Easter Activities

Easter is here and bringing with it plenty of opportunities to make it memorable for the people you support.

Decorating Easter bonnets does not have to be limited to the school classroom. Why not hold an Easter bonnet competition for the people you support. If you have a connection with a local school, you could host their Easter bonnet parade or invite a class of children to make bonnets with the people you support. This activity is both reminiscent of childhood pastimes and a booster of self-esteem, a stress reliever and just plain fun! Community connections are essential for those living in a care setting as it reduces social isolation and maintains interests and relationships with the wider community.

Create centrepieces for Sunday lunch on Easter Sunday with the people you support by painting wooden, ceramic, or polystyrene eggs to sit in nests on the tables. Or arrange vases of daffodils with spring-coloured ribbons. You could even decorate the shared dining areas with bunting, cutlery, and placemats. This would be considered activities of daily living and goes a long way to promote independence and enjoyment, particularly for those who were keen homemakers.

A tradition first started in 1898, sending Easter cards with messages of Christianity is still important to some members of the church. Sending a handmade card is an easy, simple way to make someone’s day and for some, a longstanding tradition they had perhaps lost. But the cards do not have to be religious, they can simply be messages of well wishing.

Nest cakes and Easter biscuits are a traditional homemade treat alongside Easter eggs. As we come out of the other side of the COVID-19 pandemic, activities involving food can be reintroduced into your care setting. However, if this still feels too soon or there are other challenges in traditional baking, there are alternatives to actual baking you can try. Decorating pre-made biscuits or cakes or decorating chocolate eggs with icing and melted chocolate are fun and delicious alternatives. This method is not only more COVID-friendly but also provides the opportunity for 1:1 attention.

If any of the people you support follow Christianity, you could invite a local church to host an Easter service or visit a church for a service. Enabling the people you support to continue activities in the wider community that are important to them is integral to wellbeing. Ensure you cater to all religious holidays observed in April, including Passover for Jehovah’s Witnesses and Ramadan for Islam.

If the people you support and your colleagues have children amongst their friends and family, why not host a family fun day. You could hold an Easter egg hunt, arts and crafts stations, an egg and spoon race and if the weather is nice, a BBQ or a picnic. Ensure you take lots of photos (with permission) and use the photos for reminiscence activities in the future. Facilitating and encouraging close relationships will not only benefit the people you support but their family and friends as well.