I love chocolate as much as the next person but sometimes (not very often tbh) it’s nice for it to not be all about the sugar high.

This is Max’s first Easter since his diagnosis so making Easter be about more than chocolate* will hopefully make it just as fun as other years — maybe even more so. He’s specifically asked to spend the holiday at home, so I thought we could try out these non-chocolate ideas over the Easter long weekend:

1. Dye Natural Easter Eggs
I’ve been a long-time reader of Sweet Fine Day and loved Jenna’s DIY on natural dye eggs. When I looked it up I was shocked to see that she posted that DIY six years ago! I’ve always wanted to try this activity with the kids and I think this year’s the perfect year.
DIY Natural Dye Eggs instructions at Sweet Fine Day

2. Plant Easter Flowers
After I helped out with decorations for my mum’s 70th this year I realised how much I love flowers. How did I never realise before? We don’t have a yard at home, but we’re planning to grow more flowers up at our shack on the coast. We can start by using planter boxes in the city with something classic like lavender, something fun and edible like cauliflower or something pretty like poppies.
Seeds to sew in Autumn available at The Seed Collection

3. Read Easter Books
I loved Easter when I was a child and my favourite Easter book was the story of the The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes. When Max was smaller we found Hopper’s Easter Surprise, and last year my mum gifted the kids A Colourful Wish. I really enjoy reading picture books to the kids and can’t wait to revisit these Easter faves this year.
Find The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes at Better Read Than Dead

4. Eat Easter Lunch At Home
Many moons ago when I was pregnant with Max I did not want to eat chocolate at all during my first trimester. It was the only time in my life I remember not wanting chocolate at Easter. This year we’re having lunch at home and I’m thinking of asking my mum to help me make a traditional Filipino feast with gluten-free variations on adobo (marinated chicken), pancit (noodles) and her lumpia (spring rolls).
More Filipino recipe ideas on BuzzFeed

5. Give Non-Edible Gifts
Our local children’s stores in the Inner West are really lovely and filled with quality Easter gift ideas. They also have online stores. Here are some of the gift ideas pictured above:

Lola Rabbit from Shorties / Egmont Small Wicker Basket from Shorties / Wooden Stacking Rabbit from Infancy / Ostheimer Wooden Rabbit Sitting from Shorties / G.Nancy Whale Under The Sea Long PJ Set from Shorties / Egmont Chicken Hand Puppet from Shorties / Fossil Nautiloid Eggs from Shorties / Jelly Cat Rabbit from The Toy Stop 

I hope you enjoy these ideas! Let me know if you have any other non-choc Easter activities you think we should try.

Bron x

*We’re not religious so we celebrate Easter as a cultural holiday, not a religious holiday.