Tips for an allergy-safe Easter with the family

Tips for an allergy-safe Easter with the family

  • 13 March 2024
  • News

Easter can be an opportunity for playing games, making decorations and enjoying chocolates and other treats. Whether you have children with allergies or you’re hosting a gathering for those who do, here you’ll find allergy-safe ideas so that everyone can join in the fun.

Choosing allergy-safe edible treats

Even though some Easter options might not be suitable for you or your child, there are still plenty of sweet treats for you to enjoy. Just remember to always check the labels, including precautionary allergen labelling such as ‘may contain’ warnings.

Remember that Easter eggs and other chocolate Easter treats are sometimes made with different ingredients to the chocolate bars they are based on, even though they’re made by the same manufacturer – so always check the ingredients label.

Watch out for multipack items that may have been separated from the main packaging, as they might not display the ingredients or allergen warnings.

There are chocolates, including Easter eggs, available that are made without allergens such as milk or gluten, as they’re made with alternatives such as rice and oat milk. So do shop around, just make sure you check the labels before you buy.

Allergy-safe Easter activities for children

Decorate an egg

If your child has an egg allergy, they can still decorate eggs, just avoid the real thing and buy wooden eggs, available in craft shops in store or online. You can also cut out some 2D eggs from card for children to colour in. Download our Easter Egg Templates.

Do an Easter egg hunt

Hide crafted eggs or edible treats that you know are safe for your child. You could even turn the game on its head and have one person be the “Easter bunny” and the children be the “eggs” in a big game of hide and seek. 

Pin the tail on the rabbit

You will need: 

  • Coloured paper 
  • White paper or cotton wool
  • Scissors 
  • Sticky tac, sticky tape or Velcro 
  • Pencil 
  • Sleeping mask or scarf for a blindfold 

Making your rabbit: 

  • Cut a rabbit template out of coloured paper.
  • Lightly draw on where the tail should go. 
  • Make a fluffy rabbit tail out of white paper or cotton wool. 
  • Add sticky tac/tape or Velcro to the back of the white tail. 
  • Stick your rabbit carefully to a wall with sticky tac. 

How to play: 

  • Blindfold your players and spin them around. 
  • Give players one attempt to stick the tail on the rabbit. 
  • Put a mark on the paper to show how close each person has got to the target. 
  • Closest to the original tail mark wins! 

Make an Easter bunny mask

You will need: 

  • Paper plates 
  • Pipe cleaners or black paper 
  • White paper  
  • Wooden lollipop sticks 
  • Pink colouring pencil 
  • Stapler or glue 

How to make: 

  • Cut out the centre of the paper plate, big enough to see your face through. 
  • Cut up 6 strips of black paper or get 6 pipe cleaners and stick it on the cheek area of the paper plate mask. 
  • Then cut out two bunny ear shapes, and stick/staple them to the top of the mask. 
  • Colour in the middle of the ears with the pink pencil. 
  • Stick the wooden lollipop stick to the bottom of the mask and use to hold in front of your face. 
  • Voila, your own easy to make bunny mask! 

Tips for allergy-safe Easter gatherings

  • If your child is going to a party or gathering, remind them what their allergens are and what signs and symptoms to look out for. 
  • Ask your child not to eat treats their friends give them without checking the ingredients label with an adult first. 
  • If you’re going to an event with your child, have safe sweets, snacks or non-food treats at the ready, so they don’t feel left out.
  • Make friends and family aware of your child’s allergy, what to do in an emergency and how to use their adrenaline auto-injectors (AAI). 
  • Keep your or your child’s AAIs and medication nearby at all times. 
  • Take the focus off food. Do arts and crafts or dress-up activities instead. You can give children stickers, books or toys instead of food. 
  • If you’re doing crafts with empty food packets, some food traces may still be present so it can be safest to avoid food containers. 

For more information on specific allergens, see our Factsheets.