EASTER DOSE OF (Indoor/Outdoor) FUN & GAMES

Hey Kids,

There’s plenty of cool stuff to celebrate this time of year.   Spring has sprung now, the days are lighter, the birds are out singing, there’s plenty of wildlife about and the Easter Bunny pays us a nice little visit, what’s not to love!    

To help celebrate all things Easter and Spring here’s some nice activity ideas you can do over the 'holidays'.  We'll send another 'dose' for week 2.

• Natural Dye Eggs
• Create your own nest
• Make a Bird Feed Kebab
• Fun Party Games for all the family

Still time to DESIGN A PATCH, send us your designs for the chance to have them put into production.
Adventure on as best you can.  

OP HQ

In the wise words of Roald Dahl "A little nonsense now and then, is cherished by the wisest men"

NATURAL DYE EGGS

For thousands of years we’ve been using natural resources as a source of colour for all sorts of creations from early man cave paintings to dying clothes and textiles. What natural things can we think of that are nice and colourful? Flowers, Berries, some vegetables such as carrots and beetroot to name a few! 

When crushed and boiled in water these natural dyes release and can be used as a natural paint, exciting huh!   We’re going to experiment a little and since it’s Easter let’s use some natural dyes to make Easter egg decorations! Natural dyes are also really fun to paint with!

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

• Workspace in the  Kitchen

• 1 x Egg (Pale eggs will show the colour up the best)

• 1 x Pan 

• 1 x chopping board & knife (depending on the vegetable)

• Vinegar & Water

• Something to make into natural dye, there are tonnes of options but we suggest:

• Orange (Carrots, Onion Skins)

• Red (Red cabbage, Beetroot)

• Green (Artichokes, Spinach, Grass, Nettles)

• Yellow (Tumeric, Sunflower Petals, Paprika, Dandelion Flowers

HOW TO MAKE:

Take your natural item of choice and depending on what it is it may need either bruising or chopping first. Red cabbage, beetroot, onion skins will need finely chopping so please ask an adult to help. 

• Place the natural materials in the pan then add a mixture of water and vinegar to simmer for ½ hour covered. (Roughly two table spoons of vinegar to one pint of water) The vinegar helps release the dyes from the ingredient. The dye is ready when it reaches a few shades darker than you want your egg. 

• After ½ hour place your egg in the pan for 15 minutes fully submerged. 

• Take off the boil, let cool and leave the egg in the water. Place the water and egg in the fridge overnight.

**Note you can also strain your dye through a mesh strainer into a separate pot rather than boil the egg and then submerge your egg afterwards.

You have your own naturally dyed Easter Egg decoration, Something the bunny would be very proud of! Experiment with different dyes to see what works. Remember to always ask permission before you use anything.  

Send us some photos of your creations, Check out my orange “turmeric” egg!

SAFETY TIPS:  Natural Dyes can stain so please do this in the correct environment with the correct kitchen equipment (we do not suggest using your favourite collectable chinaware for example!)

You will need an adult to supervise the cooking and preparation part as you will need to chop and boil ingredients.  

MAKE A BIRDS NEST FOR YOUR EASTER DECORATIONS

Have you heard the birds signing to each other lately? Well that’s because it’s spring time and birds know it is time to find a mate and start building a nest to lay their eggs! Nests provide shelter, warmth and a safe place where birds can lay their eggs. Once two birds have paired off, one or both of them will begin gathering materials for their nests.

What natural materials do you think birds will use to build their nests?

Twigs, Sticks, Grass, Moss, Feathers, Wool, Litchen, Fur, Mud, Stems, Rushes – All sorts! Different bird breeds make different nests in all shapes and sizes, some simple and some really complex!

Have a go at building one yourself, you can use it to keep your Easter egg creations in or perhaps you could place it in a tree for other birds to nest in or use as materials.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:  Forage for materials to make a nest with. Think what will the structure be made out of? What could we use to make it warm for the hatching eggs? What will hold it together? How big will your nest be? Will it be open or covered?

HOW TO MAKE:  Weave or thread twigs or stems together to make the base of your nest, then line it with softer materials. A bird will weave the materials roughly in place and then will place itself in the centre, turning around and around pressing the materials down to make the shape (I think I’d be dizzy!).

Once you have made your base make a fist and place it in the centre of the nest pretending it is the bird. Turn the nest round from the inside pushing downwards and outwards gently to push the materials together. Adding as you go. Voila you’ve made a birds nest!

MAKE A BIRD FEED KEBAB

Whilst we’re on the subject of our wonderful flying feathered friends, building nests and singing all day is hungry work! Like some strange audition to the voice. Anyway, lets lend them a hand by building a delicious bird food kebab which can be hung in the garden, on balconies, in trees or outside of windows. See if you can spot the birds that come over to nibble on the treats!

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

• String

• Floral wire or natural bind wire. This is strong to hold the food on but you can use alternatives to make a slightly different design such as twine or strong string which the food can hang from. 

• Bird Kebab Food – Hard Cheese, Apple slices, Bread, Raisins.  

HOW TO BUILD:

• Prepare your food, you might have to cut some of it into big chunks and wedges such as the apple and cheese. 

• Carefully thread each piece onto the wire alternating with different food like a kebab.  

• Bend the wire to form a circle, hooking the ends together. 

• Tie a loop of string to the wire and hang your kebab where you choose. 

Egg Tray Nature Scavenger Hunt 

We love a scavenger hunt indoors and out! This one is super easy to do either using items in the home or out in your garden. All you need is an old egg carton, the bigger the better to fit more items in or otherwise some will have to squeeze!

Now using the scavenger hunt below can you find these things? The trick is they must be able to fit into one of the egg holders in the tray. Try and think of fun alternatives if you are doing this inside as they don’t have to be natural. Remember to return what you find to its rightful place once the challenge is complete! 

 

Finally a couple of FUN PARTY GAMES guaranteed laughs!

EGG ROLL:   Draw out a start line and a finish line, you can make it as long as you like. We’d suggest doing this outside or in the kitchen as you will be rolling an egg. Hint (use boiled eggs to avoid mess!)

Players start on hands and knees and must roll the egg to the finish line only using their nose! No cheating and this is a race!

AFTER EIGHT GAME (also works with Chocolate Digestives!):  Using flat surfaced chocolate such as an after eight. Players must tilt their heads and balance the chocolate on their foreheads. Now try to manoeuvre the chocolate without using your hands from your forehead to your mouth. If the chocolate drops on the floor you must start again!  3 – 2 – 1 GO! 

It's important to keep active and creative! If you have any activity ideas you'd like to share, suggestions on what you want to see here, favourite riddles or pictures of what you have been creating that you think will inspire us, we want to know! You might even get a shout out! 
SEND US A MESSAGE

Adventures can be calm as well as exciting. Keep the adventures going whether in your home, garden, room or mind they're all out there, you just have search, use imagination and get creative!  

“If you never did you should. These things are fun and fun is good.” Dr Suess