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Easter activities for children in Cornwall

 

Gardens, parks, attractions and even houses will be scattered with Easter eggs this March and April as eagle-eyed youngsters go on the hunt for these oval shaped objects, and hope for a surprise and a treat! 

To read about Easter events and activities in Cornwall click here... 

 

 

Easy to Make: Easter Wreath

Christmas isn’t the only time of year when people dress their doors with decorative wreaths. A recent trend has seen many people sprucing up their front doors with displays of bright colour and spring materials in the shape of an Easter wreath! Creating one is really simple and something the children can add an extra special little touch to. Take a look at Pinterest for some inspiration on materials and design.

 

Easy to Make: Easter Bunny Bunting 

Decorate the walls and window frames with these bright little bunnies. To make: buy a variety of patterned card, place a basic bunny template on top of each piece of card and draw around it. Cut this out and glue on a small ball of cotton wool for a tail. To finish, attach each bunny to a natural piece of string using mini wooden pegs.

 

Easy to Make: Eggy Lambs 

These funky-looking lambs will look a treat perched on a mantelpiece or sideboard. Plus they’re so easy to create – simply roll small pieces of cotton wool into balls and glue these to the surface of the egg. Cover the whole egg with cotton wool, leaving a space at the front where you can add a funny face!

 

Easy to Do: Painting Easter Eggs 

Very young children may wish to use hard-boiled eggs, whilst slightly older-children may use hollowed-out eggs. Cover the smooth glass-like surface of egg with acrylic paint. Using a mixture of soft brushes, coat the egg in a base colour. To add detail, use a fine brush dipped in paint or glitter, or use finely-tipped pens.

 

Easy to Make: Easter Nest Cakes

You’ll need some nests to cradle all those tasty eggs this Easter. So how about making these equally tasty nests:

Ingredients:  Shredded Wheat; Cooking chocolate; Milk Chocolate Mini eggs

Crumble up the Shredded Wheat in a bowl. Then melt the cooking chocolate in a separate bowl placed in a pan of boiling water. Carefully remove the bowl and slowly pour the melted cooking chocolate over the crushed Shredded Wheat. Combine together. Then get the kids to shape the mixture into nests in the cake cases. Finish, by placing 2 or 3 chocolate mini eggs onto the top of the cooled down nests.

 

So, why is Easter on a different date each year?

Have you ever wondered why Easter falls on a different date each year? Well, the reason for this lies with the decisions made by the first council of the Christian church, also known as the Council of Nicaea, in the year 325 AD.

This council used a complex formula to calculate the future dates of Easter.

The council decided that Easter should be celebrated on the first Sunday after the full moon that occurs on, or just after, the spring equinox.

The church set a fixed date for the spring equinox as 21 March and established that Easter can take place between 22 March and 25 April. This year, Easter Sunday is on 21 April.

Yet, this year, the full moon and the spring equinox actually occur on Wednesday 20 March. So, shouldn’t Easter be held on Sunday 24 March instead?

Astronomically speaking, yes it should.

However, the ancient calculations did not consider lunar motions for our times. The key point here is that an ecclesiastical full moon does not necessarily happen on the same date as the actual full moon.

In 2019, the first full moon after 21 March occurs on 19 April, so consequently Easter will be celebrated on Sunday 21 April.

 

Easter egg hunts with a difference:

The Easter Egg Hunt is usually pretty-high up on the Easter activity list but what are the alternative options to searching for chocolate eggs?

Primary Times has been on its own ‘hunt’ for fun ideas that will get the kids active, listening and counting… Here they are:

 

 

Matching Sound Egg Hunt

Test your child’s auditory processing ability by creating a game that will encourage them to match a sound in an egg case to an image of the item that is making the sound (in the egg case) on a printed sheet of paper.

You can fill the egg cases with items such as coins or pasta shapes or seeds.

Once all the eggs and sounds have been matched, the children can be rewarded with a treat.

 

Make the Kids Work for their Chocolate Treats!

Lay on some fun energy-burning Easter egg hunts for the kids.

Simply hide several plastic empty egg cases around the house, garden or local park and fill them with little notes inscribed with a physical activity to complete.

Each egg has a fun mini exercise challenge for the kids. For example, this could be: do ten star jumps; run on the spot for 2 minutes, do a roly-poly.

After all that exertion, the kids will have earnt their chocolate treat!

 

Colour Matching and Maths Egg Hunt Game

This is a simple game where children hunt for coloured eggs.

You may wish to use mini chocolate eggs wrapped in different coloured tin foil and hide them around the garden.

Once all the eggs have been collected they can be separated by colour and counted – and then consumed!

 

The Story of the Easter Egg

The humble egg is the food most synonymous with Easter. It symbolises the start of new life, rebirth and fertility. Many people associate the egg with Christian values at Easter, yet the egg also played a role in lots of pre-Christian festivals celebrated by the Ancient Egyptians, Persians and Romans.

In the Middle Ages when people were unable to eat eggs during Lent they began to decorate and store them for Easter Sunday and the tradition of the egg hunt began.

