We all know of the illustrious QLD Olympic Games but this Easter you have the chance to host the next big thing in your very own backyard: The Easter Games.
This activity is inspired by:
The Smallest Bilby and the Easter Games by Nette Hilton and Bruce Whatley (Working Title Press)
In The Smallest Bilby and the Easter Games, the bunnies decide to resign from delivering Easter eggs to children. Many animals of the Australian bush want to fill the rabbits’ position, but they can’t all do the job. The bunnies decide to hold the Easter Games to decide which animal will deliver the eggs on Easter Sunday.
Activity:
Read The Smallest Bilby and the Easter Games with your children, then organise and run your own Easter Games to play your family on Easter Sunday. Spend the few days before Easter planning games, creating props and organising prizes.
Let your kids play a large role in inventing the games:
- They may get ideas from the book.
- You may be able to stimulate some ideas by giving them a range of props (eg. plastic eggs, golf clubs etc. )- they need to work out a way to use the props in a game.
- You could talk about party games they know and they could adapt them to fit the Easter theme.
Activity Ideas from my family:
(Some are original, some are classics and some are adaptations of games we know)
1. Bunny Hop
Assign the start and finish line. Each player lines up on the starting line, and then takes turns rolling a die. The number that they roll determines the number of hops to take toward the finish line. First to cross the finish line wins.
2. Egg Shot-Put
Each player receives a large Easter Egg (or hard-boiled eggs) and stands in a 2m diameter circle. The object is to push the egg as far as you can (Shot-put: rather than throw it). The winner is the person who can throw the egg as far as possible.
3. Catcher in the Fields
Families can form groups of two. One team member A has 12 hard-boiled or Easter eggs in a bucket. The other member of the team (B) is holding an egg carton. The player A throws eggs to the other team member (B) who is standing in front of another line. The goal of the game, is to collect as many eggs in the carton as possible. The team with the most eggs wins.
4. Easter Egg Bowls
Each member of the family receives a different colour Easter egg. In the middle of your yard, place a bunny. It can be stuffed or made out of chocolate. Each player takes turns standing behind the starting line, and rolling their egg towards the bunny. The winner is the person whose eggs stops the closest to the bunny.
5. Hot Cross Bun Frenzy
How many Hot Cross Buns can you butter in 10 seconds?
6. Move along little egg
Each player must line up with an egg made of plastic and a straw at the starting line. The egg must be rolled from the starting line to the finishing line. Players cannot touch the eggs with any part of their body. The players must blow through the straw to roll their eggs. First to cross the finish line is the winner.
7. Egg and Spoon Race
Each player must line up with an egg, either hard-boiled or chocolate. The egg must be balanced on the spoon while the player runs to the finish. The player who drops the egg must start again at the starting line. First person to cross the finish line wins.
8. Musical Chicks
The game is similar to musical chairs except that instead of walking the chairs around, players must cluck like chickens.
