“Hoppy” and Safe Easter Tips

Spring has finally arrived! With Easter coming up this weekend, it’s a good time to review some quick tips to keep everybunny safe.

Egg-cellent adventures

Coloring hard-boiled eggs can be a great family craft activity. Plus, dyeing eggs can be a great opportunity to learn about colors and color mixing – for example, mixing yellow and blue to make green, or any of the infinite number of fun color combos out there. If you plan to eat these beautiful creations, please follow food safety guidelines. Hard-boiled eggs should not be left out more than two hours. Consuming eggs left out longer than this could make you sick!

Store-bought fun

It’s nearly impossible to go to the store this time of year and not see shelves bursting with an explosion of pastel colors, Easter décor, and tasty spring treats. Store-bought items can add a basket full of fun to your holiday celebrations, but make sure you’re looking at the labels. Reading labels when purchasing prefilled eggs is especially important for families with food allergies. For families with small children, pay attention to the age range listed on the packaging; some prefilled eggs may have small toys that can be choking hazards.

Location, location, location!

One of the hallmark Easter celebrations is the egg hunt! Hiding eggs and then watching little ones excitedly search for them is one of my favorite joys of the season. When hiding eggs, be mindful of location to avoid potential injury in the rush to find them. Rose bushes have beautiful flowers, but very sharp thorns that a toddler might not notice and bump against. Avoid areas where pets may go to the bathroom, areas near water, or areas that have holes or other dangers that might be hard to spot when in a hurry to find eggs. Stay clear of hiding eggs near electrical outlets and breakable objects, and never hide eggs in a place where a child would have to climb to find them.

Pets

The Easter Bunny gets a lot of attention during this holiday. If you have other four-legged animals in your home, there are some additional safety measures to consider. Did you know that the Easter lily can be toxic to cats if ingested? Or that chemicals in chocolate can be lethal to dogs and cats? Plastic grass commonly found in Easter baskets and candy wrappers can cause pets to choke or develop a painful blockage in their digestive tract. Give your furry (or scaly or feathered!) friends some extra love this Easter by keeping treats meant for humans away.

However you celebrate, we wish you all a very hoppy and safe Easter!