Introduction
Easter’s on its way, and there’s nothing quite like celebrating the season with some outdoor fun! If you’re looking to combine the joy of Easter with the refreshing spring weather, DIY outdoor Easter toys are the perfect solution. Not only will these homemade creations save you money, but they’ll also add a personal touch to your springtime celebrations. I’ve rounded up 15 fantastic ideas that are easy to make, use materials you probably already have around the house, and will keep the kids entertained for hours. Ready to make this Easter the most playful one yet? Let’s hop to it!
1. Egg Hunt Obstacle Course
Transform a traditional egg hunt into an active adventure with a DIY obstacle course that’ll have kids hopping, crawling, and zigzagging their way to Easter treasures.
- Use pool noodles to create arches to crawl under
- Set up hula hoops for bunny hops
- Create balance beams from painted 2×4 boards
- Make “bunny footprint” stepping stones from cardboard
Pro Tip: Use washable chalk to mark the course path on your driveway or sidewalk. This makes it easy to adjust the difficulty level for different age groups!
2. Bunny Hop Sacks
Give the classic sack race an Easter twist with these adorable bunny hop sacks that are perfect for group play.
You’ll need burlap potato sacks or pillowcases, fabric paint, and some basic crafting supplies. Simply decorate each sack with bunny faces, ears, and cottontails. I’ve found that adding actual cotton balls for the tail gives these a delightful 3D effect that kids absolutely love.
- Decorate with pastel colors for spring vibes
- Add each child’s name for a personalized touch
- Reinforce the bottom seams for durability
Pro Tip: If you don’t have burlap sacks, large reusable shopping bags with the handles cut off work great too!
3. Easter Egg Ring Toss
This DIY outdoor Easter toy combines skill-building with festive fun. Create a ring toss game using recycled materials that’s challenging enough for older kids but simple enough for the little ones.
Start by painting empty paper towel rolls in bright Easter colors and securing them to a board in a bunny shape pattern. Then create rings from pipe cleaners, decorated with ribbon or yarn in contrasting colors.
- Assign different point values to each post
- Add small prizes that can be claimed with certain scores
- Create distance markers for different age groups
We played this at our family gathering last year, and even the adults couldn’t resist giving it a try! It’s become a new tradition that everyone looks forward to.
4. Carrot Bowling Set
Who knew carrots could be so much fun? This bowling set will have kids rolling with laughter!
Create carrot-shaped bowling pins by covering empty plastic bottles with orange construction paper or paint. Add green tissue paper “tops” and set them up on a flat surface. Use a small ball painted to look like an Easter egg as your bowling ball.
- Fill bottles with a little sand for stability in windy conditions
- Create scorecards shaped like bunnies
- Make multiple sizes for varying difficulty
Pro Tip: For younger children, place the pins closer together and use a larger ball to make it easier to knock them down.
5. Spring Bubble Wands
Bubbles are always a hit, but Easter-themed bubble wands take the fun to a whole new level!
Using pipe cleaners, create wands in the shapes of eggs, bunnies, and carrots. Twist the ends to form handles and dip them in homemade bubble solution (dish soap, water, and a touch of glycerin for longer-lasting bubbles).
- Experiment with different shapes to see which creates the best bubbles
- Add food coloring to the bubble solution for pastel-colored bubbles
- Create a bubble station with multiple wands and solutions
I’ve noticed that the more intricate designs sometimes create multiple smaller bubbles instead of one big one—which the kids actually find even more magical!
6. Easter Chalk Art Kit
Create a special Easter-themed sidewalk chalk kit that encourages outdoor creativity and doubles as a take-home gift.
Make egg-shaped chalk by mixing plaster of Paris with tempera paint and pouring into plastic egg molds. Once dry, package them in a small basket with bunny-ear handles and include stencils of Easter shapes.
- Create chalk in pastel colors representative of spring
- Include laminated stencil cards for Easter shapes
- Add a small spray bottle for wet-chalk techniques
Pro Tip: Add a little glitter to your chalk mixture before it sets for sparkly sidewalk art that really catches the sunlight!
