Simple Delights: Cooking Up Fun with Your Easter Play Menus
Easter is just around the corner, and it's time to get creative! Here are some easy, homemade recipes for play dough, paint, salt dough, and slime that will keep little ones entertained and engaged in Easter-themed crafts.
**1. Easter-themed Play Dough Recipes**
Create vibrant, pastel-coloured play dough using natural dyes or food colouring. One popular method is the no-cook playdough, which requires simple ingredients like flour, salt, cream of tartar, oil, and water. Divide the dough into portions and add food colouring for Easter colours such as pink, yellow, green, and blue[2].
For a more earthy touch, try plant-dyed play dough using beetroot, spirulina, or turmeric for natural colouring[1]. Another unique option is the two-ingredient cloud dough, made with flour and oil, perfect for sensory bins with bunny or egg molds[3]. Lastly, a simple conditioner and cornstarch play dough offers a soft and silky texture suitable for Easter sensory play[5].
**2. Easter-Themed Salt Dough**
Salt dough is an easy and versatile craft material. Mix 2 cups of flour, 1 cup of salt, and 1 cup of water until a dough forms. Roll out the dough and cut into Easter shapes such as eggs, carrots, or bunnies. Bake in a low oven (about 200°F) for 2-3 hours until hardened. Paint with pastel colours after baking to create festive ornaments[6].
**3. Easter Play Dough Paint**
Use homemade play dough spread thinly for a unique finger painting experience. Mix flour, water, food colouring, and a small amount of salt to create doughy paint that can be used for decorating Easter scenes[6]. Alternatively, use food colouring mixed with water and cornstarch to make finger paints for decorating Easter eggs or craft papers.
**4. Easter Slime Ideas**
Slime is always a hit with kids! Use white glue, baking soda, and contact lens solution as a base. Add pastel food colouring or iridescent glitter "egg shells" to make the slime festive. Add small plastic Easter eggs or bunny charms inside the slime for sensory surprises[7].
**Bonus: Easter Play Dough Mats**
Printable mats with Easter images such as bunnies, baskets, chicks, carrots, and eggs can inspire play dough molding and decoration activities[4].
These recipes allow for natural colours and textures, safe for children aged 2 and up, with fun Easter themes that promote sensory play, creativity, and fine motor skill development[1][2][3][4][5].
In addition to these recipes, there are numerous Easter-themed craft ideas and subscription boxes available from various sources. Smart School House provides a recipe for making edible paint from marshmallows, while Little Bins for Little Hands offers a Top 10 Egg Launchers. Craftulate's Jelly Bean Play Dough and Nurture Store's play dough lambs are also popular craft items. Something 2 Offer has a Top 10 Subscription Boxes for Kids, and Artsy Momma has a Top 10 Paper Plate Easter Crafts for Kids.
For even more Easter crafting inspiration, check out Hands & Feet from Fun Handprint Art's Top 10 Ways to make an Easter Bunny with Prints. Happy crafting!
- Expand your Easter-themed crafting with handprint art designs, using play dough to create foot or hand imprints for unique Easter bunny, chick, or egg art pieces.
- After homemade food-and-drink creations and Easter-themed crafts, freshen up your home-and-garden decor with salt dough ornaments, painted with pastel colours to match your Easter lifestyle.