The first chocolate Easter eggs were made in France and Germany in the early 19th Century, and in 1873 the first British chocolate Easter egg was produced by Fry’s.

Cadbury quickly followed producing a chocolate egg in 1875 and by 1892 produced 19 different types of eggs.

Today, the UK chocolate Easter egg market is worth more than £220 million with sales growing every year. Cadbury’s Crème Egg is the most popular and over 500 million eggs are made every year.

 

Easter Adventures

Easter trails, scavenger hunts, egg and spoon races, bottle-feeding lambs, beach cleans – you name it – there’s plenty of adventures to be had this spring.

Easter Egg Hunts are usually a big hit with youngsters who simply love becoming mini-explorers and what’s more, this fun activity can be affordable.

You have the choice of hosting an egg-citing Easter Egg hunt in your back garden or local park, or alternatively head to a local attraction and enjoy the novelty of the occasion with lots of other families.

During the Easter school holiday, should the weather allow, go outdoors each day for some free fun.

It’s easy to distract children with uncomplicated activities such as spotting and naming clouds, searching for mini-beasts or seashore critters, visiting and perhaps bottle-feeding newborn lambs, watching a spider weaving a web, and following slimy snail trails. It’s all great fun and doesn’t cost a penny!

 

**Gary, these are all editorials**

 

The Golden Easter Egg Challenge at Paradise Park in Hayle

 

Complete the Easter quiz and claim your yummy chocolate reward. Plus, become a Wildlife Hero with the nature and environment trail. Fantastic daily events including the ‘Eagles of Paradise Display’ and ‘Free Flying Bird Show’ giving you the chance to get up close with stunning eagles, owls, cockatoos and macaws to name a few. Explore the awesome JungleBarn indoor play centre, with giant slides, suspended rope bridge, fireman’s pole, spinning discs, multi-level soft play and toddler’s zone with ball fountain. Takes place from 28 March to 19 April 2020.

 

Find out more here: www.paradisepark.org.uk

 

 

Free family activities at Penlee House

 

There will be a free ‘Arty Afternoon’ activity on 9 April at Penlee House for children from 1:30pm to 3:30pm. Also, don’t forget that there are free Family Fun activities on Saturdays with drop-in workshops from 2:30pm to 3:30pm in the galleries.

Younger siblings can enjoy ‘stay and play’ sessions on weekdays with Baby & Parent sessions on 23

March, 6 April, 20 April and 4 May from 10am to 11:30 am. Preschoolers and carers can take part in the free ‘Tick Tock Time’ creative sessions on 7 April and 5 May from 1pm to 2:30pm.

 

Find out more here: www.penleehouse.org.uk/whats-on

 

 

Uncover the Legend of the Golden Egg at Pirate’s Quest this Easter

 

Embark on an egg-straordinary adventure with the crew at Pirate’s Quest and uncover the Legend of the Golden Egg this Easter (28 March – 19 April). Newquay’s piratical walk-through attraction will take budding buccaneers on a voyage of discovery on an egg-citing quest for the prized possessions which were buried amongst treasure and have laid long forgotten for hundreds of years.

Calico Jack’s crew of live pirate performers will guide new recruits through the authentic sets and scenes of Pirate’s Quest and transport visitors back 300 years to the Golden Age of piracy en-route.

Young rapscallions and scurvy seadogs alike will have to help Pirate’s Quest’s crew recover the Legend of the Golden Eggs using a treasure map and learn about piracy along the way.

Throughout the attraction, the experience has been enhanced with updated costumes, special effects, lighting and sound in addition to the new storyline for 2020.

Prospective pirates are advised to book online to secure their tour. Advanced booking is recommended as experiences regularly sell out due to popularity.

 

Find out more here: www.piratesquest.co.uk/

 

 

New Helford River Children’s Sailing Trust Easter Taster Sessions – Booking Now!

 

If like us, you can’t wait for the sailing season to begin, why not book a short course with Helford River Children’s Sailing Trust (HRCST) on 6 & 7 April and 7 & 8 April 9.30am-12.30pm.

HRCST’s short courses are aimed at 8-14 year olds and make an ideal taster for anyone new to the sport or refresher for those who have already begun learning with school or club. If your child is working towards RYA Stage 1-4, the Instructors will record their progress in their RYA sailing log book. Short courses cost £50 and run for two half days from 9.30am-12.30pm.

 

For more information or to book speak to one of their friendly team on 01326 702326 or visit www.hrcst.org.uk

 

 

Special offer with Primary Times/Adrenalin Quarry

 

MORE, BETTER, FASTER! Choose from The Zip, the Giant Swing, Karting, Axe Throwing and the Aquapark. Pay as you go or make a day of it with special combo deals onsite or online. Primary Times Aquapark 2020 offer limited to first 1,000. Look for the ad on page 15.

 

Find out more here: www.adrenalinquarry.co.uk/

 

 

Explore an Easter Wonderland at The Shipwreck Treasure Museum

 

Visitors are invited to fall down the rabbit hole and discover a wonderland at Charlestown’s Shipwreck Treasure Museum this Easter (28 March – 19 April). Inspired by Alice’s famous adventures down the rabbit hole and through the looking glass, visitors will embark on a curious subterranean adventure.

