Colouring eggs can be a little daunting with toddlers, but with a little preparation, they can participate successfully in this Easter tradition.
This is a wonderful opportunity for toddlers to practice handling objects with care. Toddlers are equipped with a natural ability and drive to copy our movements and so when we model carefully holding the egg they will naturally do the same. The key is to create an atmosphere of calm and quiet before starting and then use exaggerated purposeful movements so that they can observe us well.
Materials
- 2 boiled eggs, still warm if possible (one for the adult, one for the child)
- Egg dye or food colouring
- 2 Tablespoons vinegar
- 250 millilitres water
- 2 small dishes lined with paper towel to hold the eggs (keep one to the side for the moment)
- Heavy glass container for the dye eg. candle tumbler or mug
- Fondu/hotpot sieve or spoon to hold the egg
- Tray lined with paper towel
- Placemat, plastic cloth, or newspaper to protect the table
- Children’s apron or paint shirt
- Cloth or rag close by for cleaning spills
Method
- Invite the toddler to put on the apron.
- Invite the toddler to pour the water, dye, and vinegar into the tumbler. Demonstrate by pouring a small amount first then ask the toddler to do the rest.
- Place the egg in the sieve and dip the sieve with the egg very carefully and slowly into the dye. For young toddlers, I will dip it in and out a few times so they can see the colour changing.
- Take the sieve out and hold it for a moment above the dye. Draw attention to the drips falling back into the dye.
- Tip the egg very gently onto the small dish.
- Set the dish with the egg to the side to dry and replace with the second egg.
- Invite the toddler to have a turn.
Our experience
At 18 months old Henry was fascinated by transferring the egg back and forth between the dye and the small dish. It did get a little cracked but that is ok as the dye is edible. At two and a half years old he dipped it several times in the dye and then transferred it very carefully to the dish without any cracks.
When Oliver was four and a half we talked about leaving the egg in the dye for 5 minutes to make the colours bright and used a visual timer to keep the time. He was happy to sit and wait while the visual timer ticked away. He is well and truly a conscious worker.
Notes on Materials
White eggs will give more vibrant results. Egg dyes are sold here in the supermarket at Easter time but food colouring (10 – 20 drops) can be used as a substitute.
I use a wide glass candle tumbler with very thick sides for colouring eggs with toddlers. The weight makes it very stable and difficult to tip over. It should have approximately 300 millilitres capacity.
I have had the most success using fondu/hotpot sieves to hold the eggs. The basket of the type below can be squished into the correct shape and the handle bent back on itself for easier grasping. The Ikea children’s kitchen spaghetti server also works well.