7. Bunny Target Toss
This adorable target game improves hand-eye coordination while bringing Easter joy to your backyard.
Cut a large piece of cardboard into a bunny silhouette, then cut different sized holes for the mouth, eyes, and bow tie. Paint it white, add details, and assign point values to each opening. Use small beanbags shaped like carrots or eggs for tossing.
- Make the holes different sizes for varying difficulty
- Create a stand from wood scraps so it can be freestanding
- Laminate with clear contact paper for weather resistance
Don’t worry if your artistic skills aren’t perfect—my bunny looked more like a polar bear with long ears, but the kids still had a blast!
8. Easter Scavenger Hunt Cards
Take your Easter hunt beyond just eggs with these creative scavenger hunt cards that get kids exploring nature.
Create laminated cards with pictures or descriptions of spring items to find: a budding flower, a bird’s nest, something green, etc. Include Easter-themed items too, like a certain colored egg or a bunny footprint you’ve planted.
- Create different cards for different age groups
- Include a mix of easy and challenging items
- Add a nature photography element for older kids
Pro Tip: Attach the cards to a clipboard with a pencil for each child, making it easier for them to check off items as they go.
9. DIY Jump Rope with Easter Handles
Get kids hopping like bunnies with these festive jump ropes that double as Easter keepsakes.
Transform ordinary jump ropes by creating Easter-themed handles. Use plastic eggs filled with rice or beans and sealed shut as weights, then attach them to the ends of a rope. Decorate with washi tape, stickers, or paint.
- Use different colored ropes for each child
- Add jingle bells inside the handles for auditory feedback
- Create jump rope rhymes with Easter themes
You wouldn’t believe how competitive things got at our house when we started timing how many “bunny jumps” everyone could do in 30 seconds!
10. Easter-themed Water Balloon Games
If you’re blessed with warm weather for Easter, these water balloon activities will keep everyone cool and laughing.
Fill water balloons and decorate them with non-toxic markers to look like Easter eggs. Create different stations: balloon toss, balloon relay races, or a “hot potato” game with a wet surprise ending!
- Use biodegradable balloons for eco-friendliness
- Set up a “balloon fishing” station with nets
- Create a water balloon piñata for older kids
Pro Tip: Fill balloons the night before and store them in buckets of water to save time on game day.
11. Bunny Ears Relay Race Props
These adorable bunny ears aren’t just for photos—they’re central to a hilarious relay race that’ll have everyone hopping with joy.
Create several pairs of oversized bunny ears using headbands, cardboard, and cotton balls. Set up a relay race where participants must wear the ears while hopping through an obstacle course and passing a carrot baton to the next teammate.
- Make ears in different colors for team identification
- Add challenges like balancing an egg on a spoon while hopping
- Create a “bunny tail” that must be attached with velcro as part of the relay
I still laugh thinking about my husband trying to hop through the course with those floppy ears falling over his eyes!
12. Easter Egg and Spoon Race Set
This classic game gets an Easter makeover with DIY outdoor Easter toys that test balance and concentration.
Paint wooden spoons in Easter colors and designs. Instead of real eggs, create fake ones from plastic eggs filled with varying amounts of rice or beans to make some heavier than others. Mark each egg with different point values based on difficulty.
- Create a designated race course with start and finish lines
- Add obstacles like stepping stones or low hurdles
- Make special giant spoons for adults to even the playing field
Pro Tip: Attach ribbon or yarn to the eggs and spoons so they don’t get lost in the grass during play.
13. Easter-themed Sidewalk Obstacle Course
Transform your driveway or sidewalk into an Easter adventure with this chalk-drawn obstacle course.
Using sidewalk chalk, create a course with stations: “hop like a bunny” sections, “balance an egg” zones, twisty paths through flower gardens, and more. Add physical props like stuffed bunnies to hop over or baskets to drop eggs into.
