Easter is a fun holiday for everyone and a perfect opportunity to bring cheer and distract us from the ongoing pandemic. Whether or not you participate in the religious aspect, the Easter holiday is bright and joyful and is a great time to (virtually) get together with family and friends.
We rounded up seven festive ways to celebrate the holiday while reducing your exposure to COVID-19.
Easter-Themed Activities For All Ages
Easter is a fun holiday for everyone and a perfect opportunity to bring cheer and distract us from the ongoing pandemic.
Whether you participate in the religious aspect or not, the Easter holiday is bright and joyful and is a great time to (virtually) get together with family and friends.
We rounded up seven festive ways to celebrate the holiday while reducing your exposure to COVID-19.
These ideas are senior-friendly, suitable for any age, and fun to do in groups or one-on-one.
We’ve also included plenty of suggestions for using supplies you likely have on hand to minimize the need to shop.
7 Ways to Celebrate Easter While Staying Safe
1. Decorate the house
Creating simple Easter-themed decorations is a fun activity; placing them all around the house will instantly brighten the mood.
Try these festive DIY Easter decor ideas:
- Dye eggs for an Easter egg hunt or for a table display for an Easter-themed meal. Here are simple dyeing instructions using food coloring, and this video explains how to use staple food items to create dye for eggs (at 1 min 15 sec in video).
- Hang these 3-D Easter egg ornaments. Make these fun ornaments with colored paper (or color in the eggs after printing on plain paper) and ribbon (or string scraps).
- Display this festive table centerpiece – you only need an egg carton and some paint or colored markers.
- Hang this Bunny Easter garland – don’t worry if you don’t have pom-poms, the bunny shapes are festive enough on their own! And feel free to color in your bunnies if you don’t have colored paper.
- Make these happy sock bunnies. Use colored paper for the face and belly, as you’re more likely to have that on hand.
2. Make creative Easter baskets (for future gifting)
If you typically enjoy creating Easter baskets to give as gifts, you can creatively use household items to make great ones this year!
You don’t have to make the basket yourself; look around for an empty box and cover it with colored paper to create a festive container.
Once you have a basket or container, fill it with some DIY “grass” (cut plain or colored paper into thin strips) and candy or decorations from the above ideas.
These excellent tutorials cleverly use materials you’ll already have at home:
- Soda bottle Easter basket
- Recycled paper Easter basket
- Paper Easter basket – instead of brass fasteners, try making two holes so you can tie with a twist tie, ribbon, or string. Using glue on each layer might work too.
- Woven paper basket – if you don’t have colored paper, make colorful patterns and shapes on plain paper.
- Milk jug Easter basket
Since you might not see the basket recipient for a little while, take a photo and send it to them or show it to them over a video call. It’s a virtual gift that will have a physical follow-up in the future!
3. Send Easter cards to family and friends
It’s always fun to get cards or letters in the mail.
So why not make simple Easter cards to send to friends and family?
You could make them by hand or print some out. They don’t have to be fancy, it’s the thought that matters most.
Some templates you might like:
- 10 free, printable Easter Cards
- Free printable Easter cards
- More free printable Easter cards
- Washi tape Easter egg card tutorial – instead of washi tape, use colored tissue paper or just draw with colored markers or pencils.
4. Have a virtual family gathering on Easter Sunday
Holidays are a great reason to get together with family and friends.
This year, move your celebrations online and have a virtual gathering instead.
For free one-on-one video calls:
- FaceTime on Apple iPhones
- Zoom
- Facebook Messenger
- Google Meet (Web / iPhone / Android)
- Google Duo (Web / iPhone / Android)
For free group video calls:
- Zoom – here’s a helpful video tutorial on using Zoom, FYI their group video calls are free for 40 minutes (hint: start a new call after 40 minutes).
- Google Meet (Web / iPhone / Android)
- Google Duo (Web / iPhone / Android) – for up to 32 participants
If video doesn’t work for everyone, set up a free conference call line so everyone can dial in and hear each other.
Here are a few free services:
5. Play Easter games
Games are fun and festive, whether you have 2 or 20 people.
You could even play these over video or audio group calls – email the printables and instructions beforehand.
Easter Picture Bingo
Easter Number Bingo
Indoor Easter egg hunt
- If kids (or adults!) are interested, create an indoor Easter egg hunt by having one person hide eggs in a room and then let everyone search for them.
- The prize for the most eggs could be one of the Easter baskets you made!
- Tip: Remember how many eggs were hidden so you can make sure they’re all found.
6. Participate virtually in Easter church services
Many faith organizations offer online services to reduce coronavirus exposure.
If attending church services is part of your Easter tradition, find out if your church will have services online.
Or to find a church offering online services, enter a search phrase like “easter service online” or something similar into your search engine to find a service that appeals to you.
7. Have a virtual Easter Parade
Ask family and friends to dress up in their Easter outfits (or bunny costumes!) and take photos.
Then, send the photos via email or text to share the fun.
Recommended for you:
- Best Way to Make Video Calls to Seniors with Alzheimer’s or Dementia in Nursing Homes
- Nursing Home Lockdown: 6 Ways to Stay Connected with Seniors During a Coronavirus Scare
- 8 Shelter-in-Place Coronavirus Tips for Senior Care in Your Home
About the Author
Connie Chow
Connie was a hands-on caregiver for her grandmother for 20 years. (Grandma made it to 101 years old!) She knows how challenging, overwhelming, and all-consuming caring for an older adult can be. She also knows how important support is — especially in the form of practical solutions, valuable resources, and self-care tips.
