EatSavvy Blog

Topic —  Kids in the Kitchen,

Eggs to Dye For

April 01, 2010
Denise Smith

There’s always a lot on my to-do list the week leading up to Easter, but one activity that my family looks forward to helping me check off my list is colouring eggs. I always have the best intentions of incorporating some of Martha’s beautiful egg decorating ideas, but in the end I fall back on the PAAS Easter Egg Decorating Kits. They are inexpensive, simple to use and available everywhere. Once the eggs are coloured and/or decorated, we display them in a basket or on an Easter plate as the centerpiece.

It occurred to me as we were colouring our eggs last night, that even though it seems so simple, there are a few tips and tricks that can make the difference between a successful egg colouring activity, and a disaster.

Here are a few simple tried-and-true tips:

You’ll Need

• Newspaper
• Egg colouring kit
• Hard-boiled eggs
• Vinegar
• Empty egg carton
• Crayons

Tips

• Boil the eggs the night before to ensure they are cooled completely.
• Cook more eggs than you’ll need to allow for a few cracked ones.
• The dye in the egg colouring kits doesn’t wash off, so ensure clothing is protected with art smocks or have everyone dress in old t-shirts.
• Arrange newspaper on each child’s work space to protect the surface from any spills or drips.
• Make sure each child has a tool for dipping and lifting their eggs into the dye.
• Follow the mixing instructions on the egg colouring kits.
• Encourage your kids to be creative by mixing colours and making designs on their eggs.
• Draw pictures or designs on the eggs with crayons before dipping to achieve a batik effect.
• Leave the eggs somewhere safe to dry before displaying them in a basket or on a plate. Egg cartons are handy for drying as well as for transporting the eggs to a family dinner.
• Use cracked eggs to make egg salad sandwiches the next day.

Did I mention how much fun you’ll have trying to scrub the dye off of your fingers once you’re done?

Do you have any egg colouring ideas or tips?