While we are returning to a bit of normalcy a year after the COVID-19 pandemic…
Easter is more than just bunnies and baskets—it’s a season filled with springtime wonder, hands-on creativity, and playful discovery for preschoolers and toddlers. Whether you're planning Easter toddler activities for daycare or looking for Easter ideas for preschoolers at home, the possibilities are endless.
From crafts that build fine motor skills to Easter sensory bins that encourage exploration, this guide from our 5-star Raleigh preschool shares fun Easter activities for preschoolers and toddlers that are developmentally appropriate and easy to do for little learners.
Table of Contents
When is Easter Celebrated?
Easter's date changes every year, usually landing somewhere between March 22nd and April 25th. Each year, Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon that happens after the Spring Equinox.
Why Celebrate Easter with Toddlers?
While the Easter Bunny is a beloved character to many preschool-age kids, the enjoyment of the holiday goes beyond receiving whatever gifts the bunny leaves in their Easter baskets each year. Children often love celebrating holidays in ways that foster their creativity and expressing themselves, beyond simple admiration for the lovable characters that symbolize the day for them.
Whether its to celebrate Valentine's Day, Thanksgiving, Halloween, or the Easter holiday, kids enjoy creating crafts with bright colors or engaging in games that add to happy toddler playtime. Easter activities, whether making a simple Easter card craft or dedicating time to creating an elaborate Easter scene in your yard, offer wonderful opportunities to blend fun with learning.
For toddlers, this creates a warm and engaging experience that lets their creativity shine.
Why Easter Activities Are So Much Fun for Toddlers
Easter offers a unique opportunity to blend learning with seasonal celebration. For preschoolers, participating in Easter crafts, games, and sensory play supports a wide range of early development goals in a fun, interactive way.
Easy Easter Crafts for Toddlers and Preschoolers
These toddler Easter crafts are perfect for age 1 through preschool age children. They're designed to be safe, simple, and full of springtime creativity.
1. Easter Egg Decorating
One of our favorite Easter activities for preschoolers is a classic yet simple activity.
Supplies:
- Plastic or paper eggs
- Stickers, pom poms, markers, and non-toxic paint
- Trays or newspapers for easy cleanup
Instructions:
Let little ones dip, dab, and decorate their eggs however they like. Encourage color mixing or use simple stamps for younger children. This is also a great fine motor activity for toddlers.
2. Bunny Mask Craft
One of the easiest Easter activities for preschoolers is creating a bunny mask. Turn toddlers into little bunnies with this fun Easter bunny craft.
Supplies:
- Pre-cut paper plate masks or foam templates
- Markers, crayons, and construction paper
- Glue and cotton balls for tails or whiskers
Instructions:
Have toddlers color and decorate their own bunny masks. Add ears, draw noses, or glue on pom poms. It's a great way to combine art with pretend play.
3. Spring Flower Collage
One of our favorite spring time activities doubles as Easter activities for preschoolers — Celebrate springtime with toddler-friendly flower crafts.
Supplies:
- Tissue paper, felt, or cotton balls
- Glue sticks
- Pre-cut paper flower shapes
Instructions:
Let toddlers glue petals and build their own flower garden collage. This is one of the most colorful Easter crafts for toddlers age 3 and is ideal for fine motor practice.
4. Printable Easter Activities for Toddlers
If you're looking for screen-free and mess-free ideas for Easter crafts, use printable Easter worksheets and activities found online to reinforce early learning.
Ideas Include:
- Matching egg patterns
- Coloring pages
- Trace-the-bunny activities
- Fill-in Easter basket ideas for preschoolers
These work well in daycare centers or at home and provide a structured Easter activity for 2-year-olds and up.
5. Easter Cross Craft (Optional for Faith-Based Settings)
One of our most loved Easter activities for preschoolers includes an Easter cross craft. Introduce toddlers to the symbol of the Easter season through a simple and respectful craft.
