7 things to do on Easter at home and still celebrate with family

Just because you’re hunkering down this Easter, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the holiday. Everything from brunch to crafts and even visiting with friends can still be fun to do with a little planning and creativity. And you don’t even have to pull out the folding table and chairs to include the entire family. Here are some tips on what to do on Easter Sunday at home with your family.

1. Visit with family online or outside

Today’s technology can bring your entire family together from all over the world with free teleconferencing services such as Skype, Zoom and Discord. Your entire family signs up for each account on their phones or laptops and, on Easter Sunday, you can create a conference video or audio call. Facetime is another free service you can use on your iPhone, iPad, iPod or Mac.

Or, if the weather is warm and you have family nearby, gather for a masked, socially distant get-together. Consider a picnic with blankets six feet apart and everyone bringing their own food. Alternatively, the host can prepare boxed meals the day before and everyone can pick up their own. A walk or hike is a great activity to share with friends and relatives while staying safe.

2. Celebrate with great food

If you have the time to shop for your holiday meal, you can enjoy one or more of the traditional Easter dinner options such as leg of lamb, glazed ham, lamb stew and hot cross buns. You can still have a feast even if you’re not having guests. If you’re at home and have the time, consider experimenting with fun new recipes to start new holiday traditions. Here are some great options for Easter dishes:

Start the day off with these tasty ham, egg and cheese brunch cups from one of my favorite websites for recipes, Pinch of Yum, or try their egg and croissant brunch bake. The Food Network is a great resource for free recipes, like this classic glazed ham recipe or this roasted lamb recipe from Tasty. If lamb stew is your preferred meal, this recipe from Natasha’s Kitchen will leave you filled. Of course, a great meal is nothing without awesome side dishes, like these honey glazed carrots from Food Network and these mouth-watering sauteed brussels sprouts.

Save room for dessert though and you can choose from these 80 Easter desserts on the Delish website. I personally prefer the Easter Egg Oreo Truffle.

Got leftovers? Keep the cooking fun going after the holiday with these five ways to use leftover Easter ham.

3. Make Easter crafts and decor

You don’t need to spend money on materials to create great Easter decorations. All you need is some paper from around the house and crayons and your children can design their own Easter eggs. When they are done, cut them out and hang them up or hide them for a unique Easter Egg hunt. If you’re looking for other decorations you can do at home, check out the DIY & Crafts website where they will show you how to make a rabbit from a styrofoam cup and how to make a centerpiece from an old book.

If you have a printer at home, Crayola has a lot of free coloring pages you can print and give to your children to keep them busy for hours. Maybe even put them in their Easter baskets. Other websites that have free Easter printables are Free Fun Easter, The Spruce Crafts, and Free Coloring Pages.

4. Tell stories

What else can you do on Easter Sunday at home? Try story time. Easter is the ultimate spring holiday, so check out some books with a spring theme through your library’s online portal or download some e-books on Amazon. Now he might not be a rabbit, but Curious George’s website has some fun adventures where he plants seeds and cooks pancakes. Surprise the kids with something new to do.

Or, use the occasion to tell stories of your childhood or your ancestors to your kids. Tell stories from Easters past, or get Grandma and Grandpa on the phone or Zoom to talk about holidays they remember or family members who you have passed on. It’s a great way to forge connections even when apart.

5. Host an egg hunt

Of course, the essential thing to do on Easter at home is have an Easter egg hunt! Make a family affair out of dying Easter eggs, then hide them inside the house or in the backyard for some Easter Egg hunt fun with your nearest and dearest. Your kids might even be happier to not have to compete with friends and cousins for the precious eggs. Take photos of them with their baskets full of goodies.

6. Watch an Easter service at home

If you don’t feel safe going to church, you can still worship by watching an Easter service at home. Find out if your church is streaming its holiday services. If not, look online to see who is, or ask family and friends if their church is offering online worhip. For example, the Washington National Cathedral is streaming Lent and Easter services in 2021.

7. Dress up and take photos

Just because you’re not going out doesn’t mean you can’t get fancy. Get the family dressed up and take family photos in your backyard; use a tripod or even a flat surface to set the camera and use the timer function to get everyone in the picture. If you don’t want to splurge on a new dress when you’re not leaving the house, borrow clothes from a neighbor or look for free or used clothes through online swap groups or consignment stores. Easter outfits often get worn only a few times so secondhand dresses and suits still look brand new.