easter meal … together
Not feeling like making the traditional ham this year? Or maybe you’re not the person who usually hosts Easter?
- Ask the people you’ll be celebrating with (likely the members of your household) what THEY think would make a good Easter meal this year.
- You may find that the kids can’t wait to see you make a ham like their aunt does, OR you’ll have fun brainstorming a whole different kind of special meal that you can plan for and prepare together; be open to their ideas.
- Looking for somewhere that you can order Easter brunch or dinner from? We’re working on Champaign-Urbana’s list; we’ve started it HERE.
Get that Easter photo together
You can have some fun with this one!
- Take a family pic in your pajamas or go ahead and take the traditional Easter pic all dressed up, if you wish. But take it! This Easter is worth documenting and we’ll all remember it.
- For another option, we’ve heard about some local Champaign-Urbana photographers taking photos of families sitting on their front porch (from a distance). Get more info on the Front Porch Challenge here.
“Attend” church as a family
Regardless of whether or not you go to church regularly, now is a great time to find a local church that is streaming online for Easter Sunday; watch together as a family. Click here for our guide here on Easter church services streaming from Champaign-Urbana area churches now.
Make your own Easter egg hunt
Remember to pick up those plastic eggs on this week’s grocery run and have fun making your own Easter egg hunt at your home. Whether you’re setting eggs in the grass outside or coming up with a scavenger hunt inside pointing your kids towards an end goal (like an Easter basket), have fun coming up with some fun for the morning.
Leave your home for a different kind of Easter egg hunt
Our Champaign County Forest Preserve District has come up with an Easter egg hunt perfectly suited for social distancing guidelines. Head out and find their giant painted rocks all over Lake of the Woods, Homer Lake and other locations in Champaign County. Get all the details on THE Easter egg hunt of the year right here.
Get crazy, if you wish, and try something wild
This Easter isn’t just your average Easter, so why not do something out of the ordinary to celebrate it?
- Make a glow-in-the-dark Easter egg hunt at night (get these mini-glow sticks on Amazon now before they’re gone).
- Another idea would be a family relay race with eggs on spoons.
- How about having kids design their own Easter-themed contraption to cushion an Easter egg you plan to drop out of a second story window? The egg-themed ideas are endless!
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