- Include starting and finishing points shaped like Easter baskets
- Add directional arrows with Easter motifs
- Create “challenge cards” at different points in the course
The best part about this DIY toy is that you can easily modify it each day for new challenges, or wash it away with a hose and start fresh!
14. Garden Treasure Hunt Tools
These special Easter “detective tools” turn egg hunting into a full sensory investigation experience.
Create exploration kits with bunny-ear magnifying glasses (attach ears to dollar store magnifiers), carrot-shaped pointers, and decorated collection baskets. Include a special map of your yard with egg locations marked in invisible ink that can only be revealed with a special “Easter light” (UV flashlight).
- Add Easter-themed stamps for marking “investigated” areas
- Include small notepads for recording findings
- Create special detective badges for each child
Pro Tip: For older kids, include actual clues or riddles that must be solved to find the next location—it turns a simple egg hunt into an engaging brain teaser!
15. Easter Kites
Catch the spring breeze with these easy-to-make Easter kites that celebrate the season’s renewal.
Using plastic tablecloths or lightweight fabric, create diamond-shaped kites decorated with Easter motifs. Attach ribbon streamers in pastel colors, and use dowel rods or sturdy sticks for the frame. Each kite can be personalized with the child’s name or favorite Easter symbol.
- Create bunny-shaped kites with long ear streamers
- Add jingle bells to the tail for auditory feedback
- Use glow-in-the-dark paint for details that shine in evening flights
We had a magical moment last year when all the cousins got their kites airborne at the same time—it looked like a flock of Easter butterflies dancing against the blue sky!
Key Takeaways
- Most of these DIY outdoor Easter toys can be made with materials you already have at home or can purchase inexpensively.
- Involve children in the creation process to double the fun and create meaningful memories.
- Consider weather-proofing toys with lamination or clear sealants for longer-lasting play.
- Many of these toys can be adapted for different age groups by adjusting the rules or difficulty level.
- Save these homemade toys from year to year to create lasting Easter traditions for your family.
Conclusion
Creating DIY outdoor Easter toys is more than just a way to save money—it’s about crafting memories that will last long after the chocolate bunnies are gone. These 15 ideas bring together the joy of Easter with the refreshing outdoor play that spring weather invites. The best part? They encourage children to be active, creative, and engaged with the natural world around them. So gather your supplies, roll up your sleeves, and get ready for an Easter celebration filled with laughter, movement, and the simple joy of playing together in the sunshine. Your children won’t just remember finding eggs—they’ll remember the special games and toys you created together, making this Easter truly egg-ceptional!
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I make these DIY Easter toys more durable for outdoor use?
For greater durability, consider using weatherproof materials like vinyl instead of paper, seal cardboard items with clear contact paper or mod podge, and store all items in a dry place when not in use. For fabric items, choose outdoor-grade fabrics or treat regular fabrics with waterproofing spray.
What age groups are these DIY outdoor Easter toys appropriate for?
Most of these toys can be adapted for children ages 3-12. For younger children, simplify the rules and provide more assistance. For older children, add competitive elements, increase the difficulty level, or let them take charge of creating the toys for younger siblings or friends.
How can I incorporate learning opportunities into these Easter toys?
Add counting elements to games, include spelling challenges with the scavenger hunt, discuss the science behind bubble formation or kite flying, or include facts about real rabbits and spring ecology. You can also use color-coding systems to reinforce color recognition for younger children.
Can these toys be used for Easter parties or gatherings?
Absolutely! Many of these DIY toys are perfect for group play. Consider creating stations around your yard where different groups can rotate through activities. For larger gatherings, make multiple sets of toys or focus on games that can accommodate many players simultaneously, like the obstacle courses or relay races.
What are some eco-friendly alternatives for these projects?
Use recycled materials whenever possible—cardboard from delivery boxes, fabric scraps, or repurposed containers. Choose biodegradable water balloons, natural dyes instead of synthetic food coloring, and avoid glitter or microplastics that can harm the environment. Consider toys that celebrate nature, like the scavenger hunt, to foster environmental appreciation.
