As Easter approaches, many Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services are looking for meaningful and engaging ways to celebrate with children—while still aligning with their program goals and the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF v2.0).
Easter in Australia isn’t just about chocolate eggs and bunny ears—it’s an opportunity to explore traditions and embed valuable learning experiences through a range of play-based activities. Whether you're in a long day care setting, family day care, or preschool, an Easter-themed outdoor program can bring joy and depth to your learning environment.
🐰 Why Easter Matters in Early Learning
Easter is a great theme to incorporate into your curriculum because:
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It naturally sparks children’s curiosity and excitement.
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It provides opportunities to explore symbols, rituals, and belonging.
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It encourages multi-sensory experiences—from nature play to messy art.
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It creates shared moments for reflection, discussion, and celebration.
- It gives families create ideas on ways to keep the Easter magic alive outside chocolate (though the chocolate is good too!)
When embedded intentionally, Easter activities can support children’s development across multiple domains, from fine motor skills to social and emotional learning.
🥚 A Sneak Peek: Easter-Themed Activities Across Key Learning Areas
To make planning easier, we've created a free downloadable outdoor Easter program that is jam-packed with creative, play-based Easter ideas under each heading of the Central Outdoor Weekly Programming and Reflection Diary:
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Fine Motor / Cognitive
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Gross Motor / Physical
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Risky Play
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Messy / Water Play
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Nature Play / Exploration
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Structured Games
Each activity is linked to outcomes from the EYLF and MTOP v2.0, helping you remain intentional and reflective in your planning. For example:
🔸 Decorating Easter Eggs links to Outcome 4.3, as children transfer learning across contexts.
🔸 Bunny Hop Races support Outcome 3.2, promoting physical coordination and wellbeing.
🔸 Making Nature Nests aligns with Outcome 2.4, building respect for the environment.
🧠 Aligning with the EYLF and MTOP v2.0
All the activities in the Easter Program have been linked to relevant Learning Outcomes from the Early Years Learning Framework and My Time Our Place Framework v2.0, ensuring your documentation supports both spontaneous and planned learning. Here’s how:
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Activities support identity, wellbeing, communication, connectedness, and confident learning.
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Experiences are flexible and inclusive, allowing for adaptation across age groups.
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The planning supports cultural responsiveness, exploration, and creativity.
By using our ready-to-go program, you’re not only saving time—you’re enhancing quality.
📥 Download the Free Easter Program Example
We know the time pressures of programming and planning, especially during seasonal events. That’s why we’ve created this free Easter-themed program example just for educators like you.
👉 Join our Facebook Group (for customers only) to download the free Easter Program!
(Includes completed program spread, EYLF links, and ready-to-use inspiration for your team!)
How to download the free Easter program:
- Download the Easter Program for free by joining our Facebook Group
- Head here to join Butler Diaries ECEC Support Network
- Answer the questions and wait for approval (you must be a Butler Diaries customer to be approved).
- Once approved, download the Easter Program from the 'Files' tab.
- Check out our other free downloads and start engaging with your fellow Butler Diaries community members!
📝 Final Thought
Creating themed programs like this one isn’t just about celebration—it’s about connection, learning, and intention. By using thoughtful Easter activities, you’re helping children explore the world around them in ways that are joyful, meaningful, and developmentally appropriate.
From fine motor fun to nature exploration, let Easter be a season of learning that children (and educators) look forward to each year.
Want more Easter activities? Read this article, "5 Stimulating Easter STEM Experiences (With Links to EYLF) To Do in Your Early Learning Centre".
