Easter activities with the kids

A Grand Production
Some kids are natural performers - and what better way to encourage them than to get them involved in an Easter production at home? It's a great way of building confidence in children of all ages, and will keep the whole family entertained.

You will need

• Your child's favourite Easter-related story (something with a rabbit or chick as the central character would be great, but keep it simple)
• Some cotton wool and coloured paper for making masks and other accessories
• Paper ring reinforcers
• Elastic bands
• Face paints (optional)
• Paper, paints, gummed shapes, stickers and glitter glue for making a backdrop (optional)
• An enthusiastic audience!

1. First, decide which child (or adult!) will be playing which part, then rehearse with any younger children so that they're sure of the words they'll be reading. There's no need for them to memorise their lines - just type up and print out the dialogue for each of them and highlight their particular parts.
2. If there's time and you're all keen, paint a backdrop on some old wallpaper, print-out paper or sheets of A3 paper stuck together. It could be just sky, grass and flowers or, if you have some budding artists in your midst, you could make a whole farmyard or other scene. Younger children could decorate it with stickers; gummed paper shapes and glitter glue if you like.
3. Make some basic 'costumes': it's easy to make a mask from coloured paper: cut out the mask shape, make the eye-holes, then punch some holes through the sides for threading elastic bands through (it will help if you use paper ring reinforcers over the holes, back and front). The elastic bands can then hook over the actors' ears.
4. You can make a bunny's tail with some cotton wool, and double-sided tape for attaching it to your child's clothes. For a chick, just make a beak from yellow paper folded into a cone shape and attached with elastic bands as before. If you're feeling adventurous you could paint your child's feet and ankles with orange face paints, too!
5. Make sure all the children are comfortable with what they're doing before you put on your production, and have the camcorder at the ready: you could capture some of those priceless moments to treasure for years to come! Finally, be an appreciative audience: allow for plenty of ad-libbing and don't expect a word-perfect performance?