Making Easter Gifts with Kids: Easy Ideas & Step-by-Step Instructions

Making Easter gifts with kids is most relaxed when you choose simple steps and the result doesn't have to be “perfect”. In this guide you'll find everyday-friendly ideas by age (from about 1 year up to preschool), short instructions, material alternatives and little shortcuts for real kitchen-table life. We craft the way families really do: between the lunchbox, the laundry basket and the famous cry of “I do it!!!”. And yes: glue on the elbow is no big deal – it's just proof that you were really in it together.

Ulli & Flo

Owners of bieco · Hamburg · parents themselves

We love Easter gifts made by little hands: they're rarely straight, but always honest. And if it only works for 20 minutes – then those are simply 20 good minutes. Feel free to browse our Easter gifts collection.

“Process crafting” means: trying things out matters more than the final result. This is especially handy with toddlers, because you have to correct less – and your child still learns a lot (and is proud as can be).

Making Easter gifts with kids: 5 quick ideas (10–25 min.)

If you're short on time, pick ideas with a clear finish line: done in under 25 minutes. These five work surprisingly well in many families – even when someone calls out “Thirsty!” in the middle.

• 1) Voucher egg (10–15 min., from about 3 years)
  Materials: paper, pens, scissors (adult), glue.
  How to: Cut out two egg shapes, glue them together along the edge (leave the top open), and put voucher slips inside. Ideas: “One story read aloud”, “One helping hand in the garden”, “One cake with you”.
• 2) Fingerprint chick card (10–20 min., from about 1 year)
  Materials: non-toxic finger paint, paper, felt-tip pen.
  How to: Dab on yellow fingerprints, let them dry, then add eyes and a beak. Also works as a little card for the Easter nest.
• 3) Torn-paper egg picture (15–25 min., from about 1–2 years)
  Materials: colored paper (or flyer pages), glue stick, egg template.
  How to: Your child tears, you put glue on the shape, your child presses the pieces on. It always looks like it was meant to be that way.
• 4) Mini picture set (15–25 min., from about 2–6 years)
  Materials: paper, stamps (or toilet-roll stamps), paint.
  How to: Stamp 3–5 small sheets (eggs/flowers/bunnies), let them dry, and tie them together with ribbon. Now you have a little “art book” to give as a gift.
• 5) Easter nest to go (20–25 min., from about 2–6 years)
  Materials: yogurt cup/muffin liner, paper, glue, “paper grass”.
  How to: Decorate the cup, add paper grass, attach a name tag. It's a gift and its wrapping in one.

Simple Easter craft ideas for children from 1 year

For children from 1 year, stamping, gluing and tearing work most reliably. Scissors, tiny parts and “do it exactly here” are more for very good days at that age (and lots of patience).

• Fingerprint chicks (from about 1 year | 10–20 min.)
  Materials: finger paint, paper, felt-tip pen.
  How to: Dab on fingerprints, let dry, draw the details. Tip: One chick is enough – it doesn't have to be twelve.
• Cotton-wool egg (from about 1–2 years | 15–25 min.)
  Materials: cotton pads/cotton wool, glue, paper egg.
  How to: Pull the cotton wool apart, glue it on, optionally dab with pastel paint. Great texture, manageable mess.
• Toilet-roll stamp eggs (from about 1–3 years | 10–20 min.)
  Materials: empty toilet roll, paint, paper.
  How to: Press the roll into an oval, dab it in paint, stamp eggs. If it “wobbles”: place your hand over theirs and press together.

Craft supplies checklist: what you need at home (and what can be replaced)

With a small basic box, you're set for almost all Easter crafts. And if something is missing: you can often manage with kitchen alternatives (cardboard instead of craft card, yogurt cup instead of a bowl).

• Paper & cardboard: printer paper, construction paper (if you have it), cardboard from shipping boxes
• Glue: glue stick for paper, liquid craft glue for “3D” (e.g. cotton wool)
• Paints: finger paint or watercolors, felt-tip pens
• Tools: pencil, ruler, brush, children's scissors (for older kids)
• Decoration: yarn, ribbons, fabric scraps, natural materials (e.g. twigs); buttons only for older children

With paints, glues and modeling clay, it's worth taking a look at the ingredients and instructions. The Verbraucherzentrale NRW (a German consumer advice center) recommends watching out for possible harmful substances in craft materials and using simple alternatives from the kitchen and nature if needed (according to Verbraucherzentrale NRW: Crafting without harmful substances, in German).

Making Easter decorations with toddlers (without fiddly frustration)

Easter decorations with toddlers work best when you think big. Large shapes, large gluing areas, few small parts – then it stays cheerful.

• “Easter egg” window picture (from about 2 years | 20–30 min.)
  Materials: tissue paper or thin colored paper, glue, paper egg frame.
  How to: Cut out the frame (you), fill the inside with paper pieces (child). Hang it in the window – done.
• Egg garland (from about 2–3 years | 20–40 min.)
  Materials: paper eggs, hole punch, string/yarn.
  How to: Paint or decorate the eggs, punch holes, thread them on. If it hangs crooked: it's called “handmade”.
• Stamp wreath (from about 1–3 years | 15–25 min.)
  Materials: toilet-roll stamps (oval), paint, paper.
  How to: Stamp oval “eggs/blossoms” in a circle, leaving the middle free. An adult writes “Happy Easter” – with a steady hand and coffee.

Making Easter bunnies: 3 tutorials for every age

Easter bunnies are the classic because you can make them from almost anything. Here are three variations – from “super simple” to “pretty proud”.

