A Tubie Friendly Easter
Alternatives to chocolate Easter eggs
This one is particularly tricky, especially if there are other people in the house receiving chocolate eggs. We have always tried to provide our non-oral little dude with a substitute which he feels trumps a chocolate egg and prepped the other kids about what is happening and why. Last year we bought a plastic golden egg which we placed a toy inside and balanced it on a new car. http://www.littlecraftybugs.co.uk/golden-extra-large-two-part-fillable-plastic-easter-egg-gold.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjwnKHlBRDLARIsAMtMHDEJLjdBjlVQUxfr8cz_bSk5zObSGtQvZOty_VMjO964VmiR8WabCKoaAg7IEALw_wcB
This year my husband has planned a superhero theme! Toy brands also often have chocolate egg alternatives such as these ones by Playmobil ( www.playmobil.co.uk/space-agent-with-robot/9416.html ). Or you could also start new annual traditions which don’t involve eggs at all. How about an Easter book, a soft toy or a new outfit instead?
Easter egg hunts
Easter egg hunts are so popular but thankfully there are many alternatives to using chocolate. Little Craft Bugs ( www.littlecraftybugs.co.uk/easter/egg-hunt-supplies.html ) has a whole page of egg hunt supplies such as refillable plastic eggs, chenille chicks, even carrots for the Easter bunny plus a plethora of nonedible egg fillers including stickers, stamps and tattoos. Why not get involved with your local egg hunt event and offer to put together nonedible options? Recently our local event has swopped to laminated pictures of eggs which are swopped for Easter treats (chocolate or other) once collected.
John Lewis' Easter decorations:
Easter Sensory Baskets
For those with sensory impairments you could put together a multi-sensory Easter basket full of tactile, noisy, glowing, interactive and touch and feel items. Wonderbaby has created a much better collection of ideas than I could ever come up with so pop over to see them here ( www.wonderbaby.org/articles/multi-sensory-easter-basket-ideas )
Easter crafts
There are literally thousands of Easter craft kits and ideas available. They make nice alternatives to chocolate treats and are also a nice thing to do together. Baker Ross ( www.bakerross.co.uk/easter-store ) has a great collection, including those with a religious theme.
Make an Easter Garden
Why not include some other activities about the traditional meaning of Easter this year and move away from chocolate in the process? If your non-oral loved one enjoys nature you could make an Easter garden together, such as this one by MyBABA ( www.mybaba.com/nanny-anitas-easter-garden/ )
You could also check out events in your area such as Easter services, Messy Church and other family friendly events and activities such as church picnics.
If all else fails....create a “sweet swop box”
Due to our older girls having allergies we have had one of these for years and it has saved the day on many occasions! It’s a box containing lots of little items that the kids like – hairclips, stationary bits, mini cars, Playmobil figures, sticker packs, etc. If they get given something that they can’t eat such as sweets in a party bag or an edible prize then they ‘swop’ it for something in the sweet swop box once they get home. We fill it particularly well at Easter time and include a few bigger items too. Our kids all now get excited if they are given something that they can’t eat as they know that they will get to choose something from the box when they get home.
So that is a quick summary about how we, as a family, deal with the non-oral at Easter issue. I’m sure that many of you will have even better ideas so please share them with TubieeGo so that others can benefit too.
I hope you all have a great Easter!
Jenni xx
Check out our website for our tube feeding backpacks. Another great, non-oral gift for your child or loved one this Easter
www.tubieego.com