Supplies:
- Cross-shaped templates
- Bright construction paper, glitter (optional), glue
Instructions:
Toddlers can decorate their crosses with dots, paper squares, or stickers. This gentle Easter artwork for toddlers is great for programs that include religious instruction.
Sensory Easter Activities Toddlers Will Love
Elevate Easter activities for preschoolers with sensory play, a key for toddler development. Easter is full of soft textures, spring scents, and bright colors that make sensory activities even more fun.
6. Easter Egg Sensory Bin
One of the most popular daycare Easter activities for toddlers.
Supplies:
- Rice, beans, or water beads
- Plastic Easter eggs
- Small toys, pom poms, scoops
Instructions:
Fill a shallow bin and hide eggs with surprises inside. Toddlers can scoop, grab, pour, and explore. Great for practicing hand-eye coordination and sensory discovery.
7. Easter Chick Pom Pom Sort
One of our favorite Easter activities for preschoolers is ideal for quiet-time and helps toddlers with color recognition.
Supplies:
- Muffin tin or egg carton
- Pom poms in spring colors
- Plastic tweezers or fingers
Instructions:
Have toddlers sort pom poms by color or size into the compartments. Label sections with pastel-colored paper dots to support matching and color learning.
8. Spring Water Play
Perhaps one of the most loved Easter activities for preschoolers includes water play! This fun Easter toddler activity is perfect for outdoor play or indoor sensory stations.
Supplies:
- Plastic cups, spoons, or toy bunnies
- Large shallow bin
- Colored water
Instructions:
Add pastel-colored water and let toddlers scoop, pour, and mix, making this activity safe, fun, and soothing.
Active Easter Games and Group Activities
These Easter toddler activities are ideal for playdates, daycare settings, or just some backyard fun with family.
9. Toddler-Friendly Easter Egg Hunt
A classic made safe for preschoolers and toddlers age 2 and under.
Tips:
- Use plastic eggs with soft fillings like stickers, erasers, or puff balls
- Keep hiding spots low and visible
- Pair with visual clues or matching colored baskets
It’s a fun way to fill Easter eggs for toddlers without using candy, and promotes early number recognition or sorting if you label the eggs.
10. Bunny Hop Relay
An active, fun Easter craft and game hybrid for gross motor development.
Supplies:
- Bunny ears
- Open play area or backyard
- Hula hoops or colored dots for stations
Instructions:
Let toddlers hop like bunnies between markers. For added fun, play Easter music in the background. This encourages movement, balance, and joy.
How to Do It
Set up a short race course and invite the toddlers to hop from start to finish. Demonstrate a few hops yourself to spark enthusiasm, then cheer them on as they race. This is one of the easter activities for toddlers that promotes gross motor skills, balance, and coordination while adding an element of playful competition.
11. Musical Easter Story Time
Perfect for classrooms or quiet play.
Supplies:
- Easter books
- Props like eggs and bunnies
- Soft music
Instructions:
Read stories aloud while children act out scenes or sing Easter songs. Great for language development and participation.
Easter Basket Ideas for Preschoolers and Toddlers
If you are looking for some new ideas for Easter baskets for toddlers, try to avoid relying just on candy and sweets by adding these fun Easter gifts for toddlers instead:
- Board books with spring themes
- Bunny-shaped bath toys
- Crayons or dot markers
- Toddler-safe gardening tools
- Mini puzzles or stacking toys
- Cute socks with Easter patterns
Celebrate the Season with Primary Beginnings Preschool
At Primary Beginnings, we love making every holiday educational and exciting for little ones. Whether we’re painting Easter bunnies, filling sensory bins, or reading stories about spring, our preschoolers experience fun, developmentally enriching activities all year long.
Reach out today to learn more about our early childhood programs and how we can support your child’s growth and exploration in a warm, caring environment. Call today at 919-790-6888 or fill out our contact form below to get started.