1. Handprint bunny (from about 1–2 years | 10–20 min.)
   Materials: paint, paper, felt-tip pen.
   How to: Make a handprint. Once dry: the thumb becomes the “head”, the fingers become the “ears” – draw on eyes, nose and whiskers.
2. Paper plate bunny (from about 3–4 years | 20–30 min.)
   Materials: paper plate or cardboard circle, paper for ears, glue, pens, optional cotton wool.
   How to: Cut out the ears and glue them on, draw the face, glue on cotton wool in a few spots as “fur”.
3. Toilet-roll bunny (from about 4–6 years | 25–40 min.)
   Materials: empty roll, paper, glue, scissors, pens.
   How to: Paint the roll, cut out the ears, glue them inside, add the face. Optional: a little paper tail – it has fewer small parts than pom-poms.

“Fine motor skills” are the ability to control small hand movements with precision. Kids practice this on the side while crafting – while gluing, stamping and later cutting, without it ever feeling like “practice”.

Making an Easter nest with kids: 2 variations step by step

Kids love making an Easter nest most when they actually get to use it afterwards. So plan right away for an egg, a little note or a small gift to fit inside.

Variation A: Easter nest from a paper bowl (from about 2–6 years)

1. Choose a bowl: a small bowl, yogurt cup or paper muffin liner.
2. Decorate the outside: paper strips, torn paper or stickers – a glue stick is often enough.
3. Add the filling: cut paper strips (adult or older children) or tear green paper.
4. Add decoration: a paper bunny, a name tag or a small paper egg.

Variation B: Easter nest from a paper plate (from about 3–6 years)

1. Prepare the plate: paint or decorate the paper plate.
2. Make the shape: cut the plate at three spots (adult) and fold the edges up.
3. Fix in place: attach with glue; stapling only by adults.
4. Pad it out: add paper grass or fabric scraps.

Making your own Easter gifts: personal ideas that really land

Making Easter gifts with kids is loveliest when it looks like your child made it. Not glossy-magazine perfect. These ideas make great gifts – for grandma, grandpa, godparents or neighbors.

• Cardboard photo frame (from about 3–6 years | 20–40 min.)
  Cut the cardboard (you), your child decorates it with paper pieces or draws patterns. Put the photo in and fix a cardboard “back” on behind it.
• “Art in a jar” (from about 2–6 years | 15–25 min.)
  An empty screw-top jar, paper strips, small drawings. Put the strips and mini pictures inside, close the lid, add a label: “For you”. (Only without small parts if the recipient is very young.)
• Easter card set (from about 1–6 years | 15–30 min.)
  Stamp 3–5 cards or decorate them with fingerprints. Tie them together, done. It's small, sweet and fits into any nest.

Why we love crafting (and what we look out for when it comes to safety)

We love crafting because it makes kids proud – and lets parents catch their breath for a moment. Ulli & Flo write here as parents for parents, and we're a family business from Hamburg. Bieco has been around for 66 years – so we've seen quite a few kitchen tables. It's important to us to stay honest about materials and play ideas: rather sturdy, easy to check and suited to everyday life than “looks great, but only lasts until dinner”.

If you're looking for a long-lasting nest gift after crafting, feel free to browse at your leisure. For little hands, you'll find timeless ideas in wooden toys, for example, and in our Easter gifts hub a good overview for filling baskets.

How to keep Easter crafting relaxed (even when it isn't perfect)

The best crafting rule in family life is: better short and cheerful than long and tedious. A few things almost always help:

• Mini goals: “Today we're only making one egg.” Period.
• Preparation: glue open, paper ready, table protected – then your child can get started.
• Tidy-up trick: one bowl for “scraps” and one for “still good” saves your nerves.
• Division of roles: the child does the decorating, adults take care of stability. That's teamwork.

And to put it plainly: wonky bunnies have character. If in the end a little gift comes out that your child proudly hands over, the goal is reached – even without a crafting Oscar.

FAQ

What are quick ideas for making Easter gifts with kids?

The quickest are voucher eggs, fingerprint cards and small stamped picture sets. They need little material and have short drying times. Plan 10–25 minutes and rather finish one thing than three half-way – it feels much better for kids (and adults).

Which Easter crafts are suitable for toddlers from 1 year?

For toddlers from 1 year, fingerprint chicks, torn-paper eggs and toilet-roll stamps are ideal. These ideas need no fine cutting and have large surfaces. It's important to leave out small parts and stay close by – especially when the crafting mood suddenly heads toward the mouth.

What materials do you really need for Easter crafting with kids?

Usually paper, a glue stick, paints and a few leftovers like yarn or cardboard are enough. If you're buying new, look for information on ingredients and age recommendations. The Verbraucherzentrale NRW advises watching out for possible harmful substances in craft materials or making simple alternatives yourself (see Verbraucherzentrale NRW, in German).

How do you make an Easter nest with kids that holds up?

The sturdiest is a nest made from a cup/bowl that is decorated on the outside and padded with paper grass on the inside. For more stability, you can glue the cup onto a cardboard disc. With paper plate nests it helps if adults cut and fix while kids decorate – that way less tips over.

From what age can children craft for Easter?

Many children join in with simple gluing and stamping ideas from about 1 year. Cutting with children's scissors usually comes later and with practice. According to the DGUV, special supervision is important for children under 3 around tools and small parts (DGUV: Fun and safety, in German).

If you're in the mood now: pick exactly one idea and get started. And if you'd like to browse for filling baskets or gift-giving, you'll find more ideas by age in our Easter gifts hub as well as in our guides The best Easter gifts for kids and Easter gifts for babies.