Travel down through a swirling vortex to a magical realm where nothing is quite what it seems. Enjoy a bizarre game of crazy croquet with flamingos, wander past the Eat Me, Drink Me wall of mirrors before exploring the bewildering ‘little big room’.

Join in the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party and create your own crazy headwear in the fun craft sessions, be careful as you tiptoe past the house of cards and prepare to be confounded in the tunnel of curiosities.

Located in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Charlestown, the Shipwreck Treasure Museum is home to Europe’s largest collection of shipwreck treasures. It was also a filming location for the 2010 live-action remake of Alice in Wonderland.

 

Find out more here: www.shipwreckcharlestown.co.uk

 

 

Enjoy an Eggs-plosive Easter at Flambards

 

Visitors can experiment with ‘eggs-plosive’ entertainment this Easter holiday at Flambards Theme Park from 28 March – 19 April.

Combining rocket science, chemistry and myth busting tests, the scientists will be on hand throughout the holidays to perform mind-blowing chemical reactions in front of audiences in the indoor laboratory. Budding scientists can don their white coats and goggles to take part in the action as well.

Enjoy explosive 30-minute shows throughout the holidays daily* at 1pm and 3pm and be amazed by experiments galore including slime making workshops! *Except for Sunday 12 April.

On Sunday 12 April Flambards’ foxy mascot Ferdi will be leading the BIG Easter Egg Quiz Trail – track down the clues dotted around the park, then hand in your quiz sheet and claim a chocolate egg.

As well as the explosive Easter event, all Flambards rides and other attractions will be open. Meet life-size dinosaurs in the Jurassic Journey and uncover fossils in the Dino-Dig. Travel back in time in the incredible indoor attractions which include the Victorian Village.

 

Visit www.flambards.co.uk for more information.

 

 

Bodmin Keep takes you to India!

This Easter Bodmin Keep unveils their new India Display! See fascinating artefacts from The Siege of Lucknow and the Indian Mutiny giving a moving insight into the campaign fought there. And to celebrate the rich history and culture of India there will be wonderful Indian-inspired activities on daily throughout Easter from 30 March to 4 April – from Quilting demonstrations and talks to dance workshops and henna to peacock crafting! All activities free with entry £6 adult, £2.50 child and £16 family ticket. Pay once and FREE all year too!

 

Just visit their website for all the listings www.bodminkeep.org

 

 

Update from Brownies in Cornwall

 

The annual County Sixers and Seconders days for Brownies aged 8 and 9 was held on a very wet weekend. The Brownies had a marvellous time getting covered in mud under the cargo net of the adventure course, whizzing down the zip wire with the rain in their faces, accepting the extra challenges of the wet and slippery low ropes and getting the pedal cars through the puddles.

They were glad to get indoors to warm up and make scones and Cornwall bead pins and practise their sling shots too. The Brownies also had the opportunity to continue to develop their plastic free promise by producing their own food wax wraps.

For more, visit www.girlguiding.org.uk or call 0800 169 5901.

 

 

Peter Rabbit comes to Lappa Valley

 

Family favourite Peter Rabbit™, from the Beatrix Potter books and popular CBeebies show, will be visiting Lappa Valley on Thursday 9 and Friday 10 April 2020. Come along and meet him at intervals throughout the day! They’d love you to join him for his Easter visit – take a steam train ride into Lappa’s world of play and adventure and bring your little ones to say hello to Peter.

 

Find out more about our events this year, and activities they’re running each day, at:

www.lappavalley.co.uk/events

 

 

 

ADDITIONAL NEEDS SESSIONS AT IBOUNCE EXETER

 

iBounce Cornwall are committed to providing accessible sessions for everybody and run regular additional needs sessions for those who would benefit from them. The sessions run weekly and provide a calm, quiet and colourful environment to enjoy. Sessions cost £6 and last one hour, with one carer free per admission. For more details and timetable information, visit www.i-bounce.co.uk

 

WHAT’S ON THIS EASTER AT IBOUNCE CORNWALL

 

There’s lots to keep you amused at iBounce and iPlay in Cornwall this Easter…

Our resident Dinosaurs are always hungry so make sure you keep a close eye on your food!

As well as daily Easter egg hunts over Easter weekend, we are running Parent & Toddler, Sibling Sessions and and Additional Needs Sessions throughout the Easter holidays, please check our timetables online for details: www.i-bounce.co.uk .

Don’t forget to use the Primary Times discount code PRIMARYTIMES10 to receive 10% off your online booking!

 

 

Dinosaur Adventures at Crealy: 30 March to 13 April

Join Crealy this Easter holiday for a Jurassic adventure with their Eggo-Saurus Dino Hunt. Intrepid explorers will be challenged to find all of the dinosaur eggs by solving clues and riddles to win an egg-ceptional chocolatey prize. Participants will need to keep their eyes out for the ptero-FACT-yl pop ups on their journey to learn more about their favourite prehistoric creatures.

 

Find out more at www.crealy.